“When the whole are completely formed, they may ground their arms …”: Grounding versus...

7/23/2019 When the whole are completely formed, they may ground their arms : Grounding versus Stacking Arms in the

1/21

When the whole are completely formed, they may groundtheir arms

Grounding versus Stacking Arms in the Continental Army(With Notes on British and German Practices)

John U. Rees

What did Continental troops do with their weapons when they did not need them, or

were halted on a march? In camp simple musket racks made of two forked sticks with a

straight pole, branch, or sapling laid between them sufficed. In the Charles Wilson ealeportrait of Colonel Walter !tewart "completed #$%#& such a de'ice can be seen in the

camp behind him. (ost notably, that rack is built 'ery low to the ground so that the

muskets rather recline than stand up. )rig. *en. +nthony Waynes orders, -otaway, ewJersey, / July #$%0, mentioned building musket supports1 2+s soon as the tents are

itched and the )owers made, the -roops will attend to Claning and repearing their

Cloths 3 +rms. Racks or 4orks are to be fi5ed in front of each regt to bear thearms against.2#

Continental Army musket rack. Detail from Charles WillsonPeales portrait of Pennsylvania Col. Walter Stewart. Thepictured camp was likely sketched in spring !"# when thePennsylvania regiments were stationed in $ancaster# Pa.

%Peales &ill for the camp sketch was dated '( )ay !"*.+dward W. ,ichardson# Standards and Colors of the AmericanRevolution%Philadelphia# Pa.# -"'*# '-.

In 1782 Sublieutenant Jean-Baptiste-Antoine de Verger, Royal Deux-onts Regi!ent, des"ribed !us#et ra"#s$

17 September %e "rossed t&e 'udson at (ings )erry$ *n route to t&e"rossing +e !ar"&ed under t&e ort at Stony oint t&at +as "aptured


2/21

by $ de )luery$ .n t&e opposite ban# stands )ort /a )ayette on +&i"&rests t&e rig&t 0an# o t&e A!eri"an ar!y$ .n its let +as a +ood, andar in adan"e +as a "orps o 33 !en "o!!anded by /ord Stirling$Bet+een t&is "orps and t&e ar!y +as a large !ars&$ 4&e +&ole "olor-line +as bordered by a ery beautiul arbor, de"orated +it& ariousdesigns and "oats o ar!s 5+&i"& +ere ery +ell exe"uted6

representing t&e dierent regi!ents$ 4&e A!eri"an soldiers do notsta"# t&eir ar!s in piles li#e ours but si!ply lean t&e! against t&reeposts set up in t&e or! o a s"aold beore t&eir tents, +&i"& t&eyere"t on one line$2

)usket rack in the style used in the Continental Army.%mage courtesy of the /is )a0estys 12th,egiment of 3oot

%recreated**

%&en su"& "ontrian"es +ere not aailable, or !u"& o t&e +arA!eri"an soldiers si!ply grounded t&eir ar!s$ *entually 5"ir"a 17796,

t&ey adopted t&e Britis& !et&od o sta"#ing 5or piling6 ar!s 5lo"#ing:relo"#s toget&er to or! "oni"al sta"#s6$ .ne reason +&y ;ontinentaltroops grounded rat&er t&an sta"#ed t&eir ar!s &as been posited asbeing due to t&e la"# o unior!ity in t&e !en


3/21

period, a sta"# "an also built by partially dra+ing out t&e ra!rods ot&ree !us#ets and interlo"#ing t&e!$

4o date I &ae ound no early-+ar !entions o A!eri"an troopssta"#ing ar!s$ By "ontrast R&ode Island soldier Jere!ia& >reen!an!entioned grounding ar!s six ti!es in su!!er and autu!n o 1777,

but only t+i"e in 1778$ .n t&e ot&er &and, &e neer +rote o sta"#ingar!s in &is eig&t-year diary$?>eneral >eorge %as&ington ar!y orderstell only o grounding ar!s up to ay 1778$

'ead-@uarters, iddle-Broo#, June 12, 1777 4&e >eneral t&in#s itne"essary to establis& t&e ollo+ing regulations or guards and &opest&at o="ers +ill "onsider t&e! as t&e rule o pra"ti"e, and !a#et&e!seles +ell a"Cuainted +it& t&e! $ Ater pla"ing &is Sentries, t&e o="er o t&e ne+ guard is to !a#e &is!en lodge t&eir ar!s, :rst giing t&e! t&e orders ne"essary, to goernt&eir "ondu"t$ ;are !ust be ta#en to lodge t&eir ar!s, in su"& a!anner, t&at ea"& !an !ay &ae re"ourse to &is in a !o!ent, +it&out

bustle or "onusion$ n most cases it is &est# the arms should &egrounded on the guard4parade# during the day.1

'ead @uarters, %il!ington, Septe!ber , 1777 $$$ 4&e tents o >enl$SullianEs, /ord StiriingEs and %ayneEs diisions, and Fas&Es brigade,are to be stru"# and pa"#ed by :e oE"lo"# to !orro+ !orning 5i t&e+eat&er per!it6 t&ese "orps, toget&er +it& >enl$ otterEs brigade, areto &old t&e!seles in readiness to !ar"& at a !o!entEs +arningater+ards upon re"eiing orders$ 3or which purpose# each &rigadeshould &e paraded# their arms grounded# and the men ready totake them up at the 5rst call.6

'ead-@uarters, %&ite ars&, Foe!ber 28, 1777 $$$ Su"& o t&e troopsas are not already urnis&ed +it& "oo#ed proisions or to !orro+, areto dra+ and "oo# t&e! to nig&t$ At day brea# a "annon +ill be :red asa signal or t&e +&ole ar!y to parade, ready to !ar"&$ When thewhole are completely formed# they may ground their arms# &ut&e ready to take them up again at a minute7s warning. f itshould rain or snow the men are not to parade.8

'ead @uarters, %&ite ars&, De"e!ber G, 1777 $$$ The troops are toground their arms at their alarm posts9 and as soon aspossi&le# draw and cook their provisions for to day and tomorrow# and immediately set a&out making the &est provisionthey can of wood and huts for to night.!

'ead @uarters, VHalley$ )orge, 4uesday, ay , 1778 $$$ 4&e seeralBrigades are to be asse!bled or t&is urpose at nine oE;lo"# to!orro+!orning +&en t&eir ;&aplains +ill "o!!uni"ate t&e Intelligen"e"ontainEd in t&e osts"ript to t&e ennsylania >aette o t&e 2nd$instant and oer up a t&an#sgiing and delier a dis"ourse suitable tot&e .""asion$ At &al ater ten oE;lo"# a ;annon +ill be :red, +&i"& isto be a signal or t&e !en to be under Ar!s$ 4&e Brigade Inspe"tors


4/21

+ill t&en inspe"t t&eir Dress and Ar!s, or! t&e Battalions a""ording toinstru"tions gien t&e! and announ"e to t&e ;o!!anding .="ers oBrigades t&at t&e Battalions are or!ed$ The :rigadiers orCommandants will then appoint the 3ield ;un being told +&ere it +as and +ent to &is pla"e, enCuiry+as !ad +&o! it +as t&at &ad don t&e tri"#, and t&e ans+er +as,

t&e greatest rogue in t&e ;o!pany but all +ent o +ell and I


5/21

es"aped a repri!and ro! t&e .="ers-9

3irelock at ;rder# the position &efore grounding theweapon. %Plate !# after page 8#A plan of discipline forthe use of the Norfol militia !!!*

%Also plates on preceding and following pages* William Windhamand =iscount >eorge Townshend#A plan of discipline for the use ofthe Norfol militia !!!# Part . Containing the manual e?ercise ... Part. The method of teaching the e?ercise ... Part . ,eviewing#forming the &attalion# 5rings... With an introduction from Aelian#


6/21

=egetius# 3olard# @. of Prussia# ). Sa?e# Wolfe# and the mostcele&rated ancient and modern authors ... :y William Windham ...and the ,ight /on. >eorge lord visc. Townshend ... The 'd ed.#greatly improved. To which is now added# the present manuale?ercise for the army# as ordered &y /is )a0esty and the Ad0utantgeneral. With encampments for infantry and cavalry %$ondon

Printed for B. )illan# !8"*.

%3ront view* 3irst motion of grounding 5relock. %Plate "#after page 8#A plan of discipline for the use of theNorfol militia !!!*


7/21

%Side view* 3irst motion of grounding 5relock. %Plate -#

after page 8#A plan of discipline for the use of theNorfol militia !!!*


8/21

4&e earliest !ention o A!eri"an troops sta"#ing :relo"#s #no+n tot&e aut&or "o!es ro! assa"&usetts *nsign *beneer %ildeneral%as&ington did not !ention grounding or sta"#ing ro! ay 1778 toar"& 1783$ 4&e ollo+ing appeared in t&e erdi"t o a "ourt !artialK

'ead @uarters, orristo+n, %ednesday, ar"& 22, 1783 $$$ Feit&erdoes it appear to t&e >eneral t&at /ieut$ ;ol$ 'o+ard "an be"onsidered as &aing been absent ro! t&e !en paraded as &e +asneer art&er t&an &is Cuarters, +&i"& +ere Cuite "ontiguous to t&eparade, and t&is it seems while the men were walking the paradeto keep themselves warm# and after stacking their arms, in"onseCuen"e o orders deliered by /ieutenant Du +&o a"ted as

AdNutant, and +&o said &e &ad re"eied t&e per!ission ro! ;olonel'aen$ For does t&e >eneral :nd, ro! any eiden"e in t&e "ourse o t&etrial t&at t&e !en +ere in a "ondition un:t or a"tion Their walkingthe parade and stacking their arms to warm themselves seemto have &een 0usti5ed &y the severity of the weatherand t&eexpli"it per!ission deliered by r$ Du$11

'ere are our !ore$

H;apt$ Josep& ";lellan, 9t& ennsylania Regi!ent ."t$ 2Gt&$$$ 4&eDiision o /ig&t Inantry +as reie+ed at sunset $$$ stacked the armson the parade t&e !en to parade in one &our, +&i"& +as done $$$12

*ns$ *beneer Denny, 7t& ennsylania Regi!ent, &eading sout& toVirginia in late spring 1781, des"ribed Brig$ >en$ Ant&ony %ayneEs !ar"&routine$

Stru"# our tents eery !orning beore day$ About eig&t or nine oE"lo"#,as +e ound +ater, a s&ort &alt +as !ade, t&e +ater-"all beat parties,six or eig&t ro! ea"& "o!pany, "ondu"ted by a non-"o!!issionedo="er, +it& "anteens, et"&ed +ater$ Seldom allowed to eat untiltwelve o7clock# when the arms were stacked# knapsacks takeno# and water sent for &y parties as &efore.(

Ar!y ordersK

'ead @uarters, 4arryto+n, onday, July 2, 1781 $$$ Fo dru! to beat+it&out parti"ular order$ ;


9/21

signal or landing is gien, t&e boats are to "lose up +it&out "roudingand ro+ or t&e s&ore, alling in upon t&e let o ea"& ot&er, in +&i"&order t&ey are to debar# at t&eir respe"tie landing pla"es, as"end t&eban#, and or! as ast as t&ey get up into brigade ;ollu!ns$ In t&isorder t&e &ead o ea"& ;ollu!n +ill be "ondu"ted by t&e brigade @r$aster to t&e rig&t o its en"a!p!ent, +&ere it +ill display to t&e let,

and each regiment take its own ground# Stack their arms# &ringup their tents and &aggage and esta&lish their camp.6

But, een at t&is late date, t&ere +ere dra+ba"#s and proble!s +it&sta"#ing ar!s$ .rders or t&e arCuis de /aayette


10/21

(Above and following page) Detail of part of a group of Continental soldiers from Pierre

Charles L'Enfant (17!"1#$) painting of %est Point and dependen&ies iew is from theeast side of the udson *iver+ at the top is the lower part of Constitution ,sland -his was

done after August 17#$+ as servi&e &hevrons+ worn on the saluting soldier.s left sleeve+ were

first authori/ed on the 7th of that month 0everal soldiers in group are wearing napsa&s+

and what appears to be a rolled blanet &an be seen on top of three of the pa&s Librar2 of

Congress+ http344wwwlo&gov4pi&tures4item4$55!67#8!4
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004678934/http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004678934/http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004678934/


11/21

+s for )ritish troops, they were stacking their firelocks before the war, though when

the practice began is not known. 6ric !chnit7er notes, 84&ere are !any reeren"esin Nournals or t&e Britis& sta"#ing t&eir ar!s in t&e Fort&ern "a!paigno 1777 .ne Nournal 5t&at o *nos 'it"&"o"#, attersonEs Brigade spe"i:"ally !entions t&at on t&e day o t&e surrender 517 ."tober17776 Ot&e Britis& 4roops lo"#ed Hsta"#edt&eir Ar!s, t&e >er!ans grounded t&eirs $$$$< Also, t&e Britis& syste! osta"#ing ar!s is "o!!only reerred to as Olo"#ing< 5as t&is Nournal!entions6 or Opiling$


12/21

Dire"tions or :xing up t&eir )irelo"#s by )iles$-By lo"#ing t&e bayonets and ra!-rod tops toget&er, and spreading outt&e but-end to an exa"t triangle, at su"& a distan"e as to or! a steadyoundation$18

Anot&er !ilitary aut&or expanded so!e+&at on t&e t&e!e andnoted t&e >er!ans pre"eding t&e Britis& in sta"#ing ar!s$ 4&is is ro!Bennett;ut&bertsoner!antroops, o :xing up t&eir :relo"#s in :les, by lo"#ing t&e bayonets andra!rods top toget&er, and spreading out t&e buts to an exa"t triangle, atsu"& a distan"e as to or! a steady oundationK on seri"e, t&e

adantage o t&is !et&od aboe grounding is !u"& to be "onsidered, asby it !any a""idents !ay be preented in t&e "ourse o a "a!paign,+&en a Battalion al+ays !ar"&es +it& loaded ar!s$ 19

An asso"iated ootnote relates t&at on, Qt&e :rst expedition toartini"o HartiniCue last +ar, an o="er lost a leg by t&e dis"&arge oa grounded :relo"#$P att&e+ (eagle supplied t&is pertinent ex"erpt ro! standing ordersor t&e Britis& G2d )oot, issued 2 April 1781 on regi!ental inspe"tiondays,

%&en t&e +&ole is ready, t&e AdNutant +ill a"Cuaint t&e "o!!anding

.="er +it& &is /eae &e +ill gie t&e %ord o ;o!!and$ .="ers,reie+ your ;o!panies$ 4&e 4i!e-!an o ea"& ;o!pany +ill t&enspring out, and .="ers spring t&e Rig&t-about$ %ords o ;o!!and$.ne otion, - S&oulder your )irelo"#s, - .pen your ans, - )ix yourBayonets, - Dra+ your Ra!rods, - .rder your )irelo"#s, - 4riangle yourAr!s$ And t&en inspe"t t&eir Fe"essaries, and as# all ne"essary@uestions ro! t&e SerNeants$23


13/21

%Preceding page and detail &elow* E$ady $ouisa $enno? with /er/us&ands ,egiment# '6th ,egiment of 3oot#F )inorca# circa !!#&y >iuseppe Chiesa. Gote the line of stacked 5rearms across the&ackground. %Gational Army )useum*


14/21

Acnowledgements!

4&an#s to t&ose +&o "ontributed to t&is +or#, truly a group eortK Don

'agist, att&e+ (eagle, Stee Rayner, and *ri" S"&niter$

+ndnotes

1$ %illia! 'enry *gle, ed$, QA Mor#to+n .rderly Boo#,Q #otes and$ueries %istorical and &enealogical chie'y relating to interior(ennsyl)ania, t+o olu!es, ol$ 2 5'arrisburgK 'arrisburg ublis&ing;o$, 1896, 2$2$ 'o+ard ;$ Ri"e and Anne S$($ Bro+n, eds$ and trans$, The *mericanCampaigns o Rochambeau+s *rmy 17," 17,1" 17,." 17,/, ol$ I

5rin"eton, F$J$ and roiden"e, R$I$,K rin"eton Tniersity ress, 19726,1G$?$ Robert ;$ Bray and aul *$ Bus&nell, eds$, 0iary o a Common Soldierin the *merican Re)olution *n *nnotated 2dition o the ilitary 3ournalo 3eremiah &reenman 5De(alb, Il$, 19786, $ >reen!an !entionedgrounding ar!s six ti!es in 1777K on"e on 1 or 1G June, t+i"e 17 June,t+i"e on 28 Foe!ber, and on"e on 11 De"e!ber in 1778 &e noted


15/21

doing so on June 2t& and July ?1st$ 'ere is a s!all sele"tion o ot&erreeren"esK/t$ ;&arles %illson eale, 2d Battalion, &iladelp&ia Asso"iators, 2d4rentonUrin"eton "a!paignK$Jan$ 1st, 1777$$$ Ater re!aining so!e ti!e in t&is order, +e retired a

little ba"# to an or"&ard, +&i"& Noined t&e :eld, ground our ar!s, and!ade :res +it& t&e en"es Hlater t&e sa!e day %e no+ !ar"&ed tot&e s#irts o t&e :eld, ground our ar!s, !ade :res +it& t&e en"e rails,and tal#ed oer t&e atigues o t&e day and so!e, ater eating, laidt&e!seles do+n to sleep$t&$$$ I t&en returned, and re"eied t&e order to stop, ground ar!s,and set to !a#ing :res$ 'ora"e %ells, Sellers, ed$, ;&arles %illsoneale, Artist-Soldier, (ennsyl)ania aga4ine o %istory and !iography,ol$ VIII, no$ ? 5&iladelp&iaK 'istori"al So"iety o ennsylania,1916, 278-279, 28?$Sgt$ *beneer %ild, 1st assa"&usetts Regi!entK

Foe!ber 8, 1777 - About sunrise our regt$ paraded and grounded ourar!s, and t&en stru"# our tents and "arried t&e! +it& t&e rest o ourbaggage do+n to t&e side o t&e rier and loaded t&e! on board obatteaux$$$ HAter "rossing$$$ +e !ar"&ed about G !iles$$$ to ;enter&oo"# H(inder&oo#$ 4&ere +e lodged in barns$De"e!ber G, 1777 - $$$ a little ater sunrise +e !ar"&ed to our alar!posts L grounded our ar!s$ In t&e aternoon it "louded up$ %e !oedba"# a little in t&e +oods and built &uts +it& t&e dry bus&es, or +e &adno axes to "ut any$ Journal o *beneer %ild, (roceedings o theassachusetts %istorical Society, 2nd series, ol$ VI 5Boston, a$, 18916,133, 13$

$ >eneral orders, 12 June 1777, Jo&n ;$ )itpatri"#, ed$, The 5ritings o&eorge 5ashington rom the Original anuscript Sources 176-1788,ol$ 8 5%as&ington, D;, 19??6$ Aailable online athttpHHinternational.loc.govHammemHgwhtmlHgwhome.html $ >eneral orders, Septe!ber 1777, ibid$, ol$ 9 519??6$G$ >eneral orders, 28 Foe!ber 1777, ibid$, ol$ 13 519??6$7$ >eneral orders, G De"e!ber 1777, ibid$8$ >eneral orders, ay 1778, ibid$, ol$ 11 519?6$9$ $$ @uaie, ed$, Do"u!ents W A Boy Soldier Tnder %as&ingtonK4&e e!oir o Daniel >ranger, ississippi 9alley %istorical Re)ie:,VI, 5ar"& 19?36, -$ httpHHwww.massar.orgH&oston4

children4in4the4revolutionH13$ Journal o *beneer %ild, 129$11$ >eneral orders, 22 June 1783, )itpatri"#, 5ritings o &eorge5ashington, ol$ 19 519?76$12$ ;apt$ Josep& ";lellan, 9t& ennsylania Regi!ent, ."t$ 2t&

H1783$ A ery :ne !orning$ Built a "&i!ney to our tent$ ."t$ 2Gt&$$$4&e Diision o /ig&t Inantry +as reie+ed at sunset$$$ sta"#ed t&e ar!son t&e parade t&e !en to parade in one &our, +&i"& +as done $$$,
http://international.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.htmlhttp://www.massar.org/boston-children-in-the-revolution/http://www.massar.org/boston-children-in-the-revolution/http://international.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.htmlhttp://www.massar.org/boston-children-in-the-revolution/http://www.massar.org/boston-children-in-the-revolution/


16/21

Diary o *ents$$$ ro! Aug$ 1, 1783, to De"$ ?1, 1783$ )ro! t&e Journalo ;apt$ Josep& ";lellan, o Fint& ennEa$ Jo&n B$ /inn and William 9. 6gle,eds.,Pennsylvania Archives, second series, 'ol. :I "9arrisburg1 Clarence (. )usch, !tate rinter,

#%/;&, ;0;eneral orders, 2 July 1781, )itpatri"#, 5ritings o &eorge5ashington, ol$ 22 519?76$1$ >eneral orders, ?3 August 1782, ibid$, ol$ 2 519?86$1G$ %illia! 'enry *gle, ed$, QA Mor#to+n .rderly Boo#,Q #otes and$ueries %istorical and &enealogical chie'y relating to interior(ennsyl)ania5t+o olu!es6, ol$ 2 5'arrisburgK 'arrisburg ublis&ing;o$, 1896, 2$17$ %illia! B$ %eeden, ed, Diary o *nos 'it"&"o"#, D$D$, A ;&aplain in t&eReolutionary Ar!y, %it& a e!oir, (ublications o the Rhode Island%istorical Society, 7 5."t$ 18996, 19$

18$ 4&o!as Si!es, The Regulator - or Instructions to Form the Ofcerand Complete the Soldier5/ondon, 1783K Reprinted ;&a!paign, Il$Kerde ress, 19836, 13$ ;ourtesy o Stee Rayner$19$ Bennett ;ut&bertson, System or the Compleat Interior anagementand Oeconomy o a !attalion o Inantry5Bristol, 177G6, 172-17?$23$ Regi!ental Standing .rders or t&e Sixty-Se"ond Regi!ent o )ootIssued by aNor >eneral *d+ard at&e+, April t&e 2t& 1781,/in"olnKS$ Si!!ons, 1781, p2?$ 5Britis& /ibrary, RB 2? A 191926$ ;ourtesy oatt&e+ (eagle$


17/21

"any valua#le advantages, would result, from having the arms of the same #ore

Non$Standardi%ation of Arms in the &arly to "id$War ContinentalArmy

Jo&n T$ Rees

4o !y !ind, t&e "ontention does not ring true t&at t&e reason

;ontinental troops did not sta"# t&eir !us#ets or !u"& o t&e +ar +asdue to a !ix o dierent :rear!s +it&in "o!panies and regi!ents$ Itsee!s !ore li#ely a s&ortage o bayonets +as t&e real "ulprit or,per&aps, t&at A!eri"an soldiers +ere not a!iliar +it& t&e pra"ti"e and+ere not ersed in it$ Despite t&at, belo+ is a series o resear"&ignettes illustrating t&e arious ar!s used$


18/21

;ol$ Israel S&ree listed !us#ets pur"&ased or t&e 2ndFe+ JerseyRegi!ent in spring 177G, in"luding one ea"& +it& Q;urlen$ 4&o!as iXindes"ribed ar!s supply or t&e t+o ennsylania battalions at )ort

%as&ingtonK Q;ol aga+ Ht&

ennsylania &as not !ore t&an 12H:relo"#s in &is Regi!Hent$ )it or seri"e Htotal ran# and :le strengt& o31 W ;ol S&ee H?rdennsylania, +&ose regi!ent "onsisted o ? ran#and :le about ?33 H!us#ets in"ludg all t&e ;arbines +&i"& t&ey re"dlately P Tneen supply and a la"# o standardiation +as one reasonor t&is !ix o ar!s anot&er a"tor +as t&e Q;usto! o &iring t&e! Hi$e$,paying soldiers or !us#ets t&ey broug&t ro! &o!e or t&e ;a!paign$P4&is pra"ti"e alone resulted in a real &odge-podge o +eaponry$Israel S&ree, 177G, 5trans"ription no$ ?16, Israel S&ree apers,Alexander /ibrary, Rutgers Tniersity, Fe+ Bruns+i"#, F$J$ 4&o!asiXin to >eorge %as&ington, 2 July 177G, >eorge %as&ington apers,

series , reel ?G$

.n 1 July 1777 %as&ington noted, Qas soon as t&e en are settled int&eir Cuarters, t&e .="ers are "riti"ally to inspe"t t&eir ar!s anda""outre!ents, and &ae t&e! put in t&e best order possible W 4&e;o!!ander in ;&ie +as surprised to day to see t&e bad "ondition o!any ar!s t&ey being not only un:t or :re, but ery rusty, +&i"& latterdee"t it is "ertainly in t&e po+er o eery !an to preent, and t&enegle"t o it !ust arise ro! an inex"usable inattention o t&e o="ers$P>eneral orders, August 1777K Q4&e +ant o Ar!ourers gies t&e

.="ers a air .pportunity o attributing !any t&ings, +&i"& are reallyo+ing to t&eir inattention to t&eir !en And it is no un"o!!on t&ing to:nd Ar!s returned as dee"tie, H+&i"& upon "lose inspe"tion +antonly rubbing and "leaning$P Anot&er serious di="ulty resulted ro! t&e dierent "aliber :relo"#s used+it&in regi!ents$ >eneral orders, 1? ."tober 1777, QAs !any great andaluable adantages, +ould result, ro! &aing t&e ar!s o a diision, or eeno a brigade, o t&e sa!e bore, t&e ;o!!ander in ;&ie dire"ts, t&at ea"&o="er "o!!anding a brigade +ould &ae a return instantly !ade to &i! o t&edierent ;alibers and nu!ber o ea"& #ind in &is brigade i su"& a dispositiono ar!s "an be ee"ted !any &appy "onseCuen"es +ould 0o+ ro! it$P

>eneral orders, 1 July 1777,Jo&n ;$ )itpatri"#, ed$, The 5ritings o&eorge 5ashington rom the Original anuscript Sources 176-1788,ol$ 8 5%as&ington, D;, 19??6$ Aailable online athttpHHinternational.loc.govHammemHgwhtmlHgwhome.html >eneralorders, August 1777, ibid$, ol$ 9 519??6 >eneral orders, 1? ."tober1777, ibid$, ol$ 9 519??6$
http://international.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.htmlhttp://international.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.html


19/21

odern ex"aations o t&e Valley )orge "anton!ent gie a roug& pi"tureo t&e diering ar!s used in seeral brigades$ Based on !us#et ballsound at arious sites Qt&e proportion o $7 "alibre a!!unition to $G9"alibre suggest t&at t&ere +ere !ore o t&e larger "alibre +eapons in useat Valley )orge$ 'o+eer, 12? o t&e larger "alibre balls "a!e ro! t&e

area around H;onne"ti"ut >eneral Jededia& 'untingdon


20/21

A""ording to one do"u!ent, !us#ets +ere still not unior!ly suppliedin 1783, t&oug& )ren"& +eapons +ere beginning to predo!inate$ Areturn or /t$ ;ol$ >rosenor


21/21

“When the whole are completely formed, they may ground their arms …”: Grounding versus...

Documents

Transcript of “When the whole are completely formed, they may ground their arms …”: Grounding versus...