the purest sentiments of justice, moderation, and brotherly affection.

“RO. C. NICHOLAS, President pro tempore.
“JOHN TAZEWELL, Clark of the Convention.”

ORDINANCES PASSED BY THE CONVENTION.

I. An Ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient Force for the defence and protection of this Colony.

Whereas it is found necessary, in the present time of danger, that a number of Forces should be immediately raised, and that the Militia should be settled under proper arrangements, and be thoroughly disciplined, for the better protection and defence of the Country against invasions and insurrections:

Be it therefore ordained, by the Delegates and Representatives of the several Counties and Corporations within the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, now assembled in General Convention, and it is hereby ordained by authority of the same, That there shall be forthwith raised, and taken into the pay of this Colony, from the time of their enlistment, two Regiments complete, to consist of one thousand and twenty Privates, rank and file: five hundred and forty-four of whom to be the First Regiment, under the command of a Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, and a Major; eight Captains, sixteen Lieutenants, eight Ensigns, twenty-four Sergeants, eight Drummers, and eight Fifers; and the Second Regiment to consist of four hundred and seventy-six, under the command of a Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, seven Captains, fourteen Lieutenants, seven Ensigns, twenty-one Sergeants, seven Drummers, and seven Fifers; to each of which Regiments there shall be allowed a Chaplain, a Paymaster, (who is also to act as Muster-Master,) an Adjutant, Quartermaster, one Surgeon, two Surgeon’s Mates, and a Sergeant-Major.

And for the better and more orderly appointment of the Officers, Be it further ordained, That the several Field-Officers shall, from time to time, be appointed or approved by the General Convention of Delegates; that the Deputies of each District hereinafter described, excepting the Counties of Accomack and Northampton, shall appoint one Captain, two Lieutenants, and one Ensign, to command the Company of men to be raised in such District; that the Chaplain to each Regiment be appointed by the Field-Officers and Captains of such Regiment; that the Adjutant, Quartermaster, and Sergeant-Major, be appointed by the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, the Surgeon by the Field-Officers and Captains, and the Surgeon’s Mates by the Surgeon himself, with the approbation of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment.

And be it further ordained, That the Commanding Officer of the First Regiment shall be allowed a Secretary, to be appointed by him, who shall be allowed four Shillings a day for his services.

And that the levy of the Soldiers may be made general throughout the Colony, and the better to avoid irregularity and confusion, Be it further ordained, That the Deputies of each District, except the Counties of Accomack and Northampton, having appointed one Captain, two Lieutenants, and one Ensign, as aforesaid, the said Officers shall proceed, with the utmost expedition, to enlist within their respective Districts their several Companies, which are to consist of sixty-eight men each; but the said Officers shall not go into any other District to complete their Company, until the Officers in such other District have made up their Company, nor in that case without the permission, in writing, of the Committee of the County, first had and obtained.

And as well to prevent the enlistment of such Men as are unfit for service, as to fix the rank of such Officers, Be it further ordained, That the Deputies of each District shall appoint one certain place of rendezvous within their District, whither the Captain of each Company, as soon as it is complete, shall resort with his men, and shall give immediate notice thereof to the Chairman of the Committee of Deputies, who is required forthwith to summon all the Members of the said Committee, who, or a majority of them, being present, shall either proceed themselves to review the said Company, or appoint any number of their Members, not under three, for that purpose: and if it shall appear to such Committee of Deputies that the Company is complete, of able and proper men, and that they have been regularly enlisted, according to the terms and regulations prescribed by this Ordinance, the said Deputies shall order and direct the Captain immediately to march with his Company to the place of general rendezvous, hereafter to be appointed, and, morever, shall grant to the said Captain a certificate of the day when the said Company first appeared complete, at the particular place of rendezvous in the District; which certificate being produced to the General Committee of Safety, the said Committee shall cause the same to be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall cause the like certificates, from all the other District Committees, to be entered in the same manner. And when all such certificates shall be returned, the same Committee of Safety, or the majority of those present, shall, and they are hereby required, to grant Commissions, under their hands, to the Officers of the several Companies, according to their several appointments, fixing their ranks of seniority and precedence according to the priority of the completion of their several Companies, certified as aforesaid; and if it shall appear, upon the examination of such certificates, that two or more of the Companies appeared at the District rendezvous on the same day, the said Committee of Safety shall, in such case, determine the right of seniority and precedence amongst the several Officers, by a fair and impartial ballot.

And be it further ordained, That in case any vacancies shall happen, by deaths or otherwise, amongst the Commissioned Officers, the same shall be supplied, from time to time, by regular succession, in course of seniority, in the respective Regiments and Companies; and in case of a defect of Officers to supply such succession, the Commanding Officer of the Regiment shall appoint the most proper person, in his opinion, to supply such vacancy, to be approved by the Committee of Safety.

And that the Companies may be kept complete from time to time, Be it further ordained, That if vacancies should happen among the private men, the Commanding Officer of the Regiment shall supply the same by new recruits, in the best and most expeditious manner he may be able.

And be it further ordained, That the Soldiers to be raised shall be enlisted on the terms following, to wit: That they shall continue in the service of the publick so long as may be judged necessary by the General Convention, but not be compelled to continue more than one year, provided any Soldier or Soldiers do give the Commanding Officer three months’ previous notice, in writing, of his or their desire to be discharged at the end of such period; and if it shall be judged necessary to disband the Army before the expiration of twelve months, that each Soldier discharged within that time shall be entitled to, and shall receive, six weeks’ pay in advance. That the pay of each Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign, shall commence the days of their appointment by the District Committees; of the Chaplain, and all the Subaltern Officers, on the days of their respective appointments; of the common Soldiers, on the days of their enlisting; and that the pay of the several Field and Staff Officers shall commence on the day of their being called into duty by the General Committee of Safety; and that the several Recruiting Officers may advance to each Soldier, upon his enlisting, any sum he may think necessary, not exceeding one month’s pay.

Provided always, That no Recruiting Officer shall be allowed to enlist into the service any Servant whatsoever, unless he be an Apprentice, bound under the Laws of this Colony, nor any such Apprentice, unless the consent of his Master be first had in writing.

And be it further ordained, That the Soldiers to be enlisted shall, at the expense of the publick, be furnished each with one good Musket and Bayonet, Cartouch-Box, or Pouch, and Canteen; and until such Musket can be provided, that they bring with each of them the best Gun, of any other sort, that can be procured; and that such as are to act as Riflemen bring with them each one good Rifle, to be approved by their Captain, for the use of which he shall be allowed at the rate of twenty Shillings a year; that each common Soldier, not already sufficiently provided, in the opinion of his Commanding Officer, shall be furnished with sufficient clothing, at the expense of the publick, to be deducted out of his pay.