Agreement subscribed by Captain Arnold and his Company of fifty persons

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Agreement subscribed by Captain ARNOLD and his Company of fifty persons, when they set out from CONNECTICUT as Volunteers to assist the Provincials at CAMBRIDGE.

To all Christian people believing in and relying on that GOD, to whom our enemies have at last forced us to appeal:

Be it known that we, the subscribers, having taken up arms for the relief of our brethren, and defence of their as well as our just rights and privileges, declare to the world that we, from the heart, disavow every thought of rebellion to His Majesty as supreme head of the British Empire, or opposition to legal authority, and shall, on every occasion, manifest to the world, by our conduct, this to be our fixed principle. Driven to the last necessity, and obliged to have recourse to arms in defence of our lives and liberties, and, from the suddenness of the occasion, deprived of that legal authority, the dictates of which we ever with pleasure obey, find it necessary, for preventing disorders, irregularities, and misunderstandings in the course of our march and service, solemnly to agree to and with each other on the following

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In the first place we will conduct ourselves decently and inoffensively as we march, both to our countrymen and one another, paying that regard to the advice, admonition, and reproof of our Officers, which their station justly entitles them to expect, ever considering the dignity of our own character, and that we are not mercenaries, whose views extend no farther than pay and plunder, whose principles are such, that every path that leads to the obtaining these is agreeable, though wading through the blood of their countrymen; but men acquainted with, and feeling the most generous fondness for the liberties and unalienable rights of mankind, and who are, in the course of Divine Providence, called to the honourable service of hazarding our lives in their defence.

Secondly. Drunkenness, gaming, profaneness, and every vice of that nature, shall be avoided by ourselves, and discountenanced by us in others.

Thirdly. So long as we continue in our present situation of a voluntary independent Company, we engage to submit on all occasions to such decisions as shall be made and given by the majority of the Officers we have chosen; and when any difference arises between man and man, it shall be laid before the Officers aforesaid, and their decision shall be final. We mean by Officers, the Captain, Lieutenants, Ensign, Sergeants, Clerk, and Corporals; the Captain, or in his absence the Commanding Officer, to be the Moderator, and have a turning or casting voice in all debates, from whom all orders shall from time to time issue. Scorning all ignoble motives, and superiour to the low and slavish practice of enforcing on men their duty by blows, it is agreed that when private admonition for any offence by any of our body committed will not reform, publick shall be made; and if that should not have the desired effect, after proper pains taken, and the same repeated, such incorrigible person shall be turned out of the Company, as totally unworthy of serving in so great and glorious a cause, and be delivered over to suffer the contempt of his countrymen.

As to particular orders, it shall from time to time be in the power of the Officers to make and vary them as occasion may require, as to delivering our provisions, ammunition, rules, and order for marching, &c. The annexed order for the present we think pertinent, and agreeable to our mind. To which, with the additions or variations that may be made, by our said Officers, we bind ourselves by the ties above mentioned to submit.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 24th of April, 1775.