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.
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).
1 vol. (184p.)
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.
Cite as: George Weedon (Valley Forge) Orderly book, American Philosophical Society.
Catalogued by rsc, 2001.
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.
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.
This volume contains a daily account of the Continental Army under General George Weedon during their stay at Valley Forge. The volume covers the period known as the "Valley Forge Winter." Frequent references to the "Commander in Chief" are made. Weedon also provides insight into the daily life of the encampment, reporting daily orders and events, including courts martial.
