118
AN GAOḊAL.
which bound in sweet bonds the peoples of both
countries.
As early as May, 1775, we find the continental
currency bearing the uncrowned harp of Erin. In
the treasury and state departments at Washington
we can see a continental bill, of which the illustra¬
tion is a copy.
CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.
EIGHT DOLLARS.
No. 29,265.
MAJORA MINORITUS CONSONANT.
EIGHT DOLLARS.
This bill entities the bearer to receive
Eight Spanish Dollars or the value thereof
in gold or silver, according to the
resolutions of the Congress held at
Philadelphia the 10th day of May, 1775.
VIII DOLLARS.
THOS. BONLAY.
CONTINENTAL CURRENCY OF 1775.
CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.
The harp of Ireland was a fitting mark to * place
upon the currency of the young nation, because at
this time, 1775, her only friend "beyond the wave'
was Erin. That the troops from Pennsylvania
were largely composed of natives of Ireland is too
well known to be dwelt upon here, suffice it to say
that as soon as the continental army had entered
Boston the general commanding, from some suburb
called Greenville, issued the following, which was
unearthed in the war department about a year ago:
"H. Q. GREENVILLE, 17 March, 1776.
"Morning order;
"The anniversary of the tutelar saint of Hibernia
will be observed with all due respect and decorum.
The commissary general will administer an extra
gill of whisky on the occasion.
GEO. WASHINGTON."
This is in the original and is in the handwriting
of the father of his country. But four years later
after the dreary winter of 1779, we find him calling
the attention of the whole army to an observance
of St Patrick's day and the patriotic proceedings
of the Irish parliament in reference to American
affairs.
The manuscript from which this order of Gener¬
al Washington is taken is the "Military orders of
the day, issued to the main guard and Morristown
picket," from February 15 to April 7, 1780, and is
in the possession of a lady of St. Louis, whose
grandfather was an officer in the revolutionary war.
We think the "Military orders of the day" are al¬
so to be found among the revolutionary souvenirs
of New Jersey, at Trenton.
Washington's order is:
HEADQUARTERS, March 16, 1780.
Offices for duty tomorrow, Brigadier General
Clinton, Major Edwards, Brigadier Major Brice.
The general congratulates the army on the very
interesting proceedings of the parliament of Ireland
and of the inhabitants of the country which have
been lately communicated. Not only do they ap¬
pear calculated to remove the heavy and tyrannical
oppressions on their trade, but to restore to a brave
and generous people their ancient rights and priv¬
ileges and in their operation to promote the cause
of America. Desirous of impressing on the mind
of the army transactions so important in their nat¬
ure, the general directs that all fatigue and work¬
ing parties cease for tomorrow, the 17th day, held
in particular regard by the people of that nation.
At the same that he orders this, as a mark of plea
sure he feels on the situation, he persuades himself
that the day will not be attended by the least riot¬
ing or disorder — the officers to be at their quarters
in camp, and the troops of each state are to be in
their own encampment.
Division orders:
Captain of the day tomorrow, brigadier major
from the Second Pennsylvania brigade.
Brigade orders:
Captain of the day [name illegible]
Adjutant of the day to-morrow, Herbert — [illegi¬
ble.
The following is another order from the division
commander.
Division orders:
March 17, 1780.
The commanding officer desires that the celeb¬
ration of the day should not pass by without hav¬
ing a little rum issued to be troops, and has
thought proper to direct the commissary to send
for the hogshead which the colonel has purchased
already in the vicinity of the camp. While the
troops are celebrating the bravery of St. Patrick in
innocent mirth and pastime, he hopes they will
not forget their worthy friends in the kingdom of
Ireland, who, with the greatest unanimity, have
stepped in opposition to the tyrant. Great Britain,
and who, like us, are determined to die or to be
free. The troops will conduct themselves with the
greatest sobriety and good order.
Though musty with age and on that account in
some places almost illegible, the manuscript, as a
whole, is as clean as on the day it was written,
and presents a photograph of the interior work¬
ing of that famous little American army, but we
make only two extracts for the purpose of showing
how the nation, in the throes of its birth, as heart¬
ily as it does in the plenitude of its might and
power, sympathized with the Irish people.
— Brooklyn Eagle.
* And Gaelic would have been the language of
America to-day had the Irish the spunk to mind it
The Gaelic Journal should be in the library of
every Irishman. Send to the Editor, John Flem¬
ing, 33 South Frederick street, Dublin, 60 cents.
