In privates.

Terms of enlistment.

Pay when to

commence.

ed.

Who may

the most proper person, in his opinion, to supply such vacancy, to be approved by the committee of safety.

And that the companies may be kept complete from time to time, Be it farther ordained, That if vacancies should happen among the private men, the commanding-officer of the regiment shall supply the same by new recruits, in the best and most expeditious manner he may be able.

And be it farther ordained, That the soldiers to be raised shall be enlisted on the terms following, to wit: That they shall continue in the service of the publick so long as may be judged necessary by the general convention, but not be compelled to continue more than one year, provided any soldier, or soldiers, do give the commanding-officer three months previous notice, in writing, of his or their desire to be discharged at the end of such period; and if it shall be judged necessary to disband the army before the expiration of twelve months, that each soldier discharged within that time shall be entitled to, and shall receive, six weeks pay in advance. That the pay of each captain, lieutenant, and ensign, shall commence the days of their appointment by the district committees; of the chaplain, and all the subaltern officers, on the days of their repective appointments; of the common soldiers, on the days of their enlisting; and that the pay of the several field and staff officers shall commence on the day of their being called into duty by the general committee of safety; and that the several recruiting officers may advance to each soldier, upon his enlisting, any sum he may think necessary, not exceeding one month's pay.

Provided always, That no recruiting officer shall be not be enlist- allowed to enlist into the service any servant whatsoe→ ver, unless he be an apprentice, bound under the laws of this colony, nor any such apprentice, unless the consent of his master be first had in writing.

Arms and accoutre.

furnished.

And be it farther ordained, That the soldiers to be enlisted shall, at the expense of the publick, be furnishments, how ed each with one good muşket and bayonet, cartouch box, or pouch, and canteen; and, until such musket can be provided, that they bring with each of them the best gun, of any other sort, that can be procured; and that such as are to act as rifle-men bring with them each one good rifle, to be approved by their captain, for the use of which he shall be allowed at the rate of twenty shillings a year; that each common soldier, not already

sufficiently provided, in the opinion of his commandingofficer, shall be furnished with sufficient clothing, at the expense of the publick, to be deducted out of his pay.

And be it farther ordained, That the companies to Rifle-men. be raised in the districts of Pittsylvania, Fincastle, Bedford, and Botetourt, and of Berkeley, Frederick, Dunmore, and Hampshire, Augusta, Albemarle, Buckingham, and Amherst, Culpeper, Fauquier, and Orange, shall consist of expert rifle-men; and shall be, by the committee of safety, allotted two to each regiment, to be employed as light infantry.

And be it farther ordained, That proper medicine Medicines, chests, and necessary surgeons instruments, be provided &c. provided at the expense of the publick. by public.

Two compa

frontiers.

And for the better protection and defence of the inhabitants on the frontiers of this colony, Be it farther nies for proordained, by the authority aforesaid, That there shall tection of be appointed and raised, exclusive of the regiments be- western fore-mentioned, two companies, consisting each of one captain, three lieutenants, one ensign, four serjeants, two drummers, and two fifers, and one hundred men rank and file, to be stationed at Pittsburg; of which the company ordered by this convention to garrison fort Pitt, under the command of captain John Neavill, shall be one; also one other company, consisting of a lieutenant, and twenty five privates, to be stationed at fort Fincastle, at the mouth of Weeling; the other company, of one hundred men, and the twenty five men to be raised in West Augusta, also one other company, consisting of one captain, three lieutenants, one ensign, four serjeants, two drummers, and two fifers, and one hundred privates, to be raised in the county of Botetourt, and stationed at Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the great Kanawah; and one other company, consisting of the same number of officers and men as the last, to be raised in the county of Fincastle, and stationed at such posts as may, from time to time, be ordered and directed by the committee of that county.

And be it farther ordained, That the committees of Officers how the district of West Augusta, and of the counties of appointed. Botetourt and Fincastle, shall appoint the officers to the men in each to be raised; and the several companies last mentioned shall be enlisted in the same manner, and under the same regulations, as are before prescribed for the regiments, except that such companies are

Chief in command.

Pay of offi. cers and pri

vates.

not to march to the general rendezvous which may be appointed for the said regiments.

And be it farther ordained, That the commanding-officers to be stationed at Point Pleasant, and Fort Fincastle, shall be under the direction of, and subject to, such orders as they may from time to time receive from the commanding officer at Fort Pitt.

And for settling the pay of the officers and soldiers to be appointed and levied as before directed, the same is declared to be as followeth, to wit: To a colonel, twenty five shillings per day; lieutenant-colonels, twelve shillings and sixpence; to a major, ten shillings; a captain, six shillings; a lieutenant, four shillings; an ensign, three shillings; chaplain, ten shillings, an adjutant, holdPay of staff. ing no other office, six shillings; if in other office, three shillings; to a quarter-master, holding, or not holding, any other office, the same as to an adjutant; to a serjeant-major, to be appointed from amongst the most expert serjeants, by the commanding-officer of the regiment, two shillings and sixpence; to a serjeant, two shillings; a corporal, drummer, and fifer, each one shilling and eightpence; to each private soldier, one shilling and four pence; to a surgeon, ten shillings; and to a surgeon's mate, five shillings per day.

Tents.

Pensions.

how provi-,

ded.

And be it farther ordained, That every commissioned and staff officer shall be allowed a tent, and every two serjeants shall have the same allowance, and every two corporals the same; and that for every six private men there shall be provided a proper and sufficient tent; and that one bell tent for each company shall also be provided, at the public expense.

And for the greater encouragement and farther promotion of the service, Be it ordained, That if any person enlisted by virtue of this ordinance shall be so maimed or disabled as to be rendered incapable of maintaining himself, he shall, upon his discharge, be supported at the expense of the publick.

And to the end that the forces to be raised may be Camp equipage, provi- well and speedily supplied with waggons, tents, bedsions, &c. ding, arms, accoutrements, clothes, provisions, and all other necessaries, Be it farther ordained, That the committee of safety shall, and they are hereby required, to appoint some fit person, or persons, to provide arms and accoutrements, clothes, waggons, tents, and bedding, upon the best and cheapest terms, and also to appoint one or more commissaries or contractors; who

are hereby required to use all possible despatch in purchasing such provisions as shall be necessary for the army, and in laying of the same in such convenient place, or places, as may best suit their different stations and marches.

and duty.

15

And for the more regular pay of the army, the said Paymasters, committee of safety shall appoint one or more paymas- their apters; and it shall and may be lawful for the said compointment mittee, from time to time, to issue their warrants to the treasurer, appointed by or pursuant to an ordinance of this convention, for the paying the several recruiting officers, commissioners, commissaries, or contractors, and paymasters, by them appointed; and to all expresses, and other persons by them employed in lesser services, so much money as the said committee shall judge necessary for their several purposes, taking proper security for the due disbursement and application thereof, and making a proper and reasonable allowance to the several persons so to be appointed for their trouble and expenses in conducting either branch of business to him or them assigned. And the said committee shall have full power and authority to displace and remove from his office any person so by them appointed, either for misconduct or neglect of duty. And the said treasurer is hereby required to pay all such sums as he may be directed by such warrant, out of the publick money

in his hands.

And be it farther ordained, That the said committee Power of of safety shall have full power and authority, at such committee times and places as they may think convenient and ne- of safety. cessary, to call all persons, who may receive any publick money for carrying into execution the purposes of this ordinance, to a strict account; and upon examining their accounts, and finding them justly stated, to certify the same, and, if necessary, to give proper acquittals and discharges.

eral commit

And whereas it may be necessary, for the public se- Army subcurity, that the forces to be raised by virtue of this or-ject to con. dinance should, as occasion may require, be marched troul of gento different parts of the colony, and that the officers tee of safety. should be subject to a proper controul, Be it ordained, by the authority aforesaid, That the officers and soldiers under such command, shall in all things, not otherwise particularly provided for by this ordinance, and the articles established for their regulation, be under the con

Minute men

ized, out of the militia.

troul, and subject to the order, of the general committee of safety.

And whereas it is judged necessary, for the better how organ protection of the country in times of imminent danger, that certain portions of the militia throughout the whole colony should be regularly enlisted, under the denomination of minute-men, and more strictly trained to proper discipline than hath been hitherto customary, and, to this end, that the whole colony should be divided into proper and convenient districts:

Colony di

vided into

districts.

Regiment to be raised in

district of Accomack

and Northampton.

Be it therefore ordained, by the authority aforesaid, That this colony be immediately formed and divided into sixteen districts, in the following manner, to wit: One district to include the counties of Accomack and Northampton; one other, the counties of Princess Anne, Norfolk, the borough of Norfolk, and the counties of Nansemond and Isle of Wight; one other, the counties. of Southampton, Sussex, Surry, Brunswick, Prince George, and Dinwiddie; one other, the counties of Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Charlotte, Halifax, and Prince Edward; one other, the counties of Amelia, Chesterfield, and Cumberland; one other, the counties of Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, and Louisa; one other, the counties of Pittsylvania, Fincastle, Bedford, and Botetourt; one other, the counties of Buckingham, Amherst, Albemarle, and Augusta; one other, the counties of Elizabeth City, Warwick, York, James City, the city of Williamsburg, and the counties of Charles City and New Kent; one other, the counties of Gloucester, Middlesex, Essex, King and Queen, and King William; one other, the counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Westmoreland, and Richmond; one other, the counties of Culpeper, Orange, and Fauquier; one other, the counties of Caroline, Spotsylvania, King George, and Stafford; one other, the counties of Prince William, Fairfax, and Loudoun; and one other district to include the counties of Berkeley, Frederick, Dunmore, and Hampshire; and the inhabitants of West Augusta are to compose one entire district.

And be it farther ordained, That within the district containing the counties of Accomack and Northampton there shall be forthwith raised one regiment, consisting of six hundred and eighty men, from the ages of sixteen to fifty, to be divided into ten companies, sixty eight each rank and file, to be under the command of a colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major, ten captains, twen