On This Day: Washington fears a ‘great deficiency’ in weapons

The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Gen. George Washington’s general orders begin to form his plan to transform a disparate collection of provincial regiments, very tribal in nature, into a disciplined army before the British strike New York.