This collection documents the orders given to and activities of the 1st German Battalion, 1776-1778, during the United States⁰́₉ Revolutionary War. This battalion was raised from German settlers from Pennsylvania and Maryland. It was comprised of four companies from each state, and was the first battalion to be enlisted for three years. Colonel Nicholas Haussegger commanded the battalion from June 1776 to March 1777. Baron de Arendt commanded from March 19, 1777 to January 1, 1781, when the battalion was broken up. On February 26, 1778, the German Battalion was officially made a part of Maryland's quota to facilitate supply and recruitment. Although numbered the 8th Maryland, it was still usually referred to as the German Battalion. This collection contains orderly books dating from 1776-1778, both describing the activities of the First German Battalion during the Revolutionary War. Volume 1 covers the orders given to the battalion from June 10th to September 17th, 1776, when it was headquartered at Philadelphia and Middle Brook. This volume contains an inscription on the inside cover, indicating that the book is "principally in the handwriting of Captain Philip Schrader." Volume 2 covers January ⁰́₃ June 1977, when the battalion had its headquarters in Morristown and Middle Brook, and 12 January ⁰́₃ 10 June 1778, when headquarters were at Valley Forge. Both volumes contain regimental and general orders with descriptions of courts-martial and daily officer assignments. Orders include instructions to soldiers to keep themselves clean and behave in a "soldier-like" manner and details about the feeding and housing of troops (they were to be provided with vinegar for their food whenever possible). Other orders refer to officers of the day and troop movements.
