The Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 10th orderly book (56 pages) contains military orders kept by an anonymous British officer while stationed at Boston from March 3 through April 25, 1775. The entries document the British Army's activities during the months leading up to the battles at Lexington and Concord. Topics covered include regimental and brigade orders and information on desertions, courts martial, prisoners, deaths within the regiment, provisions and clothing, church attendance, promotions, regimental debts, picket duty assignments, exercises, and military drills. Entries also contain daily administrative information, such as the parole sign and assignments for on-duty commanding officers. Though the author was a member of the 10th Regiment of Foot, the orderly book also documents the 59th, 43rd, and 23rd regiments.
The volume contains little on the Lexington and Concord battles (April 19, 1775), though orders from April 19th through April 25th betray a heightened sense of security among the ranks in Boston. Entries from these dates contain instructions for troop readiness, for maintaining arms and artillery, and for preparing the military hospitals. On April 19th, the regiment received the following order: "The Troops in Town not to Straggle from their B[arracks] but to be Ready to turn out with their Arms, Ammunition, & Provisions the Moment they are Ordered" (page 48). The order of April 22, contains a statement on the conduct of Lord Percy's forces at Lexington and Concord (page 53), and the entry from April 24, orders a portion of the 10th regiment to reinforce the British lines (page 56).
The Great Britain 10th Regiment of Foot, nicknamed the "Springers" and later known as the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, fought in America during the American Revolution. In 1775, the regiment was stationed in Boston, and its grenadier company and light infantry participated in the Battle of Lexington and Concord under Lord Hugh Percy. The regiment also fought in the battles at Bunker Hill, Long Island, Manhattan, Germantown, Monmouth, and in the defense of Newport, Rhode Island. The regiment returned to England in December 1778.
