Resolutions for Raising the Third Battalion

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Mr˙ Fisher, from the Committee appointed to draw up a draft of a publication, respecting raising a Battalion in this Colony, reported the same, which was read, and after several amendments were made, was agreed to, and ordered to be engrossed, and is in the words following:

Province of New Jersey, in Congress, February 5, 1776.

Whereas, by a Resolution of the honourable Continental Congress, a third Battalion is recommended immediately to be raised in this Colony, for the service, and at the expense of the United Colonies, consisting of eight Companies, and each Company of seventy-eight Privates, and officered with one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, four Sergeants, and four Corporals; which recommendation, this Congress, being desirous fully to comply with, do, therefore, Resolve, That Officers of the said Battalion be immediately recommended for commissions, and that the Captains and Subalterns be appointed, and warrants issued for the inlisting the aforesaid complement of men.

Resolved, That agreeable to the recommendation of the said honourable Continenal Congress, the Recruiting Officer inlist noire but healthy, sound, and able-bodied freemen, not under sixteen years of age. The Form of the Inlistment to be in the following words:

"I, — have this day inlisted myself as a Soldier in the American Continental Army for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said Army."

Resolved, That no apprentice whatsoever be inlisted within this Colony, without the consent of his master or mistress first obtained in writing: And that every person under the age of twenty-one years, inlisting himself as aforesaid, may within twenty-four hours after their parents or guardians shall have notice of such inlistment, obtain his discharge, by refunding the money received from the Recruiting Officer, and returning such necessaries as may have been supplied him by the officer, or the value thereof in money.

That as to the pay and subsistence of said Officers and Soldiers, the same is fixed and ascertained by the said Continental Congress.

That it be recommended to the Officers of said Battalion, to pay the strictest attention to the behaviour of the troops, in Quarters, or on their march, that they give no reasonable cause of complaint.

And it is further Directed, That where any Company shall be inlisted, the Captains having warrants for raising the same, shall cause a Muster to be had thereof in the presence of Azariah Dunham, John Mehelm, Joseph Ellis, or Edmond Thomas, Esqs˙, who are hereby appointed Mustermasters to review the said Companies, and administer an oath to such Captains, in the words following, which the said Captains, respectively, are required to take, viz:

"I, A˙ B˙, do solemnly swear, that all the men whose names are entered in the Muster-Roll by me produced, are truly and bona fide inlisted, and so far as I know or believe, intend going in the service of the United Colonies in the Third Battalion raised, or raising in this Colony. So help me God."

And if upon such Review, the Mustermaster, who shall attend for that purpose, shall obtain the above said oath, or (if of the people called Quakers,) an affirmation to the

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By order of the Congress:

SAMUEL TUCKER, President.
Attested: WILLIAM PATTERSON, Secretary.