By His Excellency George Washington, Esq: captain-general and commander in chief of the forces of the thirteen United Colonies : Whereas the ministerial army have abandoned the town of Boston; and the forces of the United Colonies, under my command, are in possession of the same: I have therefore thought it necessary for the preservation of peace, good order and discipline, to publish the following orders, that no person offending therein may plead ignorance as an excuse for their misconduct. ... Given under my hand at head-quarters in Cambridge, this twenty-first day of March, 1776. ...