The rain ceased, and the army marched through the town between seven and
ten o'clock. The wagons went another road. Four regiments of light
horse, Bland's, Baylor's, Sheldon's, and Moylan's. Four grand divisions
of the army, and the artillery with the matrosses. They marched twelve
deep, and yet took up above two hours in passing by. General Washington
and the other general officers with their aids on horseback. The
Colonels and other field-officers on horseback. We have now an army well
appointed between us and Mr. Howe, and this army will be immediately
joined by ten thousand militia, so that I feel as secure here as if I
was at Braintree, but not so happy. My happiness is nowhere to be found
but there.
After viewing this fine spectacle and firm defense, I went to Mr.
Duffield's meeting to hear him pray, as he did most fervently, and I
believe he was most sincerely joined by all present, for its success.
The army, upon an accurate inspection of it, I find to be extremely well
armed, pretty well clothed, and tolerably disciplined. Gill and Town, by
the motto to their newspapers, will bring discipline into vogue in time.
There is such a mixture of the sublime and the beautiful together with
the useful in military discipline, that I wonder every officer we have
is not charmed with it. Much remains yet to be done. Our soldiers have
not yet quite the air of soldiers. They don't step exactly in time. They
don't hold up their heads quite erect, nor turn out their toes so
exactly as they ought. They don't all of them cock their hats; and such
as do, don't all wear them the same way.
A disciplinarian has affixed to him commonly the ideas of cruelty,
severity, tyranny, etc., but if I were an officer, I am convinced I
should be the most decisive disciplinarian in the army. I am convinced
there is no other effective way of indulging benevolence, humanity, and
the tender social passions in an army. There is no other way of
preserving the health and spirits of the men. There is no other way of
making them active and skillful in war; no other way of guarding an army
against destruction by surprises; and no other method of giving them
confidence in one another, of making them stand by one another in the
hour of battle. Discipline in an army is like the laws in civil society.
There can be no liberty in a commonwealth where the laws are not revered
and most sacredly observed, nor can there be happiness or safety in an
army for a single hour where the discipline is not observed.
Obedience is the only thing wanting now for our salvation. Obedience to
the laws in the States, and obedience to officers in the army.