General orders. Head-quarters, Boston, June 13th, 1797. [Signed] William Donnison,Adjutant general. [Boston: Printed by Young and Minns, 1797.].

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-Quarters, Boston, June 13th, 1797.

THE Commander in Chief takes the earliest opportunity of calling the attention of his Fellow Citizens to the Military security of the Commonwealth. The Militia, the natural defence of all free States, is our best hope on every occasion of sudden or unexpected danger--that of Massachusetts, whether in the field of Hostility, or on the domestic Parade, has ever been distinguished for its good Order, Subordination and Discipline; without these essential qualifications, all its efforts would have been feeble, and all its strength but a shadow: But so long as they shall be recognized as habitual traits in the Military Character of our Citizens, the power of the State will be respected, and appear formidable in the eyes of military Men.

Self-defence is the first law of nature, and applies to nations as well as individuals; and to provide for that defence is the duty of every nation, even when in the most profound Peace; yet, by experience it is found, that in times of perfect security, when all has been tranquil in our foreign and domestic relations, the laws for governing and regulating the Militia, have been less vigorously executed than in times of greater danger. The Commander in Chief therefore expects that those indulgencies which have a tendency to sap the bulwark of our strength, will no longer be suffered. When the Citizens, who compose the Ranks of our Battallions, see the public tranquility in jeopardy, they will demand nothing more than to know that the Government Commands.

In the present situation of public affairs it is of the highest consequence to the happiness of the United States, and to the preservation of our Peace, that the relaxed springs in the government of the Militia be restored to their proper elasticity. To that intent the Commander in Chief calls upon the General and Field Officers, each within his jurisdiction, to increase his vigilance and energy of action, in the execution of those laws committed to their authority. The other officers, feeling the propelling motion of those in the higher grades, will be more attentive to perform their duty with promptitude and precision; the good sense of the Citizens in the Ranks will demonstrate to them its utility, and convince them of its importance; they will appear in a more soldier-like manner in the field, their Arms and Accoutrements will be more complete and in better order, a just knowledge of the relation between subordination and command will follow of course, the whole government of the Militia will acquire an accellerated motion, and the military strength of the Commonwealth will be greatly augmented.

The short time which the Commander in Chief has had to acquire a knowledge of the actual state of the Militia, necessarily precludes him from entering largely into the detail relatively to its situation or defects; he is however happy to find, from the papers laid before him, that there is but a small proportion of the Citizens enrolled who are altogether destitute of Arms and Accoutrements; yet he is strongly impressed with the idea that the whole should be completely equipped. And in cases where the individual is unable to provide himself, application should be made to the Selectmen, who are required by law to equip him at the expence of the town where he lives; but in all other cases the individual must be required to furnish himself, without delay, with every article specified in the law. The Commander in Chief has reason to believe that inattentions in this respect have, in some instances, been too long tollerated; and while he has the highest confidence in the honor and public spirit of the Officers, he has the same reliance on the Patriotism of the other Citizens, that they will unite their endeavours in completely Arming and Equipping the Militia, so important to the general welfare.

The addition of a Uniform has been found to give great animation to the Exercises of the field: Tho' this depends upon the ambition and voluntary efforts of individuals, the Commander in Chief is highly gratified to learn, that numerous corps in the Militia have supplied themselves in this particular in the most respectable manner: He returns them his sincere thanks for their laudable exertions, and hopes they will not relax in pursuing an object which adds so greatly to their martial appearance.

To prevent irregularities in the application for ammunition and military stores, by the Officers of Artillery in the several Brigades, it is required that the application shall be always in writing, directed to the Quarter-Master General, and sanctioned either by the commanding Officer of the Division or Brigade.

The Major Generals will not fail to give timely Orders for the Annual Musters, either by Regiments or Battalions, within their respective Divisions; And the commanding Officers of Regiments, Battalions and Squadrons will see that the several Companies composing their respective Corps turn out for discipline conformably to the requisitions of the law.

The Commander in Chief is apprehensive that so long as the war shall continue between the several Belligerent Nations of Europe, the tranquility of our own Country will be insecure, and liable to interruption; but while the Militia of the United States preserve their justly acquired character of being good soldiers, and while they continue to demonstrate their well known promptitude, zeal, and readiness for the defence of their Country, by being always prepared for the field, the probability of War will be happily diminished.

By Order of the Commander in Chief,
WILLIAM DONNISON,
Adjutant-General.