Washington's Orders, July 1776
Powerful Words this Independence Day
Just two days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, General George Washington gathered his men together to deliver a pivotal directive. Washington was not among the men who would sign the Declaration, as he was away commanding the Continental Army. However, his consequential orders would inspire unity among the brave men who would serve on the battlefield. Recognizing the upcoming challenges and the soldiers' vital role in securing independence, Washington's orders instilled an unwavering commitment to the noble cause of liberty. A new nation would soon be born.
A Selection from General Washington’s Orders, July 02, 1776
The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, free men, 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 own country’s honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world—Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the cause, and the aid of the supreme being, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions—The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a free man contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.
General Order
Head Quarters, New York, July 2nd 1776
