on by the General Court or Council, for defence of the harbour, &c.

Colonel Gridley will be left to construct and see to the execution of these works. An exact account to be taken, and valuation made, of all the materials which are used in these works, and to be ready if and when it shall be called for.

The work upon Beacon Hill should be repaired, and, in my opinion, be made strong, as it commands Fort Hill and all lower works, and would endanger the loss of them if it should be possessed by the enemy.

All the lines upon Boston Neck ought, in my judgment, to be demolished, as it is a defence against the country, and no security to the town. So ought those flushes on the west of Boston.

No time should be lost in fixing with the General Court or Council upon proper signals for alarming the country upon the appearance of a fleet. For the purpose of gaining as much time as possible, I think the alarm ought to be given from Cape-Anne or Marblehead, and forwarded by agreed signals to Boston, and thence into the country. This matter should not be delayed.

A guard should be kept over the Powder Magazine, which I think will be safer in Boston. The powder should be often shifted. A Commissary or Conductor of Artillery Stores will be left, who is to deliver nothing without your or the commanding officer’s order.

Mr. Parke will continue here till the affairs of that department are arranged, and some person fixed upon to do the duties of that office; and the Commissary of Provisions will do the like in his.

Mr. Warren will probably continue here till some regulation is adopted. In his hands money will be left to answer the pay of the troops and contingent expenses of this department, which may be drawn for by your warrant. But with respect to accounts and transactions of which you have had no knowledge, let them be specially reported, and paid by particular order.

All captures made by the Continental Armed Vessels are to be immediately libelled in the Court of Admiralty of the District where carried to.

All officers, soldiers, and men-of-war’s men, are considered as prisoners; the former to be sent and confined to some town, upon their paroles; the others sent to such jails as the General Court shall direct.

No condemned property to be sold till the day of sale is three times advertised in the papers (with an enumeration of the cargo) of Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Worcester, and a special report thereof made to you, that if anything is wanted in the Commissary’s or Quartermaster’s Department, they may be notified thereof.

Every possible method is to be used for the preservation of the Barracks. If any of them are wanted for any of the new works, they may be taken after valuation thereof.

The vessels which were left in Boston by the enemy, some with and some without cargoes, (and which, I am told, various claims are laid to,) must not be delivered up, unless the, person claiming will give some surety to abide the determination of Congress respecting them. In that case, an exact inventory to be taken, in order to ascertain the value.

The wheat left by the King’s Troops is to be attended to, that no hurt comes to it. It ought either to be sold or converted into flour, for the use of the Army. The Quartermaster and Commissary may be consulted on this head.

The Regiments should be kept as much together as possible, for the purpose of disciplining the men when they are not upon fatigue duty. Discourage the granting of furloughs but in cases of necessity. Keep the officers and men strictly to their duty, and in all things consult frugality as much as possible.

In all matters not particularly specified in the foregoing instructions, your own judgment, prudence, and discretion, must be your guide. You will take care to advise me, by every opportunity, of your proceedings, and of every transaction, of a publick nature, that you may think worth communicating.

The flat-bottomed boats, whale boats, and floating batteries, are to be continued in the care of Captain Sylvanus Drew. They must be hauled into a convenient place of safety, and proper care taken to prevent their being destroyed, or suffering damage from the heat of the weather. Their oars, paddles, &c., are to be put into some safe store.

All officers and seamen, taken in transport vessels employed in the enemy’s service, are to be released, on condition that they give a very strict parole not to act against the American Colonies during the present contest.

Yours, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Ward.

ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLONEL HENRY KNOX, COMMANDING THE REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.

It being of the utmost importance to the publick service that the main body of the Regiment of Artillery, together with the field-cannon, ammunition, stores, &c., should, as speedily as possible, be assembled at New-York, I have thought proper to give you the following orders and instructions:

The Legislature of this Colony having determined to assemble three hundred teams upon the Common in Cambridge, between this day and Saturday next, you will order the Commissary of Ordnance Stores, with the Conductors of Artillery, to be properly assisted in loading all the ammunition and ordnance stores into the teams allotted for the service of the Artillery.

You will send a Conductor, with every Brigade of thirty teams, to Norwich, in Connecticut, whom you will order to receive and obey such directions as the commanding officer at Norwich shall think proper to give.

In loading the teams at Cambridge, you will take particular care to direct the stores and ammunition, that will be first in demand at the general rendezvous, to be first sent forward; such as the fixed ammunition, the powder, musket-balls, buck-shot, laboratory stores, empty paper cannon-cartridges, flints, fuses, &c., &c. The heavy stores, (shot and shells,) not so immediately in request, may be sent the last, according as, upon the best information, you shall see proper to give directions.

The covered wagons, taken from the enemy, should carry all the powder that is to go from hence, and the tumbrils the fixed ammunition. With these it is my orders you send Mr. Commissary Cheever, in whose care and guidance it is proper to place your confidence for their security and preservation.

All the remaining field-artillery and brass mortars should march with the two remaining companies to Norwich, where they will find my orders for their further proceedings.

As soon as the whole of the artillery, ammunition, stores, &c., directed by the instructions to be sent forward, are upon the march, you will yourself proceed to Norwich, in Connecticut; and having seen everything before you from thence, you are then, with all despatch, to proceed to New-York.

Lieutenant-Colonel Burbeck should, without any delay, go the most direct road thither, and, as soon as Lieutenant-Colonel Mason is able to travel, he must follow.

Your Quartermaster should inarch with the two companies to-morrow; and your Adjutant you will do well to keep with yourself, to carry such orders as you shall at any time think necessary to give.

From the great variety of the stores and duties in your department, there is no such thing as giving all and every minute direction, necessary to be given upon this occasion. Trusting in your zeal, diligence, and ability, I remain confident of every exertion in your power for the publick service.

Given at Head-Quarters, in Cambridge, this 3d day of April,1776.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Colonel Henry Knox.

ORDERS AND INSTUCTIONS FOR JOHN PARKE, ESQ., ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL.

It being found necessary for the publick service that the Quartermaster-General, Colonel Thomas Mifflin, should be despatched to New-York, and the command in his department devolving on you, be it your care to see that the Clerks, Commissaries, Wagonmasters, Armourers, Artificers, and the servants of the publick of every denomination within