General Orders

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Head-Quarters, Cambridge, August 8, 1775.

(Parole, Portsmouth.)

(Countersign, Northumberland.)

As the number of absent sick, by the last returns, is astonishingly great, it is ordered that the name of each man, absent under that pretence, be given in by the commanding officer of each Regiment, and signed by him, setting forth the town which each particular soldier is gone to, that the Committee thereof may be applied to, to inspect into the nature of their complaints, and make report of those who are fit for duty.

It has been intimated to the General that some officers, under pretence of giving furloughs to men recovering from sickness, send them to work upon their farms, for their own private emolument, at the same time that the publick is taxed with their pay, if not with their provisions. These insinuations being but obliquely made, the General is unwilling to believe that any officer can be so lost to all sense of honour, as to defraud the publick in so scandalous a manner, and therefore does not at present pay any further regard to the insinuation than to declare, that he will show no favour to any officer who shall be found guilty of such iniquitous practices, but will do his utmost endeavours to bring them to exemplary punishment, and the disgrace due to such malconduct.

The following is the ration of provisions allowed by the Continental Congress unto each soldier, viz:

One pound of fresh beef, or three-quarters of a pound of pork, or one pound of salt fish, per diem.

One pound of bread or flour, per diem.

Three pints of peas or beans, per week, or vegetables equivalent, at five shillings per bushel for peas or beans.

One pint of milk per man, per diem, when to be had.

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One half pint of rice, or one pint of Indian meal, per man, per week.

One quart of spruce beer, per man, per diem, or nine gallons of molasses, per Company of 100 men.

Three pounds of candles to 100 men, per week, for guards, &c. Twenty-four pounds of soft, or eight pounds of hard soap for 100 men per week.

One ration of salt, one ditto fresh, and two ditto bread, to be delivered Monday morning. Wednesday morning the same.

Friday morning the same, and one ditto salt fish. All weekly allowances delivered Wednesday morning. Where the number of Regiments is too many to serve the whole the same day, then the number to be divided equally, and one part served Monday morning, the other part Tuesday morning, and so through the week.