A Rare Continental Officer’s Oath of Allegiance at Valley Forge Signed By General Peter Muhlenberg
Peter Muhlenberg,(1746 - 1807). Continental Brigadier General, noted clergyman.Partly printed Document Signed (Valley Forge, Pa), June 1778. Also signed by John Laurance, Judge Advocate General of the Continental Army.
The Continental Army Officer’s oath of allegiance to the United States, prescribed by Congress on February 3, 1778 and ordered by Washington in his General Orders of May 7. Muhlenberg was one of the high ranking officers designated to administer the oaths, and this one is for the important staff officer John Laurance who as Judge Advocate General later prosecuted John Andre.
“I … do acknowledge the United States of America, to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great-Britain; and I renounce; refuse and adjure an allegiance or obedience to him; and I do sear that I will to the utmost of my power, support, maintain and defend the said United States against the said King George the Third, his heirs and successors and his and their abettors, assistants and adherents, and will serve the said United States… with fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding.”
Some wear, irregular left margin. The total number of such documents is limited to the number of duplicates signed by the Continental officers at the time. Two hundred and six signed the Valley Forge oaths. They seldom appear, and this one is that of a prominent officer.
