RARE BROADSIDE EMPOWERING COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WASHINGTON TO DETERMINE COLOR AND CUT OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY'S UNIFORMS

In Congress, March 23, 1779. Ordinance for regulating the Cloathing Department for the Armies of the United States. Letterpress broadside. [Philadelphia]: Hall and Sellers, dated 23 March 1779. Approx. 10 3/8 x 15 3/4 in. Signed in type Charles Thomson. Manuscript docketing reading: "The Cloathiers Gent." Evans 16571 (variant).
 

Uniforms were a haphazard and motley affair for the Continental Army, as the Continental Congress chose to direct its limited resources to arms and ammunition instead.

 The ordinance printed here was issued by the Continental Congress on 23 March 1779 to form and regulate a clothing department, detailing its function and the hierarchy within the Army. It also gave authorization to General Washington to make uniform determinations: "the Commander in Chief is therefore herby authorised and directed, according to the Circumstances of Supplies and Cloathing, to fix and prescribe the Uniform, as well with Regard to the Colour and Facings, as the Cut or Fashion of the Cloaths, to be worn by the Troops of the respective States and Regiments..."  In a General Order issued on October 2nd, Washington fixed the color as blue for all branches of the Continental Army and all state regiments in the Continental Line, with distinctive differences in the facings and linings. 

At least two other variations are known: one printed by David C. Claypoole (recorded by Evans and held at the Library of Congress), and another with no printer's information recorded (held by 8 institutions, including the copy held by the American Antiquarian Society). 

VERY RARE. Only 2 copies have ever sold at auction, the last being in 1960. OCLC locates only 2 copies of the broadside printed by Hall & Sellers; the Library of Congress holds a copy of the Claypoole printing, and 8 institutions hold copies without printer/publisher information.

[Broadsides, Ephemera, Printing, Posters, Handbills, Documents, Newspapers] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe]