An act for recruiting the continental army and other purposes therein mentioned.

FOR preventing the inconveniency of draughting men to make up the deficiencies in the quota of continental troops to be furnished by this state, for giving encouragement to soldiers, and putting our army on a more permanent foundation, Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That the men hereafter to be raised in this state for the continental army shall be engaged by voluntary enlistments to serve for three years, or during the war. And the governour, with the advice of the council, is hereby authorised to appoint from time to time such and so many recruiting officers in this state as in their judgment shall be requisite for the said service, and to give them such instructions as they shall judge necessary for the government of such officers respectively in the execution of their office.

That all officers so appointed shall be under the immediate direction of the governour and council, and accountable to them for their conduct, who shall call them to account, and shall continue or displace them from time to lime according to their success and good or ill behaviour. Every such officer shall be allowed ten shillings per day, to commence from the date of his instructions, and also a bounty of ten dollars for each soldier he shall enlist and deliver to a continental officer at the place of general rendezvous to be appointed by the governour and council. Every recruiting officer is empowered to appoint a drummer and fifer to attend him, who shall receive the same pay, and two such rations, as are allowed in the continental army, and, two dollars each for every soldier enlisted by the recruiting officer with whom they act. The governour, with the advice of the council, shall appoint in every county or at the place of general rendezvous, some proper person to review and pass all soldiers enlisted in this state fit for service, who shall give to the officer requiring the same a certificate respecting each soldier reviewed and passed by him. The governour, with the advice of the council, shall from time to time issue hit warrant upon the treasurer for the payment of such sums of money to the several recruiting officers as may be requisite for the recruiting service, which warrants shall be charged in account to the officers respectively receiving them in the auditors book, and endorsed by the auditors before payment. And all sums of money thus received by any officer shall be accounted for to the auditors in their office, who, if the said money shall not have been duly expended, shall certify the balance due from the officers respectively to the treasurer for the time being, to the end that all such balances may be collected and paid into the publick treasury; and on failure, to be recovered as is directed by an act of the general assembly for the recovery of debts due to the publick.

And be it farther enacted, That a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars be given to each soldier, at the time of his enlistment, who shall enlist to serve during the war, and of one hundred dollars to each soldier, at the time of his enlistment, who shall enlist to serve for three years; and that all persons receiving such bounty shall be deemed soldiers and subjected to the articles of war, and shall be entitled to receive the pay and rations which are allowed to soldiers in the continental army. Every soldier enlisted shall be furnished, at the publick expense, with the following articles, a coat, waistcoat, and breeches, two shirts, one hat, two pair of stockings, and one pair of shoes, to be delivered at the place of general rendezvous; and with the same articles every year afterwards, during his continuance in service, to be delivered to him at his station. Provided, that the suit of clothes to be given annually to soldiers by this act shall not be additional to that annual suit which hath been allowed by congress. And if any soldier enlisted according to this act shall be ordered to march out of this state, without having first received such clothes, such order shall amount to a discharge.

That all officers, sailors, and soldiers, raised by this state, shall, during their continuance in the service, be furnished by the agent or commissary of stores, in behalf of this state, with the following necessaries, at the prices herein affixed to them, that is to say: Osnaburgs at one shilling and sixpence per yard, coarse hats at seven shillings and sixpence each, coarse shoes at eight shillings per pair, coarse yarn stockings at five shillings per pair, rum or brandy at the rate often shillings per gallon, and whiskey at the rate of five shillings per gallon, and such other imported articles as may be necessary for them at the rate of one hundred and twenty per centum upon the first cost, at the European port whence they shall be imported; and if such articles shall not be imported from Europe, but purchased by the publick in any of the United States, or the West India islands, they shall be retailed at the same advance, in the estimation of the agent or commissary of stores, as if the same had been imported from Europe on the publick account. And as a farther encouragement, all soldiers who have enlisted, or may enlist, to serve in the army during the war, and shall actually serve that time, shall be exempted from the payment of all levies and taxes, for their own persons, during life, such soldiers producing to the court of the county in which they may reside a certificate from the commander of the regiment in which they served of their service and due discharge.

And be it farther enacted. That every soldier who is now enlisted for a limited time, and shall hereafter engage for the war, shall, at the time of re-enlistment, be entitled to a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars, and all privileges given by this act.

And be it farther enacted. That all soldiers who may be disabled in the service shall be entitled to receive full pay during life, to commence at the time of their discharge.