14. The Colonels already chosen or appointed in the City and Districts having determined their ranks with respect to each other by lot, their and the other Field-Officers’ Commissions will be dated according to the lot so drawn.

15. The Colonels already chosen or appointed in every County are to determine their rank with respect to each other by lot, and Commissions for them and their respective Field-Officers will be dated accordingly.

16. The Captains in every Battalion to determine their rank in Battalion by lot, and their Commissions, with those of their Lieutenants and Ensigns, will be dated accordingly.

17. All Officers hereafter chosen or appointed to have their Commissions dated at the time of such choice or appointment, and to take rank according to said dates.

18. All Battalions now raised to be completed as soon as possible, and to consist of eight Companies, of about sixty-eight Privates each; and one Company of Light-Infantry; and to have for Officers, a Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, two Majors, a Standard-Bearer, Adjutant, Sergeant-Major, Drum and Fife-Major; and the Officers of each Company to consist of a Captain, two Lieutenants, one or two Ensigns, four Sergeants, four Corporals, a Drummer and Fifer, except the Light-Infantry Companies, which, instead of two Lieutenants and two Ensigns, are to have four Lieutenants, the two youngest of which are to rank as Ensigns.

19. The Standard-Bearer of each Battalion to rank as eldest Lieutenant of the Battalion.

20. All national distinctions in names or dress to be avoided, it being proper that we should now be united in this General Association, for defending our liberties and properties, under the sole denomination of Americans.

21. Companies to take post in their Battalions according to the date of their Captains’ Commissions, if the Captains be present; but if absent, such Companies to take post as youngest in the Battalion.

22. No Field-Officers to have Companies.

23. For the better order and government of Companies which may be raised after the completion of the several Battalions already formed in the City and Counties, such Companies are not to be admitted as independent, but are to be annexed to the most convenient Battalion, until nine Companies are raised to form a new Battalion, and no number of Associators are to be considered as a Company, unless they consist of at least forty men; but it is recommended, till that number be completed, the Associators join the most convenient Battalion, and exercise and do duty with such Battalion.

24. All Battalions now formed, as well as those hereafter to be formed, are desired to make the necessary returns of their numbers and Officers, with their respective ranks, to the Committee of their County; and the Committees are desired to certify such returns, with the respective rank of each Battalion in their County, to this Board, that commissions may be issued immediately for their Officers, in conformity with these rules.

25. And as there may happen occasions wherein it may be necessary to call out a part of the Associators to actual though temporary service, and not the whole body, and it would be extremely inconvenient and burdensome if upon every alarm, where the assistance of part only may be wanted, the whole should come together, or any much greater number than the occasion required, and it would be therefore necessary to have such divisions made of the Associators as that parts, smaller or greater, may be distinctly called for, and the service as equally and fairly allotted and divided as the nature thereof will admit, it is recommended not only the Battalions of each County, but also that the Companies of each Battalion, be by lot numbered one, two, three, four &c, so that orders my issue from the Commander-in-Chief to the Colonels, either to march their whole Battalions, or to send to an appointed rendezvous the first or second, or any number of Companies that shall be wanted; each Company serving on such calls in its turn, and for such proportion of time as shall make the burden nearly equal; and if the Associators who are called forth are not all yet provided with good arms, it is recommended that those who have such, and are not called out, lend the same for that occasion, at the risk of the publick.

Lastly. This Board having drawn up thirty-two Articles of Agreement, for the due regulation and government of all the Associators in the Province, which are published herewith, they do recommend the same to be adopted, signed, and agreed to by all the said Associators, in order that one general system may prevail in Pennsylvania.

Resolved, That the Rules and Regulations for, and the Recommendations to the Associators, be published by William Bradford; and that he print two thousand of each, on good paper, for the use of the Association; and Mr. Andrew Allen is desired to give orders for the same being done; and Colonel Roberdeau is desired to get five hundred of each printed in the German language, for the use as aforesaid.

A Letter was this day received by Captain George Ord, of the Lady Catharine, from Henry Tucker, Chairman of the Deputies of the several Parishes of Bermuda, enclosing an account for eleven hundred and eighty-two pounds of Gunpowder, shipped by him on board said vessel, amounting to one hundred and sixty-one Pounds, fourteen Shillings, and eight Pence, that currency, with an account of eight half-barrels of Powder on board said vessel, the property of John Cowper, of North-Carolina, for which last Powder Mr. Tucker has engaged that this Board or Mr. Robert Morris will be accountable.

The Articles for the good government of the Officers and Men to be employed on board the Boats belonging to this Province this day came under consideration, and, after some amendments, were read and approved of.

The Draught for the Officers’ Commissions, to be employed on board the Armed Boats, was this day read and approved of, and is as follows:

“To . . . . . . .                                                                                                       "In Committee of Safety.

"We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valour, conduct, and fidelity, do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be . . . . . . . . of the Provincial Armed Boat called the . . . . ., fitted out for the protection of the Province of Pennsylvania and the commerce of the River Delaware against all hostile enterprises, and for the defence of American liberty. You are therefore to take the said boat into your charge, and carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of . . ., by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers, Soldiers, and Mariners, under your command, to be obedient to your orders as . . . . . .; and you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from the Assembly or Provincial Convention, during their sessions, or from this or a future Committee of Safety for this Province, or from your superiour officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, pursuant to the trust reposed in you; this commission to continue in force until revoked by the Assembly or Provincial Convention, or by this or any succeeding Committee of Safety.

"By order of the Committee."

Ordered, That Mr. Bradford print, on good paper, one hundred of the Commissions for the Officers to be employed on board the Armed Boats.

A recommendation to the Associators to make use of Pikes was this day read and approved of, which is in the following words:

It has been regretted by some great soldiers, particularly by Marshal Saxe, that the use of pikes was ever laid aside; and many experienced officers at the present time agree with him in opinion, that it would be very advantageous in our modern wars to resume that weapon; its length reaching beyond the bayonet, and the compound force of the files (every man laying hold of the presented pike) rendering a charge made with them unsupportable by any Battalion armed only in the common manner. At this time, therefore, when the spirit of our people supplies more men than we can furnish with fire-arms, a deficiency which all the industry of our ingenious gunsmiths cannot suddenly supply, and our enemies having at the same time they were about sending regular Armies against undisciplined and half-armed farmers and tradesmen, with the most dastardly malice endeavoured to prevail on the other Powers of Europe not to sell us any arms and ammunition, the use of pikes in one or two rear ranks is recommended to the attention and consideration of our Battalions. Every smith can make these, and therefore the Country may soon be