Park of Artillery, where the Commissary-General of Musters will attend.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 24, 1776.

The Regiments are ordered to be brigaded as follows:

First Brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Heath: Learned’s, Prescott’s, Read’s, Bailey’s, and Baldwin’s.

Second Brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Spencer: Parsons’s, Arnold’s, Huntington’s, Ward’s, and Wyllys’s.

Third Brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Sullivan: Hand’s, Nixon’s, Read’s, Stark’s, and Webb’s.

Fourth Brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General Greene: Varnum’s, Little’s, Hitchcock’s, Wayne’s, and Irvine’s.

Fifth Brigade, under the command of Brigadier-General the Earl of Stirling: Ritzema’s, Dayton’s, McDougall’s, and Winds’s.

A clean, well-dressed Orderly Sergeant, from each Brigade, to attend in the General’s Guard-room, near Head-Quarters, from six in the morning until they are dismissed in the evening. They are to bring their provisions with them, and to be relieved every morning.

The commanding officer of the Artillery is immediately to examine and report the quantity of case and grape-shot in store, and see that a sufficiency of each is immediately provided.

The Riflemen, in Colonel Irvine’s Regiment, have liberty to fire their rifles to-morrow, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at such place as Lieutenant-Colonel Hartley shall appoint. This is mentioned, as no person is to presume to fire without leave.

Felix Micklehenny, Corporal, James Milliken, Corporal, John McGee, John McBride, George Conner, Privates, belonging to the Sixth Battalion of Pennsylvania Troops, tried at a late General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Baldwin was President, for “mutiny and disobedience of orders:” The Court are of opinion that the prisoners, Corporal Milliken and John McBride, are not guilty; but that the prisoners Corporal Micklehenny, John McGee, and George Conner, are guilty of the charge against them; and do therefore sentence Corporal Micklehenny to be reduced to a Private; and that John McGee be confined four days, and George Conner seven days, both on bread and water.

The General approves the sentence of the above Court-Martial, upon Corporal Micklehenny, John McGee, and George Conner, and orders it to take place immediately.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 25, 1776.

Complaints having been made to the General, of injuries done to the farmers, in their crops and fields, by the soldiers passing over and trampling upon the young growth, in a wanton and disorderly manner, he expressly orders the officers commanding, either upon duty or in quarters, in the country, to take especial care to put a stop to such practices, and endeavour to convince their men that we come to protect, not to injure the property of any man.

The Quartermaster-General, assisted by Colonel Putnam, Chief Engineer, the Quartermaster, Quartermaster-Sergeant, and two men from each Regiment, of the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Brigades, to assemble at sun-rise, to-morrow morning, at the Redoubt upon Bayard’s Hill, to mark out the encampment for the four Brigades above-mentioned. The Quartermaster-General will report to the Commander-in-Chief when he has fulfilled this order.

The encampment of the Third Brigade to be marked out in like manner, upon Long-Island, on Saturday morning. The Chief Engineers, with the Quartermasters, &c., from each Regiment, to assist the Quartermaster-General in that service.

As soon as the General has approved of the encampments marked out, the troops will be ordered to encamp. Until then, they are all to remain in their present quarters.

James Gray, of Captain Mighill’s Company, in Colonel Baldwin’s Regiment, tried at a late General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Baldwin was President, for “desertion:” The Court, finding the prisoner guilty of the charge, do sentence him to be whipped, thirty-nine lashes, upon his bare back.

Joseph Leveritt, of Captain Wheeler’s Company, in Colonel Nixon’s Regiment, tried at the above General Court-Martial for “absenting himself from his Guard without permission, and being intoxicated with liquor,” is found guilty by the Court, and sentenced to receive twenty-five lashes upon his bare back.

Joseph Smith, of Captain Winship’s Company, in Colonel Nixon’s Regiment, tried at the above General Court-Martial, for “quitting his post when on sentry,” is acquitted by the Court.

The General approves of the foregoing sentences, and orders them to be put in execution to-morrow morning, at Guard-mounting.

Head-Quarters, New-York, April 26, 1776.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO JOSIAH QUINCY.

New-York, April 25, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 7th instant, coming duly to hand, I thank you for the intelligence therein contained. It gives me pain to find, from your account, that matters are taking a wrong bias in the politicks of your Government. I left five regiments (upon an average as strong as any in the service) to erect such works, and in such places as should be deemed most conducive to the defence of the harbour. I did (as it was a Government concern) leave the works which should be constructed for the defence of the harbour, to the adoption of the General Court, under the auspices of Colonel Gridley, whom I have been taught to view as one of the greatest Engineers of the age. If things have gone wrong, I can only express my concern, and lament that time, at so important a juncture, should be wasted, and the best mode for the defence of the harbour neglected

My extreme hurry will only allow me, in addition to what I have said, to thank you most cordially for your friendly wishes, and to assure you that I am, with great truth and sincerity, dear sir, your most obedient and obliged, humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Josiah Quincy, Braintree.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO ADMIRAL HOPKINS.

New-York, April 25, 1776.

SIR: I wrote you the 14th instant, giving information of the sailing, from this harbour, of the Phenix, Savage, and Nautilus, men-of-war, which I apprehended were designed to join Wallace, in order to block up the fleet under your command. The latter part I since find to be groundless, as they have returned; and I find that they make a practice of stretching off from and soon returning to this port. This convinces me that they are in expectation of a fleet, and I am preparing for their reception.

I expected to have met here a force much superior to what I have found it, I was obliged to lessen it, by detaching four of our strongest battalions to Canada, which lays me under the necessity of requesting you to despatch to this place, as soon as possible, the two hundred men lent you from this Army, that they may join their respective corps, which are much weakened by their absence.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Admiral Hopkins.

P. S. Enclosed is a copy of two resolves of Congress, respecting the cannon, stores, &c.

ROBERT H. HARRISON TO MAJOR FRAZER.

New-York, April 25, 1776.

SIR: I am commanded by his Excellency to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and to inform you that an allowance of salvage is a matter altogether in the power of Congress.

In respect to your coming here, to settle the accounts of your late department, his Excellency not only permits, but desires it, as highly necessary.

As to the appointment of Mr. Gray, or any other person,