Camp at Cambridge, September 14, 1775.

To Colonel BENEDICT ARNOLD, Commander of the Detachment of the Continental Army destined against QUEBECK:

SIR: You are intrusted with a command of the utmost consequence to the interest and liberties of America; upon your conduct and courage, and that of the officers and soldiers detached on this expedition, not only the success of the present enterprise, and your own honour, but the safety and welfare of the whole Continent, may depend. I charge you, therefore, and the officers and soldiers under your command, as you value your own safety and honour, and the favour and esteem of your Country, that you consider yourselves as marching, not through an enemy’s Country, but that of our friends and brethren—for such the inhabitants of Canada and the Indian Nations have approved themselves in this unhappy contest between Great Britain and America; that you check, by every motive of duty and fear of punishment, every attempt to plunder or insult any of the inhabitants of Canada. Should any American soldier be so base and infamous as to injure any Canadian or Indian, in his person or property, I do most earnestly enjoin you to bring him to such severe and exemplary punishment as the enormity of the crime may require; should it extend to death itself, it will not be disproportioned to its guilt at such a time and in such a cause. But I hope and trust that the brave men who have voluntarily engaged in this expedition will be governed by different views; that order, discipline, and regularity of behaviour, will be as conspicuous as their courage and valour. I also give it in charge to you to avoid all disrespect or contempt of the religion of the Country; and if common prudence, policy, and a true Christian spirit, will lead us to look with compassion upon their errours, without insulting them, while we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious of violating the rules of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the heart of man, and to him only in this case they are answerable.

Upon the whole, Sir, I beg you to inculcate upon the officers and soldiers the necessity of preserving the strictest order during their march through Canada; to represent to them the shame, disgrace, and ruin, to themselves and Country, if they should, by their conduct, turn the heart of our brethren in Canada against us; and, on the other hand, the honours and rewards which await them, if, by their prudence and good behaviour, they conciliate the affections of the Canadians and Indians to the great interests of America, and convert those favourable dispositions they have shown into a lasting union and affection.

Thus wishing you, and the officers and soldiers under your command, honour, safety, and success, I remain, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

[No. 5.]

By His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esquire, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United Colonies of NORTH-AMERICA.

To Colonel BENEDICT ARNOLD:

1. You are immediately on their march from Cambridge to take the command of the detachment from the Continental Army against Quebeck, and use all possible expedition, as the winter season is now advancing, and the success of this enterprise (under God ) depends wholly upon the spirit with which it is pushed, and the favourable disposition of the Canadians and Indians.

2. When you come to Newburyport, you are to make all possible inquiry what men of war or cruisers there may be on the coast, to which this detachment may be exposed on their voyage to Kennebeck River; and if you shall find that there is danger of being intercepted, you are not to proceed by water, but by land, taking care on the one hand not to be diverted by light and vague reports, and on the other not to expose the Troops rashly to a danger which by many judicious persons has been deemed very considerable.

3. You are by every means in your power to endeavour to discover the real sentiments of the Canadians towards our cause, and particularly as to this expedition; ever bearing in mind that if they are averse to it, and will not co-operate, or at least willingly acquiesce, it must fail of success. In this case you are by no means to prosecute the attempt. The expense of the expedition and the disappointment are not to be put in competition with the dangerous consequences which may ensue from irritating them against us, and detaching them from that neutrality which they have adopted.

4. In order to cherish those favourable sentiments to the American cause that they have manifested, you are as soon as you arrive in their Country to disperse a number of the addresses you will have with you, particularly in those parts where your route shall lie, and observe the strictest discipline and good order, by no means suffering any inhabitant to be abused, or in any manner injured, either in his person or property; punishing with exemplary severity every person who shall transgress, and making ample compensation to the party injured.

5. You are to endeavour, on the other hand, to conciliate the affections of those people, and such Indians as you may meet with, by every means in your power; convincing them that we come at the request of many of their principal people, not as robbers, or to make war upon them, but as the friends and supporters of their liberties as well as ours; and, to give efficacy to these sentiments, you must carefully inculcate upon the officers and soldiers under your command, that not only the good of their Country, and their honour, but their safety, depends upon the treatment of these people.

6. Check every idea and crush in its earliest stage every attempt to plunder, even those who are known to be enemies to our cause; it will create dreadful apprehensions in our friends, and when it is once begun, none can tell where it will stop. I therefore again most expressly order that it be discouraged and punished, in every instance, without distinction.

7. Whatever King’s stores you shall be so fortunate as to possess yourselves of are to be secured for the Continental use, agreeable to the rules and regulations of war published by the honourable Congress. The officers and men may be assured that any extraordinary services performed by them will be suitably rewarded.

8. Spare neither pains nor expense to gain all possible intelligence on your march, to prevent surprises and accidents of every kind; and endeavour, if possible, to correspond with General Schuyler, so that you may act in concert with him. This I think may be done by means of the St. François Indians.

9. In case of a union with General Schuyler, or if he should be in Canada upon your arrival there, you are by no means to consider yourself as upon a separate and independent command, but are to put yourself under him, and follow his directions. Upon this occasion, and all others, I recommend most earnestly to avoid all contention about rank. In such a cause, every post is honourable in which a man can serve his Country.

10. If Lord Chatham’s son should be in Canada, and in any way fall in your power, you are enjoined to treat him with all possible deference and respect. You cannot err in paying too much honour to the son of so illustrious a character and so true a friend to America. Any other prisoners who may fall into your hands you will treat with as much humanity and kindness as may be consistent with your own safety and the publick interest. Be very particular in restraining not only your own Troops but the Indians from all acts of cruelty and insult which will disgrace the American arms, and irritate our fellow-subjects against us.

11. You will be particularly careful to pay the full value for all provisions or other accommodations which the Canadians may provide for you on your march; by no means press them or any of their cattle into your service, but amply compensate those who voluntarily assist you. For this purpose you are provided with a sum of money in specie, which you will use with as much frugality and economy as your necessities and good policy will admit, keeping as exact account as possible of your disbursements.

12. You are by every opportunity to inform me of your progress, your prospect, and intelligence, and upon any important occurrence to despatch an express.