On this day 250 years ago at this headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington ordered

It being a matter of too much importance, to intrust the Wounds and Lives of Officers, and Soldiers, to unskilful Surgeons; The General requests the Director General, and the Surgeons of the Hospital, taking also to their assistance, such Regimental Surgeons, as upon examination they approve of; will sit and examine, the Surgeons, & Mates, of the whole Army, and give Certificates to those who are found qualified to discharge the Duties of their Office, in Order that they may receive Commissions—Gentlemen of candour, and knowledge, in their profession, will see the utility of this measure, and approve of it; none but those who are conscious of their inability will decline the examination.

The Surgeon of every Regiment, is immediately to report, to the Director General of the Hospital, in what manner he, and his mate, are at present furnished with Instruments, Medicines, Bandages &c. that the true State and Condition, may be known.

Source: “General Orders, 25 February 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0265. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 359–360.]

On this day 250 years ago in North Carolina, the Loyalist Highlander Regiment was building a bridge across the Black River while a small Highlander detachment continued to demonstrate with occasional gunshots across from Corbett’s Ferry guarded by North Carolina militia under Col. Richard Caswell. An advance scouting party of the Highlanders crossed to the east side of the Black River and there captured 20 militia and 2 militia officers and the supply train they were guarding of 20 bullocks and 2 wagons loaded with meal. The Highlanders were feeling confident that they were again able to outflank the Patriot Militia and make their way to the sea but their luck was to run out in only two more days.

Source: Rankin, The Moores Creek Bridge Campaign at 30