The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-12-16 00:00:00, page 1

BILL for tbe Regulation of the MILITIA
of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(Printed for public Consideration.)
± Y ,HERBAS a militia law, founded upon just
VV and equitable principles, hath ever been re
garded as the best security of Liberty, and the
iroft erfeaua.l me ? ns of drawing forth and exerting
the natural strength of a Rate : And whereas a well re
rutated militia ir tite o r ly fafe and constitutional me
thod of defending a free Rate, as the necessity of keep
ing up a ftarding army, especially in times of peace,
is thereby fupcrccdeci fAnd whereas the militia law of
r^ c xnmofrw^th, # enabled by the general assembly
held Maren the 17th. 1777, from a change of circam
ftances and other canles, hath become inlmrciecL to an
fiver the purposes atctctmdj vnich renders it nighty ne
ce&ry that a new kw.fb.bnld be enabled: ^
Therefore be. it enacted and it is hereby enabled, by
the representatives ofT e freemen of the common wealth
of Pennsylvania, in general znembly met, ano ay.the
authority of tbe fame, that the president, or in hit ab-•
fence the vice preffdeT of the fuprc,c executive council
of this common-wealth 'hall appoint and commifhonate
ore reputable freeholder in the city of Philadelphia, and
oae in each countywithin this fiate, to serve as bentenants
of the militia for the said city and counties refpe&ive
ly 'who, besides the powers which are given him by this
a& 'half have the title and rank which the president
and tauncil shall confer; and also any number of per
sons not exceeding two for the said, city, and in the te
;<ral counties ary number, not exceeding the number
of battalions ^w, or to lie hereafter former, to serve
as fub-leutenants in the laid cry and counties refpec
t;vely • w'ich lieutenant, or, in his anfence or incapa,^
city ^uor more rub-lieutenants, shall have full pow
er authority to do add perform all and linger the
duties required of them by this aft, except in cases
where a greater number is hereby direbte to cun toge
ri^r to perform ahy se r vice : and they fr.ll not be
obliged to perform any other militia fertile luuU that
of their office- .
And be it further evaded by tue authority afore,nd,
that the laid lieutenant or sub lieutenants shall (once
e%ry year) issue his or their warrants to the captain or
commanding officer for the time being of each compa
ny of the federal battalias in the said city and counties
refpe&ive|y, or to force other fuimble perion, com
manding him, in the name of the cemmomw^h to
deliver, to him or them, me said lieutenant or
Leuteaants, within ten :7s from and after tie date of
the said warrants, (uqb is the lieutenant or fub-aeute
nants shall judge 1 a longer time to be neceffary,,mch
re : s hereby impowerei to grant,) on oath or affirma
tion, which they are th-b hereby impawered to adm^
miler, a true and exac? lift of the names,, a firna^es or
each and every male wh : te nerfon inhabiting or pending
within his township, b< v ~\ward or di n^., ..ctweeu
the ag*s of eighteen ana mty t. rec years, (xh g< es ,1
Cong^fs, members of the fcprem,execute founcil,
members of the general assembly, judges of the supreme
court, attorney general for the bate, the judge of tae
~dqfrally, treasurer of the Rate, miners ano mcuny gl
^i^^, ministers of tbe gofrl (or clergy) of eyery de
nomination, judges of the he ur, of common pleas and
indices o' the peace, fcnooimafters qualified according
to law and in a^ual employ, certificates thereof to be
filled by five reputable freeholders of toe township or
ward Where they reside and duly regifiered in tbe court
of quarter feffiohs: pod-makers an, post-riders, or me
nial servants of ambaffa ! ors or, 4 vers or con ,1s morn
foreign courts, or of debates in vungrefs, and servants
purch ded bona fideand for a valuable conftderati.m, on
ly excepted.) , , . , r
And be it further enabled by the^utcorrty Torecud,
rba+ the lie tenant and fub-heutermts as aforefaid,
within five days after they (hall receive t e lifts afore
said frail, if they fee cause, alt^ the prTent divifi
mof the city; and counties relatively, and divide
them into new diAri^S each diftriß to contain not less
than four hundred and forty, nor more than one thou
sand. officers and privates included, at tie difcreiton 01
tbe said lieutenant and hub-lieutenants - and then di
vide " the said diftrias into eigl t parts, as nearly equal
as be, paying due regard in each divfon to the
convenience of the inhabitants:. Provided always, that
two thirds of the officers met for thembove purpose a
,ree to such divifon. .
And be it further enabled by „ authority af^r . u 1,
that the militia of the northern übeYties of the city of
Philadelphia, the diftrift of S^tfrk, and the town
fliips of Moyamenfing and be, and ire Here
by united to the city of p. ; ilac,p.ia, to in coo
fun^ion with the militia or the said city, and diftn^
from the county of Philadelphia, that draw 0^
for rank in battalion, and be joined in bri^ad, and
^every other matter that refocus the militia law,
5 % ^ ^o&¥§«U ^^
^^W/ ib,.^^' I it:./ ^ ♦ ,^ 1
THURSD A Y,
gENERA L
O R
[ Published every Tuesday, Th^rfday a^d Saturday. ]
as if they were inhabitants of the said city, and to be
under the jurifdiflion of the lieutenant and hub-lieute
nants of the city.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
that the lieutenants, with the assistance of the sub-lieu
tenants and the colonels of the federal battalions of the
said city and liberties, shall, cut of the several battalions
of militia, take such a number as, including the compa
nies already railed, shall be fufficient to compose eight
companies, to form one battalion, officered and arrayed
as follows, that is to fay, one colonel, one lieutenant co
lonel, ore major, eight captains, eight captain l eute
nants, eight firfi lieutenants, sixteen second lieutenants ;
the junior to do the duty of conductor, and the senior to
bear the Hazard ; paymaster, adjutant, and quarter
master to be taken from the line ; one surgeon, one ser
geant major, one quarteffafer sergeant, fife major,
drum major, eight clerks, thirty-two sergeants, thirty
two corporals, forty-eight bombadiers, forty-eight gun
ners, fifteen drums and fifes, and four hundred matroffes.
And be it further enaaed, that the several captains
ofthe artillery battalion shall determine their rank by
lot, and be numbered from ote to eight in numerical
order, arg be fubjed to be drawn forth into canal
service in rotation by companies, according to their
number in rmk, number one in rmk with the firft class
of the militia, and so on, until all ihali take their tour,
or otherwise, as the commander in chief of militia shall
direct.
And whereas it is expedient to embody such a num
ber of light-horse as will be ufeful when the militia is
called into actual service : therefore
Be it enacted and it is hereby enabled, &c. that in
each company in every battalion in the several counties
throughout the Rate they ihall chufe onent person to serve
as a light-horse mao, such person agreeing to serve in
thatflatiou, who shall keep himfelf provided with a good
horse, a saddle properly furnished with a cloth, breafl
pkteand pad, a double reined bridle, a carbine and belt,
with a runring swivel, a pair of pißols and holders, a
breast cartcuch box, a fwerd and belt, boots and spurs,
a good great-coat er cloak fuflicieutly large to cover
his arm's, with fuco other articles of armour and fur
niture, made,in like form and manner as.are usual and
accufiome^ n th? e uipment of cavalry, under the pen
alty of forfeiting on- hundred pounds for the want of a
horse, fifty pounds for want of a saddle and bridle, and
for want of a carbine dr pistols thirty pounds, and for
want of any.other n~ccffary article,
whenever called out to training or service.
And the field chh fsof the battalion fh)ll appoint a
sergeant to command the horse of said battalion, to be
equipped in manner aforefaid.
And be it further enabled, that where it shall so hap
pen that there h c any county four or not exceeding
five battalions, those battalions jointly ihah chufe one
captain and ^e ^'., wl 0 shall .be the officers attach
ed to the horse beLnging to those several battalions,
and such I orfe shall I termed 0 troop* nd where it
shall so 1m pr ntl at there is in any ounty from fix to
ten batt lions, then the! orfe shall be divided into two
troops and officered 23 aforefaid; and where there shall
be a greater number than ten battalions to be formed in
to troops after the aforefaid manner, at the diferetion
of the lieutenant and sub-lieutenants of the said coun
ty.
And be it ena&d, &c. that on toe d^ys appointed
for the m !itia to be exercised in companies, the horse
of each battalion shall exercise, together at such place as
the captain or commanding officer of the trdop ihalldi
reft And when the militia lhall meet to exercise in
b ttalion each.troop of militia light-horse shall meet and
exercise at such place as the colonel or commanding offi
cer shall dir^t.
And te it further enafled, &c. that when any of the
militia are called by elites, that the militia light-horse
ihall take their tour of duty as follows, that is to, fay ;
when the firfi class of militia is called the horseman be
longing to thefirk company shall go, .when the id class
is called the horferoan belonging to theid company shall
go, and to on, according to their number in battalion;
?nd the militia liget horse sergeant of theist compai y
shall go with the firfi class, 2d light-horse sergeant with
the 2d claL, and so on, till each Gt 11 have served bis
tour. Ard when the firfl four (Uffes are c died the,cap
tain of kght horse shall take the command of that half
of the troop, and when die last four classes are called
the cornet fnall take command of that part of the hprfe
in service...... a
And be itenafted, Ac. that each horseman, wfcen in
a&ual service, shall be allowed by the dsy, as
compensation for the use of his horse. And in case bis
horse shall be killed in actual service, or shall die, or be
taken, otherwise than by negleft, he shall be paid tbe
full value .thereof and of his accoutrements so iofl, the
price to be eflimated by the lieutenant and any two
fub-lLutenants 011 due proof made to them of such
loss, who are hereby imrowered to draw upon the
rf*^%^ CTlZ^ii^
T H E
§#6^# ^y CQ/^<^&;^
APVERTISER
militia fund in the hands of the treasurer for that
purpose.
And be it further enabled, &c. that the troon of light-,
horse in the city of Philadelphia shall be limited to the
number of forty, exclusive of officers,--- the vacancies
thereof to be filled in the manner heretofore pra&ifed:
and the said troop shall mu her on the days herein appoint
ed for the infantry and be liable to be called into ser
vice in such proportion and in such manner as the com
mander in chief cf the militia of the state fiall dired and
appoint, and when in actual service shall be fubjed to
the fame rules and regulations as the cavalry herein be
fore mentioned and annexed to the battalions of infan
try on the like service; and shall be fubjed to the like
fines and penalties for nep,lea of duty in meeting on
mufier days or not performing their tour of duty when
called asaforefaid or other delinquencies, as the cavalry
last above mentioned--such fines and penalties to be ap
plied and appropriated as the fines and penalties for the
like offences are in other cases, and the said troop to
draw a proportional benefit from the fund created by
tl is ad fcr militia purposes, in manner end form as is
hereby directed and prescribed.
And be it enabled, &c. that if any of the said troop
shall be duly elected to be a cemmiffione I officer in an,
battalion of infantry within this city, upon notice there
of given him in writing by the lieutenant, his place in
the said troop shall be ipso fado vacant, and tbe troop
is. hereby enjoined to fill up the said vacancy as in case
of death or a departure from the city for fix months at
any onetime, which is also declared to make a vacancy
in said troop.
Beit also enaded, &c. That the captain or command
ing officer of said troop shall from tme to time, when
required by the lieutenant of the city, fend a lift of the
officers and privates composing the said troop, duly
signed by him, and also an account of all fines, penal
ties and forfeitures incurred in tbe said troop for any
delinquencies, to the end that the fame may be duly
and fairly collected and paid into the fund appropriat
ed for the use of the militia , and in case of any charge
or complaint against any officer, of the said troop, the
commander in chief of the militia shall by special war
rant direß a court-martial te be held thereupon, by
such officers of the militia and at such time as to him
shall seem meet.
And the said lieutenants shall give public notice by
advertisements at ten or more of the most public places
in the said diftrids reflectively of the said divisions be
ing made, and appointing a certain day for each diftrift
not less than five days after the said notice, and requir
ing the male white inhabitants between the ages afore
faid, residing in the said divisions refpedively, to meet
at a certain place as near the centre of the said divificn
as may be, and then and there, between the hours of
ten in the morning and fix in the afternoon of the said
day, to eled by ballot, two field officers, that is to fay
one lieutenant colonel and one major. And the inha
bitants of the said sub-divisions refpeflively shall eleft
by b Hot as aforefaid, on the fame or some other con
. venient day, as soon as poffble afterwards, one captain
one lieutenant and one ensign ; and all and each of these
officers respectively shall be such persons as have taken
the oath of allegiance and abjuration to the state agree
able to law; and each captain shall appoint a
suitable person for a clerk in his company ; and the
said lieutenant or sub lieutenant shall attend and fu
perinte^d each and every of the said battalion elections
an I shall cause the colonels so elected in the city and
counties respectively to meet together as soon as may
be, and call lots for rank of the battalions; and the
rank of the officers in each battalion shall be determi
ned by the lot drawn by their refpeQive colonels • and
the captains so ek'.led in the sub-divisions shall 'meet
and cast lots for' their rank in the battalion to which
they belong ; and the rank of the subaltern officers in
each company shall be determined by the lot drawn by
their refpedive captains ; and the said li u tenants fhal :
within,ten days or as soon as may be, having regard
to their local situation, transmit proper certificates to
the president of the supreme executive council, of ti e
names of the persons so as aforefaid elected, and their
rank, both of battalion and companies in the several bat
talions, in order that commifficns may forthwith be
granted to them agreeable to the said certificates.
_ And be it further enabled by the authority , aforefaid
7 hat, if any battalion or battalions, company Or com'
panies, shall negleff cr refufe to ekd their officers as
aforefaid, then and in such c:f% it shill and may be
lawful fpr the lieutenant, with the advice and confect
oftwo or more of the sub lieutenants of such county
where such neglect or relufal shall be, to nominate three
reputable persons to the supreme executive council in
the room of each officer so Depleted to be chosen and
the said council shall commission one of the faid'p^r
fons, which shall be as effectual to all intents and pur
poses as if the said officers had.been elected as fi r ft be
fore direded ; and the said lieutenant shall, as soon as
DECEMBER 16, 1%
T H E