The Orderly Book of
Colonel John Robinson's Regiment of Massachusetts Militia
Camp at Cambridge, February & March, 1776

~  Pages 1-15  ~

Huntington Library, San Marino, California and is referenced as HM596. 

The Huntington holds all copyrights to the manuscript document.

Transcribed by D.P. Lacroix, May/June 2003.

Orderly Book Guide

• Robinson Orderly Book Introduction
• Pages 16-30
• Pages 31-50
• Appendices

[Start of Robinson's Orderly Book]

Page 1

Head Quarters 6 Feb ^y 1776…

Page 2

Head Quarters 7 Feb ^y 1776…

Page 3

Head Quarters 8 Feb ^y 1776…

Cambridge February 23^th: 1776     In Col.^o John Robinson’s Reg.^t

A Return of men in Cap.^t John Lemont’s Company

are as follows Viz

Have no guns ------            Robert Arskins

                                       Daniel Russ

                                       Richard Laten

                                       John Hurley

                                       Solomon Meloon

                                       Jacob Rindg [?]

                                       James Rellsey

                                       Gorge Rellsey

                                       Arthur Dun

                                       Caleb Bartlet

                                       Giley Tibets

                                       Caleb Cross

Page 4

[Random faint notes and arithmetic]

Page 5

Head Quarters 8 Feb ^y 1776…

Page 9

Head Quarters 13 Feb ^y 1776…

Regimental Orders Feb^y 14^th 1776

The Col^o exects that every Cap.^t in his Reg^t will see that his

Comp^y is not gone from Camp or with out drum Call without

Order or leave from his Commanding Officer & that every officer &

soldier turns out on the Common Parade immediately at the Drum

Beating & that every officer and Soldier this day Equip himself

with arms & ammunition fit for action  ~    ~     ~   ~

Head Quarters 14 Feb ^y 1776…

Feb^y ye 15^th 1776

Gave an Order which Gen.^l Gates has sined to draw 54 horns & shot Pouch

And ammunition sutable for the same.

Page 10

Brigade Orders  Feb^y 14^th 1776

The Brigadier Gen.^l hopes that the Insult of the enemy

this Morning at Dorchester neck will be improved by the

officers & Soldiers more Especially such as are on guard

to annamate them to the greater Alertness in Duty; when

an Officer has had the Misfortune of being beat his Honour

will not Suffer by it Provided he has done his duty and

Acted like a Soldier but if he is Surprised neglecting the

Method used to Prevent it his Charictor is handly Retreavable

the Field officer of the Day will give it in Charge & also

make Strick Enquiry that the Patrols Carfully do their duty

each Regt in the Brigade to Mount a Piquit [picket] to consist of one

Subalton two Serg^ts & 80 [30?] Rank & file & one Drum which

must be Augmented as the strength of the Reg^t Increases

the four Comp^ys of Col^o Baldings Reg.^t to Mount half the

Number order^d for the other Regts =  the Alarum post of Col^o

Robinsons Reg.^t of Militia is to be in N^o 2 untill Conteracted.

Head Quarters 15 Feb ^y 1776…

Brigade Orders  ~   ~    ~    ~     ~     ~    ~

Page 11

Brigade Orders.  February 16^th 1776

Field Officer Of the Day tomorrow Maj.^r Weston

Ajutant Of the Day  Smith    Parole Torrington

                                       Countersign Frank [?]

Feby 16^th this day Drawed 900 Flints for the Reg^t.

                                                   [No signature]

        Regimental Orders.  Feb^y 17^th 1776

The Col^o Understands that several soldiers in his

Reg.^t have lastly Inlisted into Other Regiments he therefore

Directs the Captains belonging to his Reg.^t that

they do not Permit any soldier belonging to their

Company to Join any other Company Until they

Produce a Certificate from the Captain under whom

they are Inlisted or from the Col.^o of the Regiment

so that every Captain may be able to make an exact

Return of his Company; He allso Orders that these

Captains in his Regiment who have of late had Soldiers

Inlist out of their Companys Immediately to Procure

such a Certificate as is above mentioned ~ ~

19^th Feb^y 1776

Gave an Order upon Gen^l Gates for 3470 Rounds of Ammunition

Recd 87 lb Ball & 43 ½ of Powder which I have given a Receip^t

the same day Drawed & gave my Receip^t for – 87 lb Lead Balls

and 43 lb Powder – Which the Cap^ts have drawed of me ----

Page 12

Head Quarters 17 Feb ^y 1776…

Brigade Orders ~  Officer of the day Maj^r Wood

Page 13

Head Quarters 18 Feb ^y 1776…

Brigade Orders

Field Officer of the Day  Maj.^r Austin

Ajutant of the Day Rice

Head Quarters 19 Feb ^y 1776…

   Brigade Orders ----

Field Officer of the Day Tomorrow  Col.^o Robinson

& Ajutant of the day,  Brown

19^th, February two Captains are on court martial

   tomorrow.

[Court martial held at “Pomeroy’s Tavern to try… 

From the General Orders, 19  Feb.]

Cambridge  March 1^st 1776

This day Rec.^d of Col.^o John Robinson 9 Lead Balls for soldiers

in cap^t Shattucks Company  Rec^d by me

                                                   [signed] Daniel Fisk Lieut

Page 14

Cambridge 19^th Feb 1776

This day Rec.^d of Col.^o John Robinson eleven pounds of powder

& 873 Balls & nine pouches for the use of my Company  Rec^d by me

                                                   [signed] John Ford Cap^t

Cambridge 19^th Feb.^y 1776

This day Rec^d of Col^o John Robinson ten[?] ½ lb Powder & 831

Balls for the use of my Company  Rec^d by me

                                                   [signed] Job Shattuck Cap^t

Cambridge  Feb.^y 19^th 1776

this day rec^d Col^o John Robinson eleven lb of Powder

for the use of my Company                     [signed] John Ford Cap^t

Cambridge  Feb.^y 19^th 1776

this day Rec^d of Col^o John Robinson 10 ½ lb of Powder

for the use of my Company                     [signed] Job Shattuck Cap^t

Cambridge  Feb.^y 19^th 1776

this day Rec^d of Col^o John Robinson 18 lb of Powder &

737 Balls for the use of my Company

[signed] Asahel Wheeler Cap^t

Cambridge  Feb.^y 19^th 1776

this day Rec^d of Col^o John Robinson 18 lb of Powder & 639

Balls for the use of my Compy

[signed] Josiah Warren Cap^t

Cambridge February 19^th 1776

This day Rec^d of Col^o John Robinson 9 ½ lb of Powder &

370 Balls for the use of my Company

                                                   [signed] Benj Edgel

Cambridge February 19^th 1776  This day Rec^d of Col^o John

Robinson 7 Bullet Pouches for the use of my Company

 and one powder horn[?] [faded]

Page 15

Head Quarters 20 Feb ^y 1776…

Brigade Orders

Field Officer of the day Col.^o Sergeant

Ajutant Dollewere ~ ~ ~

_____________________________________

   Cambridge Febr.^y 26 1776  this Day Rec^d of Col^o

John Robinson 7 Bullet Pouches 2 Powder Horns and half

Pound of powder for the Euse of my Company

and 24 Ball                              [signed] Asahel Wheeler  Cap^t