General Orders, 5 February 1783

For the day tomorrow Colonel J. Vose.

For Duty the first Massa. regiment.

The principal objects of the Commander in chief for collecting the Army together in this Cantonment of repose for the winter; were to keep alive the spirit of emulation amongst the different corps, to give an oppertunity for confirming the habits of Dicipline which had been acquired the last Campaign; and improving the internal police of each to the highest degree of perfection—Altho the severity of the season may not for some time admit of the troops being drawn out for exercise and Manoeuvring yet the gratest attention might, and should in the mean time be paid to the establishment of perfect regularity, oeconomy & good order, throughout the line of the whole army—as soon as the snow shall be gone, and the weather will suffer it, the General hopes he need not have occasion to prompt the Generals and officers commanding Brigades & regiments, to commence the daily exercises, in the same manner they were practiced the last year: as a necessary preperation for which, he recomends that proper ground for Manoevring should be fixed upon by them as soon as may be, that the stumps (if there are any) should be cut level with the surface of the Earth, and that every other obstacle should be seasonably removed.

The Troops are to be served with a gill of Rum per man after the feu de joie, which the regimental Quarter Master will have ready to distribute on their arrival at their respective Cantonments.

After having furnished the ordinary Guards, the remainder of the regiment ordered for duty tomorrow will form, and join in the exercise of the day.