Order’d, and directed, that not only every regiment, but every Company, do keep an Orderly-book, to which frequent recourse is to be had, it being expected that all standing orders be rigidly obeyed, until alter’d or countermanded 2-It is also expected, that all Orders which are necessary to be communicated to the Men, be regularly read, and carefully explained to them. In vain is it for a General to issue Orders, if Orders are not attended to, equally vain is it for a few Officers to exert themselves, if the same spirit does not animate the whole it is therefore expected, (it is not insisted upon) that each Brigadier, will be attentive to the discipline of his Brigade, to the exercise of, and the Conduct observed in it, calling the Colonels, and Field Officers of every regiment, to severe Account for Neglect, or Disobedience of orders-The same attention is to be paid by the Field Officers to the respective Companies of their regiments-by the Captains to their Subalterns, and so on: And that the plea of Ignorance, which is no excuse for the Neglect of Orders (but rather an Aggravation) may not be offer’d, It is This day giving commencement to the new-army, which, in every point of View is entirely Continental The General flatters himself, that a laudable Spirit of emulation, will now take place, and pervade the whole of it 1 without such a Spirit, few Officers have ever arrived to any degree of Reputation, nor did any Army ever become formidable: His Excellency hopes that the Importance of the great Cause we are engaged in, will be deeply impressed upon every Man’s mind, and wishes it to be considered, that an Army without Order, Regularity & Discipline, is no better than a Commission’d Mob Let us therefore, when every thing dear and valuable to Freemen is at stake when our unnatural Parent is threat’ning of us with destruction from every quarter, endeavour by all the Skill and Discipline in our power, to acquire that knowledge, and conduct, which is necessary in War-Our men are brave and good Men who with pleasure it is observed, are addicted to fewer Vices than are commonly found in Armies but it is Subordination & Discipline (the Life and Soul of an Army) which next under providence, is to make us formidable to our enemies, honorable in ourselves, and respected in the world and herein is to be shewn the Goodness of the Officer. Head Quarters, Cambridge, January 1st 1776
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