July 2

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Head-Quarters, New-York, July 2, 1776.

(Parole, Armstrong.) (Countersign, Lee.)

General Mifflin is to repair to the post near King' s Bridge, and to use his utmost endeavours to forward the works there; General Scott in the mean time to perform the duty required of General Mifflin in the Orders of the 29th June.

No Sentries are to stop or molest the country people coming to market or going from it, but to be very vigilant in preventing soldiers leaving the Army.

Colonel Cortlandt, of the New-Jersey Brigade, is to send over five hundred of the Militia Under his command, to reinforce General Greene' s Brigade; these troops are to be distinguished from the old Militia in future by being called New Levies. The Quartermaster-General to furnish them with Tents. The detachment from General Spencer' s Brigade to return when these get over. The Militia not under the immediate command of General Heard, are to be under that of General Mercer until the arrival of their own General Officer.

The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a state of wretchedness, from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this Army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance or the most abject submission. This is all we can expect. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die. Our country' s honour calls upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole

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The General recommends to the Officers great coolness in time of action, and to the Soldiers a strict attention and obedience, with a becoming firmness and spirit.

Any Officer or Soldier, or any particular Corps, distinguishing themselves by any acts of bravery and courage, will assuredly meet with notice and rewards; and, on the other hand, those who behave ill will as certainly be exposed and punished; the General being resolved, as well for the honour and safety of the country as Army, to show no favour to such as refuse or neglect their duty at so important a crisis.

The General expressly orders that no Officer or Soldier, on any pretence whatever, without leave in writing from the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, do leave the parade, so as to be out of drum call in case of an alarm, which may be hourly expected. The Regiments are immediately to be under arms at their respective parades, and should any be absent they will be severely punished. The whole Army to be at their alarm posts, completely equipped, to-morrow, a little before day.

Ensign Charles Miller, of Captain Wright' s Company, and Colonel Wylly' s Regiment, charged with "absenting himself from his guard," tried by a General Court-Martial and acquitted. The General approves the sentence, and orders him to be dismissed from his arrest.

As there is a probability of rain, the General strongly recommends to the Officers to pay particular attention to the men' s Arms and Ammunition, that neither may be damaged.

Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, who was ordered to sit on the General Court-Martial in the Orders of yesterday, being absent on command, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyler is to sit in Court.

Evening Orders. — It is the General' s desire that the men lay upon their Arms in their Tents and Quarters, ready to turn out at a moment' s warning, as there is the greatest likelihood of it.