Act for Assembling, Equipping, and c. A number of the Inhabitants of this Colony, for the special defence and safety thereof

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Be it enacted by the Governour, Council, and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That one-fourth part of the Militia of this Colony be, and it is hereby ordered and directed that they be forthwith enlisted, equipped, accoutred, and assembled for the special defence and safety of this Colony, to be led and conducted as the General Assembly shall order. That the inhabitants enlisted and assembled shall be distributed into Companies, consisting of one hundred men each. That said Companies shall be formed into six Regiments, to be commanded by one Major General, assisted by two Brigadier Generals, each of which General Officers shall take the command of a Regiment as Colonel. That each of said Regiments shall be commanded by one Colonel, a Lieutenant Colonel, and a Major, each of which Field Officers shall likewise command a Company as Captain, and each General Officer shall be, assisted by two Majors to his Regiment. That each of said Companies shall be commanded, by one Captain, two Lieutenants, and an Ensign, who shall all be duly commissioned by his Honour the Governour to execute the office to which they are respectively appointed. That there shall be appointed one Adjutant, one Quartermaster, one Chaplain, one Surgeon, and two Surgeon' s Mates to each Regiment. That said inhabitants, shall be enlisted, to continue in the said service during the pleasure of the General Assembly, not exceeding seven months.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That a premium of Fifty-Two Shillings per man shall be advanced and paid to each non-commissioned Officer and inhabitant upon their enlistment, they supplying themselves with a blanket, knapsack, clothing, &c., to the acceptance of their respective Captains, and that one month' s pay shall be advanced and paid to each of said Officers and enlisted inhabitants. And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the establishment of pay and wages shall be as follows, viz: the pay for their whole services:

Per Calendar Month.
To the Major General,	£20	00 s.
To each Brigadier General,	17	00
To each Colonel,	15	00
To each Lieutenant Colonel,	12	00
To each Major,	10	00
To each Captain,	6	00
To each Lieutenant,	4	00
To each Ensign,	3	00
To each Adjutant,	5	10
To each Quartermaster,	£3	00s.
To each Chaplain,	6	00
To each Surgeon,	7	10
To each Surgeon' s Mate,	4	00
The wages of each Sergeant,	2	08
The wages of each Corporal,	2	04
The wages of each Fifer and Drummer,	2	04
The wages of each Private,	2	00

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And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That each inhabitant so enlisted shall be furnished with good fire-arms; and that the fire-arms belonging to this Colony, wherever they are, shall be collected and put into the hands of such enlisted inhabitants as have not arms of their own; and that each enlisted inhabitant that shall provide arms for himself, well fixed with a good bayonet and cartouch box, shall be paid a premium of Ten Shillings; and in case such arms are lost by inevitable casualty, such inhabitant, providing himself as aforesaid, shall be allowed and paid the just value of such arms and implements so lost, deducting only said sum of Ten Shillings allowed as aforesaid, said premium of Ten Shillings to be paid as soon as such inhabitant shall provide such arms as aforesaid. That when the aforesaid provision fails, sufficient arms shall be impressed completely to arm and equip said inhabitants, the said impress to be limited only to the arms belonging to householders, and other persons not on the Militia Roll; and in case any householder or other person shall voluntarily furnish any enlisted inhabitant, not able to procure arms for himself, with a good gun, well fixed with a good bayonet and cartouch box, shall have and receive a premium of Ten Shillings, and in case of loss shall receive the value thereof, deducting the Ten Shillings as aforesaid. And also that every person from whom any gun shall be impressed as aforesaid, shall be paid for the use of such gun the sum of Four Shillings, and in case of loss shall be paid the just value of such gun, deducting the sum of Four Shillings aforesaid; and that a particular account be taken of the arms that may be used, and the same be all appraised by indifferent judges; and that if any enlisted inhabitant, through negligence, shall lose or damage the arms found for him as aforesaid, such loss or damage shall be deducted out of his wages. And it is also further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that three thousand stand of arms be procured as soon as may be, and held in readiness to be used for the special defence and safety of this Colony. And also that the number of five hundred Spades, five hundred Pickaxes, three hundred narrow Axes, and five hundred Tents be procured for the use of this Colony.

Whereas the General Assembly of this Colony have ordered and enacted that one-fourth part of the Militia of said Colony shall be forthwith enlisted, equipped, and assembled for the special defence and safety of said Colony, &c.: For the encouragement of such able bodied and effectual men of said Militia or others as shall voluntarily offer and enlist themselves for said service to the acceptance of the proper Officers, it is resolved by this Assembly, that each enlisted inhabitant or person as aforesaid, shall be entitled to a premium of Fifty-Two Shillings upon their enlistment, they supplying themselves with a blanket, knapsack, clothing, &c., to the acceptance of their respective Captains, and also to one month' s advanced pay; Sergeants shall receive Forty-Eight Shillings each; Corporals Forty-Four Shillings each; Drummers and Fifers Forty-Four Shillings each; and each Private Forty Shillings per calendar month during their continuance in said service. That each enlisted inhabitant or person as aforesaid, who shall provide arms for himself, well fixed with a good bayonet and cartouch box, shall be paid a premium of Ten Shillings; and incase such arms are lost by any inevitable providence, such inhabitant so providing himself shall be allowed and paid the just value of such arms and implements so lost, deducting only the sum of Ten Shillings allowed as aforesaid, said premium of Ten Shillings to be paid as soon as such inhabitant shall be so provided as aforesaid. That a particular account shall be taken of all the arms that may be used, and the same shall be all appraised by indifferent judges. That each inhabitant as aforesaid, upon his enlistment, shall be entitled to Six Pence per diem billeting money, until they are otherwise provided for by the Colony.

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Resolved by this Assembly, That the non-commissioned and other inhabitants now to be enlisted for the special defence and safety of this Colony, shall be allowed Six Pence a day, for billeting, from the time of their enlistment until supplied from the Colony stores.

Resolved, That the three thousand stand of Arms to be procured for the use of this Colony be of the following dimensions, to wit: the length of the barrel three feet ten inches, the diameter of the bore from inside to inside three quarters of an inch, the length of the blade of the bayonet fourteen inches, the length of the socket four inches and one-quarter; that the barrel be of a suitable thickness, with iron ramrod, and a spring in the lowest loop to secure the ramrod; a good substantial lock, and a good stock well mounted with brass, marked with the name (initial letters) of the maker' s name. And

Resolved, That all the Arms that shall be made and completed according to the above regulations in this Colony by the first day of July next, shall be purchased and taken up by this Colony at a reasonable price.

Act for Assembling, Equipping, and c. a number of the Inhabitants of this Colony, for the special defence and safety thereof. [1775-04-26] Connecticut, General Assembly. [S4-V2-p0411] [Document Details][Complete Volume]