Last updated: May 31, 2026
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May 1778 - From the Journals of Valley Forge
NPS Graphic / G. Purifoy
May 1, 1778
"Farewell my Journal, we must part
Which contains some nature but no art
The companion of my sore fatigues
Throughout the war, but not intrigues;
Therefore adieu my ambiguous book,
May you be pleasing to those who in you look.”
—last page of the diary of Lieutenant James McMichael
May 2, 1778
The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains—those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them—It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendence set an Example to their men.
May 3, 1778
“From the Situation in which I found the Quarter Master General’s Department on my entering upon the Office ... it appeared to be absolutely necessary to make very extensive & speedy Preparations for the ensuing Campaign, especially in Horses, Teams, Tents, and other Articles of high Price.”
—letter from Major General Nathanael Greene to General Washington
May 4, 1778
Last night at 11 oClock, I was honored with your despatches of the 3d. The Contents afford me the most sensible pleasure. Mr Simeon Deane had informed me, by a line from Bethlehem, that he was the Bearer of the Articles of alliance &ca between France and the States.
May 5, 1778
“I very much fear that we, taking it for granted that we have nothing more to do because France has acknowledged our independency and formed an alliance with us, shall relapse into a state of supineness and perfect security ... It behoves us therefore to make ourselves as respectable as possible, that, if the Enemy continue in their present detatched state, we may endeavour to destroy them by peice meal, and if, on the contrary, they collect, they may fall heavily upon us in some quarter.”
—letter from General Washington to Major General Alexander McDougall
May 6, 1778
"The Troops was paraded and marchd to hear a Short discourse adapted to the Occation – after wards they grounded their arms, and then a signal Cannon was fired and each division Marched to the Ground allotted for them which in the Whole formed two lines – at another Cannon being fired as a signal, thirteen Cannon was discharged, and then a Running fire beginning at the Right & going to the left of the front Line & from the left to the right of the 2d line and 3 huzzas for the King of France, the 13 Cannon fired & the Running fire huzzas for the friendly European Powers, & 13 Cannon Running fire & huzzas for the States of America”
—diary of Captain Charles Willson Peale
May 7, 1778
“The Commander in Chief in a season of General Joy takes occasion to proclaim Pardon & Releasement to all Prisoners whatever now in Confinement whether in the Provost or any other place—this he is induced to do from a desire that the Influence of our prosperity may be as extensive as possible and from an unwillingness that even those who merit Punishment rather than favor, should be excluded from the benefit of an Event so interesting to mankind as that which has lately happened in the Affairs of America—He hopes the Indulgence will not be abused but will excite Gratitude in all those who are objects of it, and produce a Change of Conduct & an Abhorrence of every Practice inconsistent with the duty they owe to their Country.”
—George Washington's general orders
May 8, 1778
"the whole of our Continental force hitherto assembled lies in the States of Pensylvania and Delaware, and on the North River, and amounts to about Fifteen thousand rank and file, fit for the field, besides horse and Artillery.
The main body lies at this post, Valley forge, and in its vicinity, amounting to about 11,800 rank and file, capable of service; comprehending such of the sick present and on command, as might be called into action on any emergency, as per general return herewith submitted dated the 2d instant.”
—Council of War
May 9, 1778
The languid Progress of essential works of Defence which have been traced by the Engineers gives the Commander in Chief great Concern—He calls upon those Officers who superintend them to use their utmost Exertions to have them completed without loss of time.
May 10, 1778
"My Dear Peggy, I beg You’ll have patience to go thro’ my absence with the same virtue and heroism, You have done. I think it too ridiculous to endeavour to convince You of My persevering in the same love I left You with, for I am sure my Angel cou’d never doubt my sincerity – I now anticipate the pleasure I shall shortly have in the company of my little daughter, and its mamma, how I will caress & fondle upon the sweet infant; But no more of that, the thoughts only make me unhappy, at the distance of 250 miles.
My most fervent prayer is that this may meet you & the dear daughter in the enjoyment of health, peace & prosperity – My esteem to our good sister, our mother & all other friends. I am, dear Peggy, Yours untill time shall be no mor”
—letter from Lieutenant Colonel John Cropper to his wife Margaret Cropper
May 11, 1778
I have received your Letter of yesterdays date. I had no particular person in view when I issued the order respecting the slow progress of the works, at the same time, I acknowledge, that I am exceedingly mortified at seeing, & beholding the delay of them—whether unavoidable, or not, I do not undertake to determine.
March 12, 1778
“As the weather grows warm and there is the greatest danger of the Troops growing sickly, unless the Camps are kept clean, The Qr. Master is directed without fail to keep constantly employed such a number in that business as effectually to do it – They are to see every kind of filth immediately burned, that is in and about the Camp of the Regt – that a suitable number of Vaults are dug; and all persons are strictly forbid easing themselves in and about the Camp in any other place, than in sd vaults,...”
—orderly book of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment
March 13, 1778
“The Commander in Chief is informed that notwithstanding His order of 12th of January last, the Carcases of dead horses lay in and near camp and that the offal near many of the Commissaries Stalls still lay unburied, that much Filth and nastiness is spread amongst the Hutts which are or will soon be reduced to a State of Putrefaction and occasion a sickly Camp;”
—George Washington's general orders
March 14, 1778
Ordering Colonel Harrison’s Regiment of Artillery from Virginia to join the grand Army without delay—And authorizing your Excellency to order Major Genl Marquis delafayette & Major General Baron de Kalb to rejoin the Army. & also to recall Colo. Hazen’s or order any other Regiment from the Northward.
March 15, 1778
"I this morning proceeded to the grand parade, where I was a spectator to the drumming out of Lieut. Enslin of Col. Malcom’s regiment. He was first drum’d from right to left of the parade, thence to the left wing of the army; from that to the centre, and lastly transported over the Schuylkill with orders never to be seen in Camp in the future. This shocking scene was performed by all the drums and fifes in the army”
—journal of Lieutenant James McMichael
March 16, 1778
"Jno Mills private Soldier in his Majestys 64th Regt of Foot try’d by the Genl Court Martial of Which LtColo Musgrave was President, for Deserting from Said Regt & bearing Arm’s In the Rebell army, is found Guilty of the Crimes laid to his Charge, & Sentenc’d to Suffer Death, by being Hang’d by the Neck Untill he is Dead, the Commr in Chief Confirms the above Sentance.”
—orderly book of the British 1st Regiment of Foot (Guards)
March 17, 1778
"I am sorry to hear you are indisposed and hope you will soon recover. I have never dabbled much in Medical authors or given great credit to tales of Old Women, and therefore hold myself but illy qualified to prescribe for any malady: However I will hazard my reputation for once. put a Woollen Stocking round your neck to night & it is more than probable you will derive no small benefit from it. I have myself in a complaint of a similar nature.”
—letter from Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison to Commissary of Prisoners Elias Boudinot
March 18, 1778
"Innoculation for the Small-Pox having been happily performed on all the subjects in Camp it is necessary to guard against the fatal effects of that disorder taken in the natural way, The Commander in Chief therefore enjoins all officers commanding Regiments upon the arrival of recruits or return of absent soldiers to make immediate and strict inquiry whether they have had the Small-Pox, and order such as have not to be innoculated without loss of time by the Regimental Surgeon; and in case of the Regiments being unprovided with one to give instant notice to the Surgeon General.”
—George Washington's general orders
March 19, 1778
"The Commander in Chief directs that the officers be very attentive to the water their men drink—The little springs about Camp from which they have been accustomed to supply themselves during the winter will in their present state become extremely impure & pernicious in the approaching warm season; as it is a matter essential to health it is expected that officers will without delay take measures to provide good water for their men by having the springs opened and cleared and Wells sunk in proper places with barrels to preserve them taking care to have them frequently emptied and cleansed to prevent an accumulation of Filth.”
—George Washington's general orders
March 20, 1778
To us who had built ourselves a city on the banks of the Schuylkill, the return of Spring brought thoughts of happiness, which we should have enjoyed more fully, were Philadelphia again in our possession. We rely on the prudence and military skill of our worthy General, to accomplish this.
March 21, 1778
I have met with the most favorable Reception from all the Generals in Your Army, and Genl Washington in particular. His Excellency is willing to Entrust me with the Department of the Exercising of the Troops.
March 22, 1778
P.S. I have transmitted to your Excellency a pair of pistols &c. &c. your acceptance of which will confer a singular obligation on.
March 23, 1778
A Pocket Book containing a Gold Ring and a small Sum of Mony, was found the 20th inst near Head Qrs – by applying to Capt Ballad in Genl Maxwells Brigade – also another Pocket Book, found betwixt Valley Forge and the Commisy. Genl Qrs, containing a sum of Money – The Owner may have it by applying and describing it to Lieut Hitchcock, at Genl Patterson’s Brigade
March 24, 1778
The Honorable the Continental Congress have been pleased to appoint Major General Greene Quarter Master General in the Army of The-United-States reserving to him his rank of Major General in the same and John Cox and Charles Pettit Esquires Assistants Quarter Master General, all of whom respectively are to be considered and respected accordingly.
Image credit: NPS Photo
March 25, 1778
"At a General Court-Martial whereof Coll Swift was President March 18th ... Matthew Tyson, Henry Norris, Thomas Boley, John Campbell and Jesse Horvan Inhabitants of the State of Pennsylvania tried for supplying the Enemy with provisions severally found guilty and ordered by the Commander in Chief to be confin’d by night in the Provost and in the day constantly employed on fatigue during one month & in addition to said Norris’s fatigue, that agreeable to the sentence of the Court, he pay fifty pounds into the hands of the Adjutant General for the use of the sick in camp."
—George Washington's general orders
March 26, 1778
I went on a Command at the Gulf mill Clouday Rainy Day found Very Good Quarters at mr. Jones
March 27, 1778
"And now my dearest & most beloved of Women, I must with all the tenderness & Affection of the most loving Husband, wish you a good Night, with the addition of every Happiness your nature is capable of in this Vale of Tears & disappointments, and after they are vanished away like the baseless fabric of a nocturnal Vision leaving not a wrech behind, you may find yourself in the full fruition of all the Joys & raptures of the most adoring Seraph of the heavenly World”
—letter from Commissary General or Prisoners Elias Boudinot to his wife Hannah Boudinot
March 28, 1778
"The Commanding Officers of Companies are immediately to send to the Armourer all the Arms belonging to the Companies out of repair or wants Bayonetts, and get them put in good repair – The Commanding Officers of Regts are to see that a suitable number of Men are employed in making Cartriges, till they have a sufficient number to compleat forty Rounds per Man in their respective Regts.”
—brigade orders of Brigadier General James Mitchell Varnum
March 29, 1778
Very Stormy Day of Rain and Snow as had ben the whole winter
March 30, 1778
“I jined the Life guard and liked being there much better than being in the Ridgment let them go where they would.”
March 31, 1778
"A Return be immediately made by each Regt of the number of Hatts Britches, Hoes, Stockings and Waistcoats wanting for the men – A quantity of them articles being now arrived at Genl Wayne’s Quarters for the immediate use of his Division.”
—division orders of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne