Report on the Number of Forces

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In Congress, Thursday, February 22, 1776.

The Congress met.
And the Journal of yesterday was read.

The consideration of the Report on the number of Forces necessary to be raised, and kept in pay, for the service of this Colony, was resumed.

A motion was made, that a Bounty of nine Pounds ten Shillings, currency, be allowed and paid to every expert Rifleman who shall inlist in the Regiment of Riflemen to be raised for the service of this Colony.

A debate ensued; and the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

The whole of the said Report being gone through, the Congress came to the following Resolutions thereupon:

Whereas, it is absolutely necessary that a considerable body of Regular Forces be kept up for the service and defence of the Colony in this time of imminent danger;

Therefore, Resolved, That the First and Second Regiments be immediately augmented to their original establishment;

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That the Regiment of Rangers be continued upon their present establishment of nine Companies, each to be augmented to fifty Privates; the Companies to be immediately completed, and the men inlisted according to the Rules and Articles for the government of the Troops: and it is hereby declared, that the said Regiment of Rangers shall be composed of expert Riflemen, who shall act on horseback or on foot, as the service may require; each man, at his own expense, to be constantly provided with a good Horse, Rifle, Shotpouch, and Powderhorn, together with a Tomahawk or Hatchet. Also,

That the Regiment of Artillery be continued upon their present establishment. Also,

That a Regiment of expert Riflemen, to take rank as the Fifth Regiment, under proper Field and other Officers, be immediately raised, to consist of seven Companies; each Company to consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, and one hundred Men, including four Sergeants and four Corporals: and it is hereby declared, that the said Regiment shall be inlisted to the 1st of June, 1777, subject to the Rules and Articles for the government of the Troops, and liable to be sooner discharged by publick authority, having one month' s pay advanced; each man in the said Regiment, at his own expense, during the service, finding his own clothes, except a uniform Hunting-shirt, and Hat or Cap, and Blanket, to be provided by the publick; and also, at his own expense, to be constantly provided with a good Rifle, Shotpouch, and Powderhom, together with a Tomahawk or Hatchet; the Privates shall be allowed five Pounds, as the hire of their arms, during their service; nine Pounds and ten Shillings as Bounty, and ten Shillings daily Pay; the Sergeants, twelve Shillings and six Pence; the Corporals, eleven Shillings and three Pence; and the Commissioned Officers the same daily Pay as those of the First and Second Regiments. Also,

That a Company of Artillery, of one hundred Men, with proper Officers, be immediately raised for the defence of Fort Lyttleton, on Port-Royal Island; and one other Company of Artillery, consisting of sixty Men, with proper Officers, be, in like manner, raised for the defence of Georgetown. These Companies to be officered and paid in like manner, and in proportion to the Artillery establishment; and the men to be inlisted for the same term, and in like manner with the Regiment of Riflemen. Also,

That, of the Matrosses on the present establishment, the Seamen in the Colony Navy, and the Matrosses and Seamen expected to arrive here from the New-England Colonies, and other parts, in the whole upwards of nine hundred men, two hundred may, if found necessary, he established as Marines on board the Navy. Also,

That the Rations of the Regular Forces be increased to one pound and a half of fresh Beef, or to eighteen ounces of salt Pork; and that the Regiment of Rangers, the Regiment of Riflemen, the two Independent Companies of Artillery, and the Militia, upon actual service, be allowed Rations in like manner with the First and Second Regiments of Foot, and the Regiment of Artillery, and as increased by this establishment. Also,

That an Adjutant be appointed to the Regiments of Rangers and Riflemen, respectively; a Paymaster and a Surgeon to the Regiment of Riflemen, and a Sergeant-Major, a Quartermaster, and a Quartermaster-Sergeant, to each Regiment of the Regular Forces. Also,

That the men to be inlisted in the Regiment of Rangers and Riflemen, be approved of by the Commanding Officer of each Regiment, respectively, as expert Riflemen. And,

That the Captains in the Regiment of Riflemen, who shall first send, bring, or cause to be brought, to the Regimental Head-Quarters, sixty Men, approved as aforesaid, such Captains shall take priority of rank, respectively, in the said Regiment; and the said Captains, respectively, with the approbation of the Colonel of the Regiment, shall appoint their Lieutenants, Ensign, and Non-Commissioned Officers. And also,

Resolved, That all the Regular Forces of this Colony, both Naval and Military, shall, upon any emergency, and when the Congress or Council of Safety shall think proper, be liable, under either of their order and direction, to serve and act in any part of this or of a neighbouring Colony.

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And whereas it will not be expedient to put any of the Forces of this Colony upon the Continental establishment, so as to be subject to Continental Articles, and entitled only to Continental Pay, and to their discharge in December next; it being more proper to keep all the Colony Troops upon the present footing, as to their quantum of pay, their articles, and the time of inlistment:

Therefore, Ordered, That the Council of Safety do return the thanks of this Colony to the Continental Congress for their attention to its security; that they state the peculiar circumstances and the heavy expenses which have been, and will be incurred, by this Colony, in the measures necessary for her defence; and that they do request the Continental Congress to allow this Colony so much Money as the expenses of three Battalions, upon the Continental establishment, would amount to for one year; and to give Continental Rank to the Officers of the three Regiments raised in June, and of the Regiment of Artillery raised in November, from the dates of their respective Commissions, or, at least, from the 1st day of November, when they resolved to allow this Colony three Battalions.

Resolved, That all the Officers and Men in the Naval and Military Forces of this Colony shall take the same oath of fidelity as is prescribed in the Rules and Articles for the government of the Troops.

Resolved, That this Congress will, by ballot, elect the Field-Officers of the Regiment of Riflemen to be raised, separately.

A motion was made, that the Captains for the said Regiment be also elected, by ballot, by the Members of Congress.

After some debate, the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved, That the Captains of the two Companies of Artillery, to be raised for the defence of Beaufort and Georgetown; be also balloted for, to-morrow, by the Members of Congress.

Resolved, That this Congress will proceed to ballot for the said Officers to-morrow afternoon.

Captain Leger, from the Committee on the Memorial of Charles King Chitty, delivered in a Report.

Ordered; That the said Report be taken into consideration to-morrow.

Colonel Powell, from the Committee to consider and report the number of country Militia necessary to replace the detachments to be discharged the 1st day of March next, and in rotation to do constant duty in and near Charlestown — the means of obliging absentees liable to bear arms, to return — the best division of the country Militia — and such measures as will tend to render the Militia most serviceable, delivered in a further Report.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.

Mr˙ Motte, from the Committee on the Petition of John Sigell, delivered in a Report.

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be likewise postponed.

Colonel Powell, from the Committee on the Petition of Joseph Buffington, delivered in their Report.

Ordered, That the consideration of that Report be also postponed.

Captain Roger Smith, from the Committee to inquire and report the quantity of Flour now in Charlestown; the quantity that will be wanted; the best means of obtaining Salt, Sugar, Rum, and other necessaries, on reasonable terms; with the causes of, and remedies for, the present impositions in the advanced prices on the necessaries of life, other commodities and labour; delivered in a Report.

Ordered, That the consideration of the said Report also be postponed.

Adjourned to ten o' clock to-morrow.