The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-04-25 00:00:00, page 2

Eighteenth. All battalions to be completed as soon as possi
ble, and (except battalions of riflemen) to consist of at least fix
companies of not less than forty and not more than feveny-fix
privates each, and to have for officers, a Colonel, Lieutenant-
Colonel, two Majors, a Standard Bearer, Adjutant, Serjeant
Major, Drum and Fife Major ; and the officers of each com
pany to consist of a Captain, two Lieutenants, one or two En
tigns, four Serjeants, four Corporals, a Drummer and Fifer,
except the light-infantry companies, which, inttead of two
lieutenants and two Ensigns, are to have four Lieutenants,
the twtfoungeft of which are to rank as Ensigns.
Nineteenth. All battalions of riflemen fliall consist of at
least fix companies of not less than forty, nor more than fifty
fix privates each, and have for officers a Colonel, Lieutenant
Colonel, and two Majors ; and the officers of each company
shall be a Captain, two First-Lieutenants, and two Second-
Lieutenants, who shall rank as Ensigns, a Fifer or Horn
blower, and as many Serjeants and Corporals as may be found
necessary-—the Serjeants, Corporals and Fifers or Hornblowers
to be appointed by the field-officers.
Every officer and private of a rifle company shall furnish
himfelf with a good rifle gun, a powder hern, a charger, a bullet
screw, twelve Hints, a ftfong pouch or bag that will hold
four pounds of ball, and such other,accoutrements as may be
proper for a rifleman.
Twentieth. The Standard Bearer of each battalion to rank
as eldest Lieutenant of the battalion..,
Twenty-firft. All national diminutions in dress qr name to
be avoided, it being proper that we should now be united in
this general association for defending our liberties and pro
perties, under the sole denomination of Americans.
Twenty-fecund. No field-officers to have companies.
Twenty-third. For the better order and government, of
companies which may be raised after the completion of the
several battalions already formed in the city and counties,
such companies are not to be admitted as independant, but
are to be annexed to the mod convenient battalion, until a
fufficient number of companies are raised to form a new bat
talion, and no number of Associators are to be considered as
a company, unless they consist of at least f rty privates ; but
it is recommended that till that number be completed, the
Associators join the most convenient company, exercise and do
dpty with such company.
Twenty-fourth. That all commissions to officers of the se
veral battalions of Associators, in this province, be issued and
signed by the Speaker of the Assembly for the time being.
That all battalions now formed,' as well as those hereafter
to be formed, in the city of Philadelphia, be desired to make
returns of their officers, with riheir refpeaive ranks, to the
Committee for the said city ; and the battalions, in the seve
ral counties, are desired to make returns, in like manner, to
their refpettive Committees ; which Committees pre desired
to certify such returns, with the refpe&ive rank of each, batta
lion in their counties, to the Assembly of this province, or,
in the recess of the Hoqfe, to the Speaker-thereof, that Corp
miffions may be issued, for every officer, as above directed.
Twenty-fifth. Every Associator (except riflemen) is re
quired to furnifh himfelf with a good and fufficient firelock
fit for a&ual service, a bayonet fitted thereto, Heel ramrod,
worm, priming wire 'and brush, a cartridge box that will ct n
tain twenty-three rounds of cartridges, twelve flints, a knap
hck, a fufficient powder horn, and a pouch at the bottom of
his cartridge box, or a strong bag, that will hold four pounds,
of ball.✓
Twenty-sixth. The Commissioners and Afleffors of these-.
veral counties, within this province, shall deliver the firelocks,
bayonets, cartridge boxes and knapsacks, directed to be pro
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vided by the resolutions of the late House of Assembly, to
the commanding officers of the several battalions, in their
refpedive counties, in due proportions, according to the num
ber of men in each battalion, for the use of such Associators,
in their battalions, as are unable to supply themselves, taking
receipts for the fame, which they shall immediately transmit
to the Committee of Safety, having firft entered the accounts
of the fame in their refpedive minute, books; and the {aid
commanding officers shall be accountable for the delivery of
such arms and accoutrements, unless loft, in a&ual fervice,^
whenever they fhalj be celled upon by the Assembly or Com
mittee of Safety. ~
Twenty-seventh. That the public arms delivered to Affoci-v
ators be not fubjeff to any distress for rent, or execution for
debt.. That any Associator, who shall fell such arms, or by
any means defraud, the public thereof, or endeavor so to do,
shall forfeit fix pounds, and be held up to public infamy and I
disgrace. And any person who shall detain, buy or exchange
such arms, knowing them to be public property, shall for--
feit ten pounds, and be held up in like manner.
Twenty -eighth.' Every Associator is. required to attend*
constantly, with his arms and accoutrements in good order,
on the last Monday in the month of February, the two last
Mondays in the month of March, the three last Mondays in
the month of April, the four Mondays in the month of May,
the two firft Mondays in the month of June, the last Monday
inthe month of July, the three firft Mondays in the month of
August, the three last Mondays in the month of September,
and the second Monday in the month of October, at the
places appointed by their>commanding officers,, to he trained
and exercised in companies or battalions, as the officers shall
dired.
And it is also recommended to such Associators, as, are not
fufficiently expert in the exercise, to meet as frequently as they
convenienly can, at other times, to perfect themselves in the
fame., It is also directed,, that the commanding officers re &
fpe&ively shall give due notice to the Associators of the places,
and hours of meeting, either in companies ,or battalion ; and
if the Associators are prevented, from meeting on any of the.
days herein appointed, by the inclemfng of the weather, :
they are to meet on the next fair day.
Twenty-ninth. No company or battalion shall meet at a,
tavern on any of the days of exercise ; nor fltali march to any
tavern before they are difeharged,,
1 hirtj^§h,±The Affociatprs, on days of exercise, may be,
detained under arms, on duty in the field, any time not ex-,
ceeding fix hours, provided they are not kept above three,
hours under arms at any, one, time, ,without allowing them
a proper time to refrefh. themselves,
Thirty-firft. The Serjeant,or Clerk^of any company to be
for this purpose appointed by the Captain, Lieutenants and,
Ensigns of the company,is required, at the end of one hbur after,
the time appointed for the meeting of the company or batta-,
lion, to call over the muster roll of the company, noting those
who are absent, and that day to make return, in writing, to
the Captain of such absentees ; and all persons so absent, at
the time of calling over the roll, are to be liable to the fines
hereafter mentioned in the articles for non-attendance.
Thirty-second. The Captain of every company, as soon as.
he is supplied by the public with powder and lead, for the
purpose, is to take especial care, that twenty-three rounds o£
cartridges are properly made up, and fuitej to the bore of
each firelock refpe&vely belonging^ his company, and ffiall
keep ail the cartridges, that are so made up, in some dry and
convenient place, with the name pf the private affixed for,
whose firelock they are fitted, ready tq be delivered out,
when occasion requires.