George Washington
May 5, 1778

Washington called for prayers of thanks after France formally allied with the Colonists. Earlier, Washington had clamped down on anti-Catholic bigotry in the Continental Army in part because he knew the new nation would need support from France, a Catholic nation.

Head Quarters, V. Forge, Tuesday, May 5, 1778.

AFTER ORDERS

It having pleased the Almighty ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the Cause of the United American-States and finally by raising us up a powerful Friend among the Princes of the Earth to establish our liberty and Independence up lasting foundations, it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the divine Goodness and celebrating the important Event which we owe to his benign Interposition.

The several Brigades are to be assembled for this Purpose at nine o’Clock tomorrow morning when their Chaplains will communicate the Intelligence contain’d in the Postscript to the Pennsylvania Gazette of the 2nd. instant and offer up a thanksgiving and deliver a discourse suitable to the Occasion. At half after ten o’Clock a Cannon will be fired, which is to be a signal for the men to be under Arms. The Brigade Inspectors will then inspect their Dress and Arms, form the Battalions according to instructions given them and announce to the Commanding Officers of Brigades that the Battalions are formed. The Brigadiers or Commandants will then appoint the Field Officers to command the Battalions, after which each Battalion will be ordered to load and ground their Arms.

At half after eleven a second Cannon be fired as a signal for the march upon which the several Brigades will begin their march by wheeling to the right by Platoons and proceed by the nearest way to the left of their ground in the new Position; this will be pointed out by the Brigade Inspectors. A third signal will be given upon which there will be a discharge of thirteen Cannon; When the thirteen has fired a tuning fire of the Infantry will begin on the right of Woodford’s and continue throughout the whole front line, it will then be taken on the left of the second line and continue to the right. Upon a signal given, the whole Army will Huzza! “Long Live the King of France.” The Artillery then begins again and fires thirteen rounds, this will be succeeded by a second general discharge of the Musquetry in a tuning fire. Huzza! “And long live the friendly European Powers.” Then the last discharge of thirteen Pieces of Artillery will be given, followed by a General tuning fire and Huzza! “To the American States.”

There will be no Exercise in the morning and the guards of the day will not parade ’till after the feu de joie is finished, when the Brigade Major will march them out to the Grand Parade. The Adjutants then will tell off their Battalions into eight Platoons and the commanding officer will reconduct them to their Camps marching by the Left.

Major General Lord Stirling will command on the right, the Marquis De la fayette on the left and Baron De Kalb the second line. Each Major General will conduct the first Brigade of his Command to its ground, the other Brigades will be conducted by their commanding Officers in separate Columns. The Posts of each Brigade will be pointed out by Baron De Steuben’s Aids. Majr. Walker will attend Lord Stirling–Major

Each man is to have a Gill of rum. The Quarter Masters of the several Brigades are to apply to the Adjutant General for an order on the Commissary of Military Stores for the number of blank Cartridges that may be wanted.

Source(s):
The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.