How 250 years ago he used faith to help forge an army

Our focus this year is on events leading up to the 250^th anniversary of Independence in July 2026. In the summer and late fall of 1775 the most important developments were in the formation of the Continental Army under its commander George Washington. Evidence of the American Christian Revolution is seen in the emphasis that Washington gave to the worship and honor of God by the soldiers under his command. In today’s blog we provide excerpts of general orders where Washington expressed this priority on being Christian soldiers. This was similar to the faith emphasis of Oliver Cromwell during his military leadership over a century earlier in England. The Congress appointed Washington as the Commander on June 15, 1775. On July 3, he took command. The very next day his orders began to express his faith.

General Orders, July 4, 1775

The General most earnestly requires, and expects, [no] …profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness; 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 defense.

General Orders, July 16th 1775.

The Continental Congress having earnestly recommended,…a Day of public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer; that they may with united Hearts & Voice, unfeignedly confess their Sins before God, and supplicate the all wise and merciful disposer of events, to avert the Desolation and Calamities of an unnatural war:” The General orders, that Day to be religiously observed by the Forces under his Command: …It is therefore strictly enjoin’d on all Officers and Soldiers, (not upon duty) to attend Divine Service, at the accustomed places of worship, as well in the Lines…

General Orders, Nov: 5, 1775

….we are soliciting, and have really obtain’d, the friendship & alliance of the people of Canada, whom we ought to consider as Brethren embarked in the same Cause. The defense of the general Liberty of America: At such a juncture, and in such Circumstances, to be insulting their Religion, is so monstrous, as not to be suffered, or excused;…

General Orders, Nov: 14th 1775

The Commander in Chief is confident, the Army under his immediate direction, will shew their Gratitude to providence, for thus favouring the Cause of Freedom and America; and by their thankfulness to God, their zeal and perseverance in this righteous Cause, continue to dese[r]ve his future blessings.

General Orders, Nov: 18th 1775

The Honorable the Legislature of this Colony having thought fit to set apart Thursday the 23^rd of November Instant, as a day of public thanksgiving “to offer up our praises, and prayers, to Almighty God, the Source and Benevolent Bestower of all good; That he would be pleased graciously to continue, to smile upon our Endeavors, to restore peace, preserve our Rights, and Privileges, to the latest posterity; prosper the American Arms, preserve and strengthen the Harmony of the United Colonies, and avert the Calamities of a civil war.” The General therefore commands, that day to be observed …and all Officers, Soldiers and others, are hereby directed, with the most unfeigned Devotion, to obey the same.

General Orders, Nov: 28th 1775

The General hopes such frequent Favors from divine providence will animate every American to continue, to exert his utmost, in the defense of the Liberties of his Country, as it would now be the basest ingratitude to the Almighty, and to their Country, to shew any the least backwardness in the public cause.

General Orders, February 26, 1776.

All …Soldiers are positively forbid [from] playing at Cards, and other Games of Chance; At this time of public distress, men may find enough to do in the service of their God, and their Country, without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality.

General Orders, February 27, 1776.

Next to the favor of divine providence, nothing is more essentially necessary to give this Army the victory of all its enemies, than Exactness of discipline, Alertness when on duty, and Cleanliness…

General Orders, March 6, 1776.

…the Honorable the Legislature of this province, [set apart] …a day of fasting, prayer, and humiliation, “to implore the Lord, and Giver of all victory, to pardon our manifold sins and wickedness’s, and that it would please him to bless the Continental Arms, with his divine favor and protection”—All Officers, and Soldiers, are strictly enjoined to pay all due reverence, and attention on that day, to the sacred duties due to the Lord of hosts, for his mercies already received, and for those blessings, which [we] …hope through his mercy to obtain.

General Orders, May 15th 1776.

The Continental Congress having ordered, Friday the 17th Instant to be observed as a day of “fasting, humiliation and prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the Arms of the United Colonies, and finally, establish the peace and freedom of America, upon a solid and lasting foundation”—The General commands all officers, and soldiers, to …incline the Lord, and Giver of Victory, to prosper our arms.

General Orders, June 30, 1776

…To be well prepared for an e[n]gagement is, under God, (whose divine Aid it behooves us to supplicate) more than one half the battle.

General Orders, July 2, 1776

The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; …The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this army— …We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die: Our own Country’s Honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world—Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions…

At this point the Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and authorized chaplains for the army.

General Orders, July 9, 1776

The Honorable Continental Congress having been pleased to allow a Chaplain to each Regiment …The Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains accordingly; persons of good Characters and exemplary lives—To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises: The blessings and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger—The General hopes and trusts, that every officer, and man, will endeavor so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.

General Orders, August 3, 1776

That the Troops may have an opportunity of attending public worship, …The General in future excuses them from fatigue duty on Sundays …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, endeavor 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.

General Orders, February 4, 1777

The Honorable Governor and Assembly of New-Jersey, having directed …a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, — …The General desires the same may be observed by the Army.

General Orders, April 12, 1777

All the troops in Morristown, …are to attend divine worship tomorrow morning; …the officers …are to take especial care, that their men …march in proper order to the place of worship.

General Orders, May 17, 1777

All the troops, …(those on duty excepted) are to attend divine service, tomorrow morning.

Circular Instructions to the Brigade Commanders, May 26, 1777

Let Vice and Immorality of every kind be discouraged as much as possible in your Brigade and as a Chaplain is allowed to each Regiment see that the Men regularly attend divine Worship…

General Orders, May 31, 1777

It is much to be lamented, that the foolish and scandalous practice of profane Swearing is exceedingly prevalent ….As a mean to abolish this, and every other species of immorality—Brigadiers are enjoined, …to have divine service duly performed in their respective brigades.

General Orders, June 28, 1777

All Chaplains are to perform divine service tomorrow, and on every succeeding Sunday, with their respective brigades and regiments, where the situation will possibly admit of it: And the commanding officers of corps are to see that they attend; themselves, with officers of all ranks, setting the example. The Commander in Chief expects an exact compliance with this order, and that it be observed in future as an invariable rule of practice—And every neglect will be considered not only a breach of orders, but a disregard to decency, virtue and religion.

General Orders, July 5, 1777

Divine service to be performed tomorrow, in all the regiments which have chaplains.

General Orders, October 18, 1777

…General Burgoyne, and his whole Army, surrendered themselves prisoners of war—Let every face brighten, and every heart expand with grateful Joy and praise to the supreme disposer of all events, who has granted us this signal success—The Chaplains of the army are to prepare short discourses, suited to the joyful occasion to deliver to their several corps and brigades …

General Orders, November 30, 1777

It is…recommended by Congress, that Thursday, the 18^th day of December next be set apart for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise, that at one time, and with one voice, the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor; and that, together with their sincere acknowledgements and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their sins; and supplications for such further blessings as they stand in need of—The Chaplains will properly notice this recommendation, that the day of thanksgiving may be duly observed in the army, agreeably to the intentions of Congress.

General Orders, December 17, 1777

Tomorrow being the day set apart by the Honorable Congress for public Thanksgiving and Praise; and duty calling us devoutly to express our grateful acknowledgements to God for the manifold blessings he has granted us—The General directs that the army remain in its present quarters, and that the Chaplains perform divine service with their several Corps and brigades—And earnestly exhorts, all officers and soldiers, …to attend with reverence…

General Orders, April 12, 1778

The Honorable Congress having thought proper to recommend …a day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, that at one time and with one voice the righteous dispensations of Providence may be acknowledged and His Goodness and Mercy towards us and our Arms supplicated and implored—The General directs that this day also shall be religiously observed in the Army, that no work be done thereon and that the Chaplains prepare discourses suitable to the Occasion

General Orders, May 2, 1778.

The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains—those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them—It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendence set an Example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and soldiers we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of Religion—To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian—The signal Instances of providential Goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labours with complete Success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of Gratitude & Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good.

General Orders, May 5, 1778.

It having pleased the Almighty ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the Cause of the United American-States and finally by raising us up a powerful Friend [France] among the Princes of the Earth to establish our liberty and Independence upon lasting foundations, it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the divine Goodness and celebrating the important Event which we owe to his benign Interposition. The several Brigades are to be assembled …when their Chaplains will …offer up a thanksgiving and deliver a discourse suitable to the Occasion…

General Orders, June 30, 1778.

…[It] is appointed that We may publicly unite in thanksgivings to the supreme Disposer of human Events for the Victory which was obtained on Sunday…

General Orders, April 12, 1779.

The Honorable the Congress having recommended …a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, to acknowledge the gracious interpositions of Providence; to deprecate deserved punishment for our Sins and Ingratitude, to unitedly implore the Protection of Heaven; Success to our Arms and the Arms of our Ally—The Commander in Chief enjoins a religious observance of said day and directs the Chaplains to prepare discourses proper for the occasion…

General Orders, July 29, 1779

Many and pointed orders have been issued against that unmeaning and abominable custom of Swearing, notwithstanding 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. The Name of That Being, from whose bountiful goodness we are permitted to exist and enjoy the comforts of life is incessantly imprecated and profaned in a manner as wanton as it is shocking: For the sake therefore of religion, decency and order the General hopes and trusts that officers of every rank will use their influence and authority to check a vice, which is as unprofitable as it is wicked and shameful.

General Orders, October 20, 1781

Divine Service is to be performed tomorrow in the several Brigades or Divisions. The Commander in Chief earnestly recommends that the troops …should universally attend with that seriousness of Deportment and gratitude of Heart which the recognition of such reiterated and astonishing interpositions of Providence demand of us.

General Orders, April 22, 1782

The United States in Congress assembled having …set apart as a day of Fasting humiliation and Prayer …the same is to be Observed accordingly throughout the Army, and the different Chaplains will prepare Discourses Suited to the Several Objects…

Farewell Address to the Armies of the United States, November 2, 1783

….The singular interposition of Providence in our feeble condition were such, as could scarcely escape the attention of the most unobserving;…. And being now to conclude these his last public orders, …he can only again offer in their behalf …his prayers to the God of Armies. May …the choicest of heaven’s favors, both here and hereafter, attend those who, under the divine auspices, have secured innumerable blessings for others.

Address to Congress on Resigning Commission, December 23, 1783

….The Successful termination of the War has verified the most sanguine expectations, and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, …I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my Official life, by commending the Interests of our dearest Country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.

Concluding Thoughts

Having read these evidences of Washington’s religious leadership in the War for Independence from his own words, it is good to remember the remarks of President Ronald Reagan on May 6, 1982, in his National Day of Prayer Proclamation. He said: “The most sublime picture in American history is of George Washington on his knees in the snow at Valley Forge. That image personifies a people who know that it is not enough to depend on our own courage and goodness; we must also seek help from God, our Father and Preserver.” During the winter at Valley Forge Rev. Henry Muhlenberg testified that General Washington “rode around among his army… and admonished each and every one to fear God, to put away the wickedness that has set in and become so general, and to practice the Christian virtues.” It was said of Washington, in a sketch written by an American gentleman in London in 1779 that “he regularly attends divine service in his tent every morning and evening, and seems very fervent in his prayers.” General Knox was one among many who gave testimony of Washington frequently visiting secluded groves to lay the cause of his bleeding country at the throne of grace. And a Quaker, Isaac Potts, who did not support the war, was deeply impressed when he came upon Washington while he was on his knees in prayer in the woods, and spoke of it to others.

Additional expression of his faith during the war is in the section below for paid subscribers.