George Washington and 'Under God'

1. You are immediately on their March from Cambridge to take the Command of the Detachment from the Continental Army again Quebec, and use all possible Expedition, as the Winter Season is now advancing and the Success of this Enterprize, (under God) depends wholly upon the Spirit with which it is pushed, and the favorable Disposition of the Canadian and Indians.

2. When you come to Newbury Port, you are to make all possible Inquiry, what Men of War or Cruizers there may be on the Coast, to which this Detachment may be exposed on their Voyage to Kennebeck River: and if you should find that their is Danger of your being intercepted, you are not to proceed by Water, but by Land, taking Care on the one Hand, not to be diverted by light and vague Reports, and on the other, not to expose the Troops rashly to a Danger, which by many judicious Persons has been deemed very considerable.

3. You are by every Means in your Power, to endeavour to discover the real Sentiments of the Canadians towards our Cause, and particularly as to this Expedition, ever bearing in Mind, that if they are averse to it and will not co-operate, or at least willingly acquiesce, it must fail of Success. In this Case you are by no Means to prosecute the Attempt; the Expence of the Expedition, and the Disappointment are not to be put in Competition with the dangerous Consequences which may ensue, from irritating them against us, and detaching them from that Neutrality which they have adopted.

4. In Order to cherish those favorable Sentiments to the American Cause that they have manifested, you are as soon as you arrive in their Country, to disperse a Number of the Addresses you will have with you, particularly in those Parts, where your Rout shall lay, and observe the strictest Discipline and good Order, by no Means suffering any Inhabitant to be abused, or in any Manner injured, either in his Person or Property, punishing with examplary Severity every Person who shall trangress, and making ample Compensation to the Party injured.

5. You are to endeavour on the other Hand to conciliate the affections of those People and such Indians as you may meet with by every Means in your Power, convincing them that we come, at the Request of many of their Principal People, not as Robbers or to make War upon them; but as the Friends and Supporters of their Liberties, as well as ours: And to give Efficacy to these Sentiments, you must carefully inculcate upon the Officers and Soldiers under your Command that not only the Good of their Country and their Honour, but their Safety depends upon the Treatment of these People.

6. Check every Idea, and crush in it's earliest stage every attempt to plunder even those who are known to be Enemies to our Cause. It will create dreadful Apprehensions in our Friends, and when it is once begun, none can tell where it will stop. I, therefore again most expressly order, that it be discouraged and punished in every Instance without Distinction.

7. Whatever King's Stores you shall be so fortunate as to possess yourself of, are to be secured for the Continental Use, agreeable to the Rules and Regulations of War published by the Honourable Congress. The Officers and Men may be assured that any extraordinary services performed by them will be suitably rewarded.

8. Spare neither Pains or Expence to gain all possible Intelligence on your March, to prevent Surprizes and Accidents of every Kind, and endeavour, if possible, to correspond with General Schuyler, so that you may act in Concert with him. This, I think, may be done by Means of the St. Francis Indians.

9. In case of an Union with General Schuyler, or if he should be in Canada upon your Arrival there, you are by no Means to consider yourself as upon a seperate and independent Command; but are to put yourself under him and follow his Directions. Upon this Occasion, and all others, I recommend most earnestly to avoid all Contention about Rank. In such a Cause every Post is honourable in which a Man can serve his Country.

10. If Lord Chatham's Son should be in Canada and in any Way fall in your Power, you are enjoined to treat him with all possible Deference and Respect. You cannot err in paying too much Honour to the Son of so illustrious a Character and so true a Friend to America. Any other Prisoners who may fall into your Hands, you will treat with as much Humanity and kindness, as may be consistent with your own Safety and the publick Interest. Be very particular in restraining not only your own Troops, but the Indians from all Acts of Cruelty and Insult, which will disgrace the American Arms, and irritate our Fellow Subjects against us.

11. You will be particularly careful, to pay the full Value for all Provisions or other Accommodations which the Canadians may provide for you on your March. By no Means press them or any of their Cattle into your Service; but amply compensate those who voluntarily assist you. For this Purpose you are provided with a Sum of Money in Specie, which you will use with as much Frugality and Oeconomy as your necessities and good Policy will admit, keeping as exact an account as possible of your Disbursements.

12. You are by every Opportunity to inform me of your Progress, your Prospects and Intelligence, and upon any important Occurrence to dispatch an Express.

13. As the Season is now far advanced, you are to make all possible Dispatch, but if unforseen Difficulties should arise or if the Weather shou'd become so severe as to render it hazardous to proceed in your own Judgment and that of your principal Officers, (whom you are to consult) In that Case you are to return, giving me as early Notice as possible, that I may give you such Assistance as may be necessary.

14. As the Contempt of the Religion of a Country by ridiculing any of its Ceremonies or affronting its Ministers or Votaries has ever been deeply resented, you are to be particularly careful to restrain every Officer and Soldier from such Imprudence and Folly and to punish every Instance of it. On the other Hand, as far as lays in your ower, you are to protect and support the free Exercise of the Religion of the Country and the undisturbed Enjoyment of the rights of Conscience in religious Matters, with your utmost Influence and Authority. Given under my Hand, at Head Quarters, Cambridge, this 14th Day of September one Thousand seven Hundred and seventy-five.

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• Ford, Volume III; "To Colonel Benedict Arnold. Instructions."; pp 121 - 124
• Fitzpatrick, Volume III; "Instructions To Colonel Benedict Arnold"; pp 492-496
  [Note: The draft of these specific instructions to Arnold is in the writing of Thomas Mifflin.]