United States Continental Army

Records, 1778-1783
98 fol.

Scope and Contents:

A volume of the adjutant general's weekly and monthly strength returns of the Continental Army, 98 leaves.

The record begins, after a fragmentary leaf, with a return dated at Valley Forge, March 7, 1778. the army is followed to White Plains, July 25­September 12, then to Fredericksburg, October 17-November 15. With November, monthly returns by states are recorded and continue without interruption until July, 1781. After a break due to summer campaigns the monthly record is resumed in February, 1782, and continues through May, 1783. Alternating with the monthly returns are weekly records dated from Middle Brook, New Windsor, West Point, Morristown, Orange Town, New Windsor again, Dobbs Ferry, York Town, Newburgh, Verplancks Point, and Newburgh again, November 2, 1782-August 16, 1783.

Almost all the headings read 'under the immediate command of General George Washington,' but there are two returns for the army under Greene in 1780, two for the troops under heath, and one for those under St. Clair.

Alexander Scammell served as adjutant general from January 5, 1778, to January 1, 1781. He was succeeded by Edward Hand, who served until November 3, 1783. the book is kept in a uniform handwriting, probably by a subordinate officer. Scammell's name never appears, but Hand signed the final leaf, closing out the record.

Provenance:

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U.S. Continental Army Records

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