Last updated: May 18, 2026
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April 1778 - From the Journals of Valley Forge
NPS Graphic / G. Purifoy
April 1, 1778
"Some Brigades were late in sending their men on the Parade this morning; The General is willing to attribute this to the difference in Watches, and to the end that greater punctuality may be observed in future with respect to time, the Adjutant General is to regulate his Watch by the Clock at Head-Quarters, the Brigade Majors by his and the Adjutants by their Brigade Major.”
—George Washington's general orders
April 2, 1778
As the Stumps and brush in front of the New Lines afford an excellent obstacle to the approaches of an Enemy, it is expressly forbid that any part of it should be burnt by the fatigue parties or any others for the distance of extreme Musquet range in front of the Lines, of which all officers commanding Regiments are to take particular notice—There is a sufficiency of wood within the lines to furnish Stakes for the works.
April 3, 1778
"There is a certain Mr Bankson, late of the Continental marines, who has a family at Princeton. We suspect him to be a spy to Mr Howe, though he offers himself as one to us. We wish to find out his true history. He left this camp the 24th of March, on pretence of making a visit to his family, and is now returned with renewed offers of service. It is doubted whether he has not, in the mean time, been at Philadelphia. The General wrote some days since to Governor Livingston, requesting he would take measures to explore Mr Banksons conduct and views. He directs you immediately to see the Governor and learn from him, if he has been able to make any discovery, and to take cautious methods to ascertain whether Bankson has been at home, since he left camp—how long—and when he left home—in short any thing that may throw light upon his designs.”
—Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton to Colonel Stephen Moylan
April 4, 1778
“The whole Division to parade on Monday morning at 10 o’clock, fresh shaved, well powdered, arms and Accoutrements in the best order possible; the officers at the head of their respective Corps. It is the Genls positive orders, that all the Invalids be paraded at the same time, and that the Officers take care that they appear clean, and that the whole are paraded. The Genl being determined to examine every man himself, to the end that if any of the soldiers are suffering for want of necessaries or proper care or attention, either in the Officers or Surgeons, that these defects may be remedied. The Genl wishes the Commanding Officers of Regts or Corps, to see that their men are completed to 40 Rounds per man immediately.”
—Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's division orders
April 5, 1778
Gen. Washington with all his attendence went to the Lines to Meet Gen. Lee and to Accompany him to Head Quarters where they arrived at two of the Clock in the afternoon where they was receved with a kind salute of arms Drums fifes and Band of Musick.
April 6, 1778
“Pleasent Clear Spent Some Time in writeing on the Grand Parade in the morning Saw Gl Lee on There with a Number of Gel officers”
—diary of Captain Paul Brigham
April 7, 1778
Baron Stüben has condescended to Act the Drill Master as well as the Inspector in Camp, he has hit the taste of the Officers, gives universal satisfaction & I am assured has made an amazing improvement in discipline. A Young correspondent of mine who is a very honest Man & not very ignorant & who had always regretted the deficiency of discipline, tells me if I were present I should be enchanted by the change suddenly made in the grand Camp.
April 8, 1778
"Our army is well recovered of the Small Pox. Thank Heaven and Gen. Howe’s supineness for permitting us to lay still under innoculation. Cloathing is coming in, so that I hope we shall be able to cloath our brave, patient soldiers (the most virtuous men living) in a short time. Recruits begin to come in, & I am in hopes the foundation laid for a plentiful supply of provisions & forage. The Baron Steuben sets us a truly noble example. He has undertaken the discipline of the army, & shows himself to be a perfect master of it, not only in the grand manœuvres but in every minutia.”
—letter from Colonel Alexander Scammell to Major General John Sullivan
April 9, 1778
“Nothing does, nor nothing can contribute more to the health of soldiers than a clean Camp, clean Cloathes and Victuals well dressed; these (however deeply involved in rags an Army may be) are to be effected by attention in the officers”
—George Washington's general orders
April 10, 1778
The increasing warmth of the Season requires that the greatest Care should be taken to keep the Hutts of the men clean, their beding air’d every day and the Streets and Alleys of the Camp free from all kind of Filth; The Commander in Chief therefore earnestly requests both the Brigade & Regimental officers of the day to see these duties regularly and punctually performed; All bones, putrid meat, dirty straw and any other kind of filth to be every day collected and burnt.
April 11, 1778
"If we were as virtuous as we ought to be, we should have those who are enriching themselves by commerce, privateering and farming, supplying the army with every necessary convenience at a moderate rate; but as experience proves that it is in vain to expect this, all I would demand of Congress, is that they would contrive some means of furnishing us with articles which nature cannot forego, and which are useful in giving respectability to the military state, at such prices as bear some proportion to our pay.”
—letter from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens to his father and President of Congress, Henry Laurens
April 12, 1778
“What are Congress doing – why is the Establishment of the Army put off to this late season? – why have not the Respective states their Quota of men in the field? – why this torpor – why this supineness? – when the whole power of Britain is exerting itself to pour in Troops in Order to Effect a total Conquest – now is the time to strike before that force arrives – is it Possible that America means to submit – or does she expect that her Militia will be able to Crush the Enemy? – has the easy Conquest of Burgoyne lulled Congress into a state of security?”
—letter from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne to secretary for the Board of War Richard Peters
April 13, 1778
“Philip Culp an Inhabitant of Pennsylvania tried for attempting to carry flour into Philadelphia, found guilty and sentenc’d to receive fifty lashes and to be employed in some publick work for the use of the Continent while the British Army continues in this State, unless he should choose to inlist into the Continental Service during the present War.”
—George Washington's general orders
April 14, 1778
"The General was very much pleased in a ride through the Lines yesterday to see what attention some of the Brigadiers had paid to his orders respecting the Neatness and Purity of their Camp, He wishes it had been general, but the case was otherwise and (notwithstanding repeated orders enjoining Cleanliness) the smell was in some places intollerable, owing to the want of Necessaries or the Neglect of them; He therefore and for the last time (without proceeding to Extremities) requests that all kinds of Dirt and Filth as well that in Front, Rear and between the Hutts as what shall be found on the Parade and before the doors be raked together & burned or buried as the Case may require.”
—George Washington's general orders
April 15, 1778
"Raind very fast last night and this morning at nine O Clock the Court met and adjourned till nine to-morrow mor 12 O Clock commens to rain very fast this afternoon I receivd a ticket for the Play to be acted this evening at the Bakehouse in the evening went down in company with Major Bloomfield Lieuts Curtis Wayman & Kersey but the house was so full that I could not get in then a number of Gent went to Major Parkers hut in the fourth where we spent the evening very merily”
—diary of Ensign George Ewing
April 16, 1778
"At a General Court Martial whereof Colonel Vose was President … James Gorden a soldier in 2nd Virginia Regiment tried for 1st desertion a third time—2nd Forging a discharge—3rd reinlisting in 12th Pennsylvania Regiment, found guilty of the several charges exhibited against him, being breaches of the 1st and 3rd Article of the 6th section of the Articles of War and sentenced to receive three hundred lashes at three different times—one hundred for each crime.”
—George Washington's general orders
April 17, 1778
But when I think how I have spent three years in the war, have been exposed to every hardship, ventured my life & limbs, broke my constitution, wore out all my clothes & have got nothing for it, & now not to be thanked, it seems two much for any man to bear.
April 18, 1778
"On the 2nd of April the rebels completed the bridge across the Schuylkill at Fatland Ford. They have chosen a good place, for the current of the river is hardly noticeable there. On the bank this side they have erected a tête de pont with four cannon and manned it with 250 men. They intend to use this bridge in proceeding from the recently fortified camp at Valley Forge to Whitemarsh and Bristol and, after crossing the Delaware, to Jersey.”
—Hessian Major Karl Leopold von Bauermeister to Major General Friedrich Cristian Arnold, Freiherr von Jungkenn
April 19, 1778
"In pursuance of your Excellencys Orders, a Considerable Number of Horses & Cattle were collected in the State of New Jersey—in Feby and March—for which the Inhabitants Recd Certificates for the price or Weight signed by Col. Ricd Butler Duplicates of which are now in his possession and will serve as a Check against forgery or Impossition.”
—Brigadier General Anthony Wayne to General Washington
April 20, 1778
Last evening about sunset we had a most violent Gust of wind which continued to blow very hard all night a fire broke out on the heights just to the right of the Camp and burnd the most furious I ever beheld during the whole night but Luckely no damage was done either to the camp or fortifycations
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