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University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

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Revolutionary War orders, written in Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, [1781?]

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Summary

Creator:
Anonymous
Abstract:
1774 Philadelphia reprint of the first volume of The Works of Laurence Sterne (Tristram Shandy, Gentleman), containing manuscript orders for a brigade possibly encamped in Morristown, New Jersey, around May 1781.
Extent:
1 volume
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Shannon Wait, April 2010

Background

Scope and Content:

The four pages of notes written in the flyleaf of Laurence Sterne's novel, Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, contain orders from a brigade commander and from General George Washington, likely given in May 1781 at Morristown, New Jersey. Orders were typically written in regimental orderly books, but, for an unknown reason, they were instead copied into the novel. The first portion of the document contains the orders of the brigade commander, which concern the shoeing of artillery and ammunition horses, the distribution of 50 pairs of stockings, and the securing of a hogshead of rum. Below this are orders from General George Washington, which establish a "standing Rule" forbidding the impressment of horses and wagons, except by commanding officers and colonels. The document also provides for punishment of violators, including arrest and "39 Lashes whithout Ceremony of a Cour[t] mar[tial]."

Biographical / Historical:

While encamped at Morristown, New Jersey, likely in May 1781, an unknown Continental soldier copied brigade orders into the blank flyleaf of the first volume of The Works of Laurence Sterne, (1774 Philadelphia reprint), containing the first volume of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.

Acquisition Information:
2000. M-4105 .
Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the "We the People" project.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown

PREFERRED CITATION:

Revolutionary War Orders, Written in Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan