Washington’s General Orders

At Cambridge on July 4, 1775, after the Continental Congress had taken into its pay and service all troops raised or to be raised by the several colonies for the support and defense of the liberties of America, George Washington issued general orders declaring that these forces were now the troops of the United Provinces of North America and expressing the hope that colonial distinctions would be laid aside so that one spirit would animate them all and their only contest would be who could render the most essential service to the great and common cause in which they were engaged. General George Washington, having taken command of the Army of the United Colonies at Cambridge, inspected the troops near this spot on the fourth day of July 1775.

Cambridge, Massachusetts · United States