First, All Officers chosen or appointed in battalions that were formed before the first day of October last, in the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the Townships of the Northern Liberties, Moyamensing and Passyunk, to take rank or precedence of all other officers or equal dignity, chosen or appointed in any other part of the province.
Second, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Philadelphia county to take rank of all officers of equal dignity, chosen or appointed in any other county.
Third, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Bucks county, to take rank of all officers or equal dignity, chosen or appointed in any other than, the city and county of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the townships of the Northern Liberties, Moyamensing and Passyunk.
Fourth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid in Chester county, to take rank of all officers of equal dignity chosen or appointed in any other than Bucks and Philadelphia counties, and Philadelphia city, the districts of Southwark and townships of the Northern Liberties, Moyamensing and Passyunk.
Fifth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Lancaster county to rank before officers of equal dignity, chosen or appointed in any other than Chester, Bucks and Philadelphia counties, and the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and townships of the Northern Liberties, Moyamensing and Passyunk.
Sixth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in York county, to rank before officers of equal dignity, in any other than, Lancaster, Chester, Bucks and Philadelphia counties, Philadelphia city, the district of Southwark and townships of the Northern Liberties, Moyamensing and Passyunk.
Seventh, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Cumberland county, to rank before officers of equal dignity, in the junior counties of Berks, Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland.
Eighth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Berks county, to rank before officers of equal dignity, in the counties of Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland.
Ninth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Northampton county, to rank before officers of equal dignity in Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland counties.
Tenth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October as aforesaid, in Bedford county, to rank before officers of equal dignity in Northumberland and Westmoreland counties.
Eleventh, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Northumberland county to rank before officers of equal dignity in Westmoreland county.
Twelfth, All officers chosen or appointed before the said first day of October, as aforesaid, in Westmoreland, the youngest or last made county in this province, to yield up rank or precedence to all officers of equal dignity chosen or appointed in every other county in this province before the said first day of October, as aforesaid.
Thirteenth, Where commissions of equal dignity in different counties bear the same date, precedency to be determined by seniority of counties, but where they are in the same county, by rank of the battalion.
Fourteenth, The Colonels chosen or appointed in the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the townships of the Northern Liberties, Moyamensing and Passyunk, having already determined their ranks with respect to each other by lot, their and the other field officers commissions will be dated according to the lot so drawn.
Fifteenth, The Colonels chosen or appointed in every county before the said first day of October, are to determine their rank with respect to each other (where not already done) by Lot, and commissions for them and their respective field officers will be dated accordingly.
Sixteenth, The Captains in every battalion to determine their rank in battalion (where not already settled) by lot, and their commissions with those of their Lieutenants and Ensigns will be dated accordingly.
Seventeenth, All officers chosen or appointed after the said first day of October, to have their commissions dated at the time of such choice or appointment, and to take rank according to said dates.
Eighteenth, All battalions to be compleated as soon as possible, and (except battalions of rifle-men) to consist of at least six companies of not less than forty and not more than seventy-six 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 company to consist of a Captain, two Lieutenants, one or two Ensigns, four serjeants, four corporals, a drummer and fifer, except the light-infantry companies, which, instead of two Lieutenants and two Ensigns, are to have four Lieutenants, the two youngest of which are to rank as Ensigns.
Nineteenth, All battalions of riflemen shall consist of at least six companies of not less than 40, nor more than 56 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 hornblower, and as many serjeants and Corporals as may be found necessary - the serjeants, corporasls and fifers or hornblowers to be appointed by the field officers.
Every officer and private of a rifle company shall furnish himself with a good rifle gun, a powder horn, a charger, a bullet screw, twelve flints, a strong 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-first, All national distinctions in dress or name to be avoided, it being proper that we should now be united in this general association for defending our liberties and properties, under the sole denomination of Americans.
Twenty-second, 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 independent, but are to be annexed to the most convenient battalion, until a sufficient number of companies are raised to form a new battalion, and no number of associators are to be considered as a company, unless they consist of at least forty privates; but it is recommended that till that number be completed, the associators join the most convenient company and do duty with such company.
Twenty-fourth, All battalions now formed as well as those hereafter to be formed, are desired to make the necessary returns of their officers with their respective ranks to the committee of their county, and the committees are desired to certify such returns with the respective rank of each battalion in their county to the Committee of Safety, that commissions may be issued immediately for every officer, in conformity with these rules.
Twenty-fifth, Every associator (except riflemen) is required to furnish himself with a good and sufficent firelock fit for actual service, a bayonet fitted thereto, steel ramrod, worm, priming wire and brush, a cartridge-box that will contain twenty-three rounds of cartridges, twelve flints, a knapsack, a sufficient 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 Assessors of the several counties within this province shall deliver the firelocks, bayonets, cartridge-boxes and knapsacks, directed to be provided by the resolutions of the late house of assembly, to the commanding officers of the several battalions in their respective counties, in due proportions according to the number of men in each battalion, for the use of such associators, in their battalions, as are unable to supply themselves, taking receipts for the same, which they shall immediately transmit to the Committee of Safety, first having entered the accounts of the same in their respective minute books; and the said commanding officers shall be accountable for the delivery of such arms and accoutrements, unless in actual service, whenever they shall be called upon by the Assembly or Committee of Safety.
Twenty-seventh, 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 first Mondays in the month of June, the last Monday in the month of July, the three first 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 theiir commanding officers, to betrained and exercised in companies or Battalions, as the officers shall direct;
And it is also recommended to such Associators, as are not sufficiently expert in the exercise, to meet as frequently as they conveniently can, at other times, to perfect themselves in the same; it is also directed, that the commanding officers respectively 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 inclemency of the weather, they are to meet on the next fair day.
Twenty-eighth, No company or battalion shall meet at a tavern on any of the days of exercise; nor shall march to any tavern before they are discharged.
Twenty-ninth, The associators on days of exercise may be detained under arms, on duty in the field, any time not exceeding six hours, provided they are not kept above three hours under arms at any one time, without allowing them a proper time to refresh themselves.
Thirtieth, 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 hour after the time appointed for the meeting 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-first, 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 of cartridges are properly made up and suited to the bore of each firelock respectively, belonging to his company, and shall keep all the cartridges that are so made up in some dry and convenient place, with the name of the private affixed for whose firelock they are fitted, ready to be delivered out when occasion requires.
Thirty-second, Adjutants, drummers and fifers shall receive the following pay for every day of service they attend their respective battalions or companies by order of the commanding officer.
An Adjutant Seven Shillings and Sixpence. A drummer Three Shillings; a fifer Three Shillings. The drum-major and fife-major of every battalion shall receive each a sum not exceeding Fifteen Shillings per week, and be continued in pay as long as the Colonels of the several battalions shall think necessary; and it is required, that such drum-majors and fife-majors, when not in service on days of exercise, shall be diligently employed in instructing a proper number of persons for drummers and fifers of the several battalions.
Thirty-third, All officers and soldiers of the association when employed on military watch and ward, or when called into actual service in case of an invasion or insurrection, or imminent danger of either, by this House of Assembly, or in their recess by the Committee of Safety, shall, while on such watch or in such service, be entitled, be entitled to, and receive the same pay that the officers and soldiers of the Continental troops receive.
Thirty-fourth, If any officer or soldier not labouring under any infirmity incapacitating him to serve, shall, when so called into actual service, refuse to appear and march with his arms, ammunition and accoutrements, or shall depart without leave of the commanding officer, he shall be held up to the public as a coward and a betrayer of his country.
Thirty-fifth, If any associator so called into actual service leave not of ability to maintain themselves in his absence, the justices of the peace of the city or county, and the overseers of the poor of the city, township or district, respectively shall immediately make provision for the maintenance of such family.
Thirty-sixth, When any of the associators shall be so called into actual service, the commissioners of the respective counties or any one of them shall immediately provide such carriages as may be necessary for their accomodation, at the expence of the public.
Thirty-seventh, As there may happen occasions wherein it may be necessary to call out a part of the associators to actual though temporary service, and not the whole body, and it would be inconvenient and burdensome, if upon every alarm, which the assistance of part only may be wanted, the whole should come together, or any much greater number than the occasion required, it is recommended, that orders may issue from the Committee of Safety to the Colonels, either to march their whole Battalion or to send to an appointed rendezvous one or more companies, as they may be wanted, according to the respective rank of the companies, each company serving on such calls in its turn, and for such proportion of time as shall make the burden nearly equal; and if the associators who are called forth, are not all provided with good arms, it is recommended to those who have such and are not called out, to lend the same for that occasion, at the risk of the public.
Thirty-eighth, The field officers of every battalion shall appoint some persen in each company of their respective battalions, in whom they can confide, and the officers in every troop of horse and company of artillery shall in like manner choose some person in their troop or company respectively, whose names shall be returned by the said officers respectively to the county treasurers for the provincial taxes in their several counties, which persons so appointed shall from time to time collect all fines incurred by the associators in their companies for non-attendance, and shall severally pay the same to the said county treasurers respectively first deducting a commission of five per Centum for their trouble, which said county treasurer respectively shall pay the same to Michael Hillegas, Esquire, after deducting a commission of one per Centum for their trouble; and the said Michael Hillegas having exchanged the said money in which such fines shall be so paid, into bills of credit of this province emitted by this or the late house of assembly, after deducting Five Shillings for every Hundred Pounds for his trouble, shall deliver the same into the hands of the committee of assembly appointed to audit and settle the public accounts, to be by them burnt sunk and destroyed in abatement of the taxes. - It is directed, that the said collector shall account with the officers who severally appounted them as often as such officers shall require them so to do, and the said officers shall in due time transmit the accounts of the said collectors to the respective county treasurers for the provincial taxes.
Lastly, This house having drawn up the following articles of agreement, for all associators in the province, they do earnestly recommend the same to be adopted, signed and agreed to be by all the said associators.
