20 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION [1776.

and commission one captain, two lieutentants, and one ensign,
and the captain of each company of light infantry may appoint
non-commissioned officers thereto.

That all the officers of the said minute-men rank according to
their commissions and the date of priority thereof.

That the minute-men be exercised two days in every week, and
that for one of those days each of the non-commissioned officers
and privates be allowed two shillings and six pence common mo-
ney.

That each of the said battallions in Frederick and Baltimore and
Harford counties, be exercised in battalions, at such convenient
times and places as shall be appointed by the field officers of the
respective battalions, every of which times being accounted as
one of the two days of exercise. And that the said other compa-
nies of minute-men exercise with some battalions of militia, at
at the times of their being exercised in battalion, in their respec-
tive county, and as to this purpose, be subject to the commands
of the field officers of such battalion.

That until other arms are provided, the minute-men exercise
with their own firelocks, but that as soon as others can be provi-
ded by the public, each colonel have delivered to him firelocks
with steel ramrods and bayonets, cartouch boxes, worms, priming
wires, and brushes fitted thereto, and flints, sufficient for his battal-
ion, and he shall deliver to each captain in his battalion, sufficient
for his company, who shall deliver and distribute the same to his
company; receipts of all which deliveries shall be given, the men
being answerable to the captains, the captains to the colonels, and
colonels to the conventions, for the return of the said arms and
accoutrements in good order, unless prevented by unavoidable ac-
cidents.

That the companies of minute-men not so joined in battalion,
be armed and provided, and the captains and men of those com-
panies responsible for a return of the public arms and accoutre-
ments, in the same manner as the men of the battalions are to be
armed and provided, and their colonels, and they are as aforesaid
responsible.

That every able bodied effective freeman within this province,
between sixteen and fifty years of age, (clergymen of all denomi-
nations, practising physicians, the household of his excellency the
governor, minute and artillery men, and such persons who from
their religious principles cannot bear arms in any case, excepted, )
as soon as may be, and at furthest before the loth day of Septem-
ber next, shall enroll himself in some company of militia, in the