George Weedon Orderly Book, American Philosophical Society

A Brigadier General in the Continental Army, George Weedon served under the immediate command of his fellow Virginian George Washington from, 1776 until 1778. This orderly book was kept under Weedon's command during the fall and winter, 1777-1778, documenting the hardships suffered by the American soldiers during their bitter encampment at Valley Forge.

Background note

A veteran of the French and Indian War and associate of George Washington, the Virginian George Weedon became an ardent proponent to the revolutionary cause. Elected colonel of the 3rd Virginia Regiment on August 13, 1776, Weedon served under Washington's command in New York and in the vicinity of Philadelphia, earning election to Brigadier General on February 21, 1777. He retired from the army, however, early in 1778 when his rival, William Woodford, was given seniority over him at Valley Forge. Weedon later returned to duty with the Virginia Militia, acquitting himself well during the Virginia Campaign of 1781.

Scope and content

The Valley Forge Orderly Book contains records of General, Divisional, and Brigade orders received under the command of George Weedon between August 25, 1777 and May 7, 1778. Evocative of the hardships faced by the Continental Army during the bitter winter of 1777-1778, the orderly contains the standard round of orders relating to duties and disciplinary matters. The orderly book also includes a plan of battle for the Battle of Germantown, 1777, and plans for the troops at Mount Holly (November 1777) and what appears to be Whitemarsh (November 1777).

Administrative information

Restrictions

None.

Provenance

Inside the front cover of the volume is a letter from James Mease, November 5, 1839, stating:

This orderly book of the American Army under the immediate Command of General Washington belonged to Major General Weeden of Virginia, and at my request was presented to me by his nephew Col. Hugh Mercer of Fredericksburg, promising him, but of my own accord, to present it to the American Philosophical Society, as by this writing I now do.

Preferred citation

Cite as: George Weedon (Valley Forge) Orderly book, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Catalogued by rsc, 2001.

Additional information

Related material

The American Philosophical Society houses the papers of George Weedon, which were acquired separately in 1835 (B W41).

Collections of additional papers of George Weedon appear at Brown University and the Chicago Historical Society (Weedon-Page Collection). He appears as a correspondent in a number of other collections.

References

Published in its entirety as Valley Forge Orderly Book of General George Weedon (New York: Dodd Mead, 1902). call no.: 973.3 W411 c.1.

Table of contents	Abstract A Brigadier General in the Continental Army, George Weedon served under the immediate command of his fellow Virginian George Washington from, 1776 until 1778. This orderly book was kept under Weedon's command during the fall and winter, 1777-1778, documenting the hardships suffered by the American soldiers during their bitter encampment at Valley Forge.
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