“Do take great pains to prevent all irregularities in the Garrison; but especially those of Drinking, Swearing and Gaming!”
July 29, 1757. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL THE CAPTAINS OF COMPANIES
“You are to use every imaginable precaution to prevent irregular suttling, licentious swearing, and all other unbecoming irregularities and to neglect no pains or diligence in training your men (when off duty) to the true use and exercise of their arms; and teaching them in all other respects, the duties of their profession.”
July 4, 1775. GENERAL ORDERS
“The General most earnestly requires, and expects, a due observance of those articles of war, established for the Government of the army, which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkeness; And in like manner requires and expects, of all Officers, and Soldiers, not engaged on actual duty, a punctual attendance on divine Service, to implore the blessings of heaven upon the means used for our safety and defence.”
August 3, 1776. GENERAL ORDERS
“The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it.”
May 31, 1777. GENERAL ORDERS
“It is much to be lamented, that the foolish and scandalous practice of profane Swearing is exceedingly prevalent in the American Army Officers of every rank are bound to discourage it, first by their example, and then by punishing offenders As a mean to abolish this, and every other species of immorality Brigadiers are enjoined, to take effectual care, to have divine service duly performed in their respective brigades.”
Head Quarters, Moores House, Thursday, July 29, 1779. GENERAL ORDERS
“Many and pointed orders have been issued against that unmeaning and abominable custom of Swearing, not withstanding which, with much regret the General observes that it prevails, if possible, more than ever; His feelings are continually wounded by the Oaths and Imprecations of the soldiers whenever he is in hearing of them.”
June 4, 1797. To GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUSTIS
“an idle habit of hankering after unprofitable amusements at your time of life, before you have acquired that knowledge which would be found beneficial in every situation; I say before, because it is not my wish that, having gone through the essentials, you should be deprived of any rational amusements at your time of life, before you have acquired that knowledge which would be found beneficial in every situation; I say before, because it is not my wish that, having gone through the essentials, you should be deprived of any rational amusement afterward ; or, lastly, from dissipation in such company as you would most likely meet under such circumstances, who but too often, mistake ribaldry for wit, and rioting, swearing, intoxication, and gambling for manliness.”
71 WGW, Farewell Address.
CHAPTER 28
1 WGW, vol. 30, 4-1789, First proposed address to Congress.
2 Flexner, The Indispensable Man, p. 216.
3 See chapter 2.
4 As noted earlier, these writings are available at John Clement Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, from the Original Manuscript Sources 1749-1799, 39 vols. (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1931-1944). Visit http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/washington/.
5 Book of Common Prayer Communion service
6 Washington also employed the explitives: God forbid, Wish to God, For God’s sake – hurry!, My God!, Good God! That these were not profanity in his mind is seen in context where he uses to condemn swearing.
7 These phrases seem to suggest an acquaintance with the traditional philosophical arguments for God’s existence: The “Greatest Efficient” referencing the Cosmological argument and the “Greatest and Best,” referencing the Ontological argument.
8 We address George Washington’s Masonic relationship in the chapter 25.
9 See chapter 2.
10 WGW, vol. 2 4-27-1763.
11 Over 197 references.
12 See for example WGW, vol. 2, 9-28-1760; vol. 4, 3-6-1776.
13 Ibid., vol. 30, 5-10-1789; vol. 30, 5-26-1789.
14 Ibid., vol. 30 4-1789.
15 Ibid., vol. 31, 12-29-1790; vol. 35 8-29-1796.
16 Over 133 matches.
17 PGW, Letterbook 38, image 148; letter to the Savannah Hebrew Congregation, May 1790.
18 Ibid.
19 See for example WGW, vol. 5, 7-2-1776; vol. 24, 6-30-1782; vol. 26, 2-15-1783. etc.
20 Ibid., vol. 27, 8-10-1783; vol. 30, 8-3-1788.
21 WGW vol. 27, August 10, 1783.
22 See for example Ibid vol. 3, 1-13-1775; vol. 4, 11-28-1775; vol. 4, 12-5-1775; vol. 11, 5-5-1778; vol. 27, 12-22-1783, etc.
23 Ibid., vol. 18, 6-11-1780.
24 Ibid., vol. 30, Thanksgiving Proclamation.
25 See above references.
