is no distinguishing citizens from soldiers, nor any other possible method of keeping the latter to their quarters, and, of consequence, from rioting and disorderly behaviour) that it will be found less inconvenient to the inhabitants (to say nothing of the security which is to be derived from it) to give the countersign at that hour, than submit to the greater inconveniences which may arise out of the neglect of it. After this hour it is strictly enjoined upon the officers to see that their rolls are called, and that the men are in quarters.

General Thompson will hasten the embarcation of the Regiments for Albany as fast as possible, and is to fix with the Mustermaster-General, Mr. Moylan, upon a time and place for mustering of them. These Regiments may be embarked and sent off, one at a time, or otherwise, as it can be done quickest; the General to set out with the last. The Colonels to prepare their muster-rolls immediately.

All persons having business with the Adjutant-General are to repair to his own office, and not to Head-Quarters, to transact it.

The General Court-Martial, of which Colonel Starke was President, is dissolved.

A General Court-Martial to sit to-morrow morning, at Mr. France’s Tavern, at ten o’clock. All evidences and persons concerned to attend the Court.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 17, 1776.

(Parole, Boston.)

(Countersign, Charlestown.)

The General being informed that many of the houses taken up for barracks are much abused by the soldiers, which is a grievance which might be prevented by the officers paying a proper attention to their duty, and more carefully observing the conduct and behaviour of their men, the Barrackmaster is therefore ordered to place a proper proportion of officers in the same houses with the soldiers, who are to be answerable for any mischief done, to prevent any wood being cut upon the floors, or any water or filth thrown out of the windows, as all damages wantonly committed must be paid for out of the pay of the men quartered in the house where such damage is done. The offenders must also expect to suffer a severe corporal punishment for any breach of these orders.

The officers are moreover expressly ordered to see that the men’s barcacks are kept clean; and the General again urges the necessity of the same cleanliness being observed in the person of the soldiers.

The Colonels and commanding officers of Regiments are to exert their utmost endeavours to complete their companies to the establishment.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 18, 1776.

(Parole, Rhode-Island.)

(Countersign, Hopkins.)

The honourable the Continental Congress have been pleased to direct the Thanks of the United Colonies to be presented to the Officers and Soldiers of their Army, who, with unremitted courage and perseverance, surmounted every effort of the enemy, and every obstacle of that severe climate, in per sisting for eleven months in the blockade and siege of Boston, and finally forcing their enemies to make a shameful and precipitate retreat from that once devoted town. This honourable mark of the approbation of the Congress would have been inserted sooner in the General Orders, had not their express gone to the eastward while the Army was upon the march, and arrived only last evening from Boston.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 19, 1776.

(Parole, Lexington.)

(Countersign, Gardner.)

The Colonels and commanding officers of Corps are, without delay, to make up their Pay Abstracts, agreeable to the order of the 14th instant, and present the same for an order for payment. Necessary clothing, &.c, must be immediately provided for every Regiment and Company, and the whole to be in readiness for service here, or elsewhere, as occasion shall require, as no excuses will be admitted to retard or prevent a march or embarcation whenever necessary to be commanded. The Muster-Roils must be immediately prepared, and the Mustermaster-General is to muster the whole as soon as possible.

The Colonels who have received money for the purchase of arms and blankets arc to make out their account of disbursements, and lodge them, with the abstracts, that a final settlement may be made.

All persons serving in the Continental Army without commissions from Congress, are desired to give in their names and employments in writing, that the propriety of their appointments, and the nature of their duty, may be judged of.

Major Crane to take the command of the Continental Artillery at New-York. All reports and returns of that corps to be made to him.

One Subaltern, one Sergeant, two Corporals, one Drum, and eighteen Privates, from General Heath’s Brigade, to be sent as soon as possible to Montresor’s Island, as a guard for the Small-Pox Hospital; the officer, non-commissioned officers and soldiers, to be men that have had the small-pox. The Quartermaster-General to supply a boat, and the Commissary provisions, for the above guard.

James Britton, of Captain Draper’s Company, in Colonel Bond’s Regiment, tried at a late General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Baldwin was President, for quitting his post when sentry, is found guilty by the Court, and adjudged to receive twenty lashes. The General approves the sen tence, and orders it to be executed at such time and place as Colonel Bond shall direct.

COLONEL TRUMBULL TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

New-York, April 19, 1776.

Commissary TRUMBULL’S best respects to General Washington, and informs that the rations of provision supplied by him to the troops at and near Cambridge, per general orders, were and are: 18 ounces salted pork, or 24 ounces salted or fresh beef, or 16 ounces salted fish, per man per diem; 1 pound of flour or bread per man per diem; I quart of beer per man per diem, or 9 gallons of molasses per one hundred men per week; 3 pints of peas or beans per man per week; 6 ounces of butter per man per week; ½ pint of rice, or 1 pound of Indian meal per man per week; 6 pounds of candles per one hundred men per week; 24 pounds of soft or 8 pounds of hard soap, per one hundred men per week.

That he paid the officers their rations at and after the rate of seven and a half pence, lawful money of New-England, per ration; in which computation, the fractions were given in favour of the officer. Pork was computed at seventy-seven shillings and six pence per barrel; flour at twenty two shillings and six pence per hundred; beer was not to be had at Cambridge, and molasses was generally given at two shillings and two and four pence per gallon.

That he now supplies the same rations in New-York. Pork now costs sixty-six shillings per barrel; flour twelve shillings per hundred; and beer (which can be had, and molasses cannot) costs seven shillings and six pence per barrel; and all other articles as cheap, and the most of them a little cheaper here than at Cambridge. The difference arises from the difference between land and water transportation; so that there is nearly one and half pence difference in each ration of bread or flour, and nearly one and a half pence in the pork; so that be judges a ration here will not exceed six pence, or six and a half pence, lawful money of New-England —equal to eight pence, or eight and one-third pence, currency of New-York.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER

New-York, April 19, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Yours of the 12th instant, from Fort George, was delivered me, with the enclosures, yesterday, by express. I agree with you that the intelligence is very alarming, and requires the strictest attention. The four regiments ordered from hence are now embarking, and T hope will soon be with you. I need not urge the necessity of forwarding them from Albany with all possible despatch. You will have with the troops five hundred barrels of provisions. The Commissary-General expects every moment a large quantity from Connecticut; and what can be spared of it shall be sent to you in the same bottoms without delay. What: General Lee contracted for is not yet delivered. His sudden and unexpected departure to the southward left the contractors at a loss where to deliver the provisions, and apply for the pay. The Commissary-General has since renewed the contract, and ordered them to send the provisions here