3, Prince George's 3, Anne Arundel 4, Baltimore 5, Harford 3, Frederick 8.

And that, for the enrollment of every such company, a proper person be appointed by the committee of each respective county, to enlist a sufficient number of men who shall voluntarily offer themselves, to make up the non-commissioned officers and prìvates of each of the said companies, for their respective county; in the enrolment of whom, care should be had that the men be strong and effective, and live as convenient as may be, for their frequent and ready assembling and exercising together.

That the form of the enrollment of minute-men be as follows, to wit: "We whose names are subscribed, do hereby enroll ourselves into a company of minute men for -county, agreeably to the resolutions of the provincial convention held at Annapolis the 26th day of July, 1775, to continue such until the 1st day of March next, and engage, that we will respectively march to such places, either in this or the neighboring colonies, and at such times as we shall be commanded by the convention, or the council of safety of this province, or by our officers in pursuance of the orders of the said convention or council; and that we will respectively fight with and employ the arms wherewith we are entrusted, for the preservation of American liberty, against whomsoever we shall be commanded, by such authority as aforesaid, with our whole power. Witness our hands, this day of

1775."

That each company as soon as enrolled and viewed, and allowed by the committee of their county, or by such person or persons as shall be appointed by such committee for that purpose, shall elect and choose their proper officers, by ballot, who shall be appointed and commissioned by the delegates of this province sitting in convention, or at any time when they are not sitting in convention, by the council of safety in the name of the convention.

That the said companies in Frederick county compose one battallion; those in Baltimore and Harford counties jointly another; and those in St. Mary's, Charles and Prince George's counties jointly another; and that to each of the same battallions there be one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, one quarter master, and one adjutant, appointed and commissioned as aforesaid, by the convention or council of safety.

That as soon as conveniently may be, after the officers to the said battallions on the western shore are commissioned, eight men be drafted from every company of the said battallions, to compose one company of light infantry to each battallion, to which company the convention or council of safety shall, as aforesaid, appoint

and commission one captain, two lieutentants, and one ensign, and the captain of each company of light infantry may appoint non-commissioned officers thereto.

That all the officers of the said minute-men rank according to their commissions and the date of priority thereof.

That the minute-men be exercised two days in every week, and that for one of those days each of the non-commissioned officers and privates be allowed two shillings and six pence common mo

ney.

That each of the said battallions in Frederick and Baltimore and Harford counties, be exercised in battalions, at such convenient times and places as shall be appointed by the field officers of the respective battalions, every of which times being accounted as. one of the two days of exercise. And that the said other companies of minute-men exercise with some battalions of militia, at at the times of their being exercised in battalion, in their respective county, and as to this purpose, be subject to the commands of the field officers of such battalion.

That until other arms are provided, the minute-men exercise with their own firelocks, but that as soon as others can be provided by the public, each colonel have delivered to him firelocks with steel ramrods and bayonets, cartouch boxes, worms, priming wires, and brushes fitted thereto, and flints, sufficient for his battalion, and he shall deliver to each captain in his battalion, sufficient for his company, who shall deliver and distribute the same to his company; receipts of all which deliveries shall be given, the men being answerable to the captains, the captains to the colonels, and colonels to the conventions, for the return of the said arms and accoutrements in good order, unless prevented by unavoidable accidents.

That the companies of minute-men not so joined in battalion, be armed and provided, and the captains and men of those companies responsible for a return of the public arms and accoutrements, in the same manner as the men of the battalions are to be armed and provided, and their colonels, and they are as aforesaid responsible.

That every able bodied effective freeman within this province, between sixteen and fifty years of age, (clergymen of all denominations, practising physicians, the household of his excellency the governor, minute and artillery men, and such persons who from their religious principles cannot bear arms in any case, excepted,) as soon as may be, and at furthest before the 15th day of September next, shall enroll himself in some company of militia, in the

following form, to wit: "We whose names are subscribed, do hereby enroll ourselves into a compauy of militia, agreeable to the resolutions of the provincial convention held at Annapolis the 26th day of July, 1775; and we do promise and engage, that we will respectively march to such places within this province, and at such times, as we shall be commanded by the convention, or the council of safety of this province, or by our officers in pursuance of the orders of the said convention or council, and there with our whole power fight against whomsoever we shall be commanded by such authority as aforesaid. Witness our hands, this day

That each company of militia consist of such officers as are recommended by former resolutions of the convention, and of about sixty-eight privates.

That each company already formed, if it now is, or before the 15th day of September next, shall be made up to fifty privates, or upwards; and shall have subscribed the said form of enrollment, shall confirm their election of officers already made, or elect others in their stead, by ballot, as they shall think proper; and that officers so chosen for all companies which shall be hereafter formed, as recommended by the said former resolves; after which confir mations and elections, and before the first day of October next, each captain of militia shall transmit a roll of his company to the committee of observation which shall be appointed for his county, who shall as soon as may be, transmit a memorandum or certificate of the names of the captains, lieutenants, and ensign, and of the numbers of non-commissioned officers and privates, to the council of safety; in order that commissions may issue in the name of the convention to those officers; which shall be done by the same convention, or council of safety aforesaid.

That no company shall exceed the number of 74 privates, or consist of less than 50; and if a greater number than 74 shall be enrolled in any one company, then the enrollment of any after the first 68 effective privates shall be deemed void, and such shall enroll in some other company, and if a number of men shall be enrolled not amounting to fifty privates, besides sufficient for noncommissioned officers, for any one company, they shall not be considered as a company; yet as the local circumstances of some neighborhoods may make it very inconvenient for a full company of militia to meet weekly for exercise, at one and the same place, in such case the officers may appoint two places at each of which a several part of their company may be mustered, not oftener than three times out of four; so that every fourth time at least the whole may be mustered together.

That no company be permitted to choose officers before a sufficient number of men be enrolled to make up 50 privates, besides non-commissioned officers.

That after enrollment in pursuance of these resolves, no man be permitted to leave the company in which he shall have been enrolled, without the consent of his captain in writing.

That the committee of observation in each county make diligent inquiry after, and transmit to the convention or council of safety, the name of every able bodied effective freeman as aforesaid, in their respective county, if there shall be any such, who shall not enroll himself either as a minute or artillery man, or in the militia, according to the preceding resolves, to the end, that the convention may take order therein; against whom no further proceedings or measures shall be taken, but by the future order of the convention.

That the committee of observation for each county shall divide the militia of their county into battalions or companies of light infantry, each of which battalions to consist of such eight companies of militia as the same committee shall appoint; and the same committee also assigning to each battalion, one company of light infantry, which light infantry shall be armed in such manner as the council of safety shall direct; and that to each of the said battalions there be one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, one quarter master, and one adjutant, who shall be appointed and commissioned by the delegates of this province sitting in convention, or at any time when they are not sitting in convention, by the council of safety in the name of the convention; which officers shall rank and martial the companies of their respective battalions.

That every company of militia be exercised one day in every week, and that every battalion of militia be exercised in battalion at such times and places as the field officers of the battalion shall appoint, not oftener than once in every month, nor seldomer than once in every two months; the day of exercise in battalion being accounted as the day of exercise for that week.

That the colonel of every battalion of minute men and militia, shall employ a skilful and able adjutant for his battalion, who shall train and exercise the battalion, and the several companies thereof, according to the directions of the colonel, and shall receive for a month of thirty days, sixteen dollars; and that the companies of minute men not formed in battalion, as to the purpose of being trained and exercised by the adjutant, be esteemed as a company of the battalion with which they shall exercise as before directed.

That every field and commissioned officer having no reasonable

excuse shall appear at the time and place of muster, and there do and perform his duty according to his office and station; and for every neglect or refusal, he shall be fined a sum not exceeding fifteen shillings common money, to be adjudged if a field officer, by the other field officers present, or a majority of them; and if a commissioned officer, below the rank of a field officer, by the other commissioned officers present, or the major part of them.

That every non-commissioned officer and private of the minute men and militia appear at the time and place appointed for their respective appearance, for mustering, with his firelock and other accoutrements in good order, and there orderly, diligently, and obediently attend to instruction, and perform his exercise in arms, according to the commands and orders of his officers, and if any minute or militia man shall not appear at the time and place of muster with his firelock and other accoutrements in good order, having no reasonable excuse, or shall not there, after appearance, behave himself decently, and in a manner suitable to the attention and care requisite in such exercise, he shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five shillings common money for every such neglect or misbehaviour, which shall be determined by the captain, lieutenants and ensign, or any two of them, either on their own view, or on representation and proof thereof, and on non-payment shall be committed to the custody of the sergeant of his company till pay

ment.

That if complaint shall be made of gross misbehaviour, or breach of duty of any commissioned officer, by any committee of observation, or any two commissioned officers of the corps or company to which such officer, against whom complaint shall be made, doth belong, or by any one officer of superior or equal rank to the officer complained against, then the council of safety may appoint a court martial, to consist of not less than five, nor more than nine of the commissioned officers, of the same corps or county, who, or a majority of whom, shall hear, try, determine, and give sentence on such offence, so that the same sentence extend not further than to a pecuniary fine, not exceeding ten pounds common money, or to a public and solemn acknowledgment of the fault of the offending officer, or to a suspension or loss of his military commission; which sentence being transmitted to, and approved by the council of safety, shall be accordingly executed.

That all fines on officers of inferior rank to a field officer, and also on non-commissioned officers and privates, shall be to the use of the company to which such person belongs, and that all fines on field officers to be to the use of the battalion to which they respectively belong.