William Howe Orderly Book, 1776-1778
Collection Overview
The William Howe orderly book contains copies of orders for a brigade under British Commander-in-Chief Sir William Howe, from March 9, 1776, to May 1, 1778. The volume reflects the progress of the British Army under Howe from their embarkation at Portsmouth, England, through New York and New Jersey, to the end of their occupation of Philadelphia. Included are general orders from a moving headquarters, standing orders, brigade orders, regimental orders, morning orders, after orders, and memoranda.
The orders contain reports on the following: troop movements and the activities of specific units; the planning and execution of attacks, including troop formations and details on command decisions; courts martial, deserters, and rebel prisoners; surgeons, hospitals, and accounting for the sick and wounded; instructions for working parties and recruiting troops; and promotions. Also present are detail lists with counts of troops and officers and information on food, water, liquor, arms, bedding, and other provisions.
Digitized Collection Contents
Access to Original Materials
This collection is comprised of digital surrogates of original materials held by the William L. Clements Library. To access the original items, please consult the collection's finding aid (linked from the menu above) and see the Clements Library website to plan your visit.
Copyright Notice
The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are believed to be in the public domain in the US. If you have questions about the collection, please contact the William L. Clements Library. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact Library Information Technology.