33 333 stacus ad add. 328 WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY OF AMERICAN HISTORY UNIVERSITY/MICHIGAN U.S. Continental 1775 congress RULES A N D ARTICLE S, S FOR THE BETTER GOVERNMENT OF THE TROOPS Raiſed, or to be raiſed, and kept in pay by and at the joint EXPENCE of the TWELVE UNITED Engliſh COLONIES Ο F NORTH AMERICA. PH I LA DE L P H I A: Printed by WILLIAM and THOMAS BRADFORD, 1775. NDIY R U LES А ND ARTICLES, &c. &. In GENERAL CONGRESS of the UNITED COLONIES, held at PHILADEL- PHIA, on the 10th day of May, 1775. W! HEREAS his Majeſty's moſt faithful ſubječts in theſe Colonies are reduced to a dangerous and critical ſituation, by the at- tempis of the Britiſh Miniſtry, to carry into execution, by force of arms, ſeveral unconftitutional, and oppreſſive acts of the Britiſh Parliament for laying taxes in America, to enforce the collection of theſe taxes, and for altering and changing the Confitution and inter- nal police of fome of theſe Colonies, in violation of the natural, and civil rights of the Colonies. And whereas, hoſtilities have been a&tually commenced in the Mas- ſachuſett’s-Bay, by the Britiſh troops, under the command of General Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that Colony deſtroyed :---The town of Boſion not only having been long occupied as a garriſoned town in an enemies country, but the inhabitants thoreof treated with a ſeverity, and cruelty not to be juſtified, even towards declared enemies. And whereas large reinforcements have been ordered, and arefoon expected for the declared purpoſe of compelling theſe Colonies to ſubmit to the operation of the ſaid acts, which hazh rendered it neceſſary, and an indiſpenſable duty, for the expreſs pur- poſe of securing and defending theſe Colonies, and preſerving them in [ 4 ] in ſafety againſt all attempts, to carry the ſaid acts, into execution : That an armed force be raiſed fufficient to defeat ſuch hoſtile deſigns, and preſerve, and defend, the Lives, Liberties, and Immunities of the Coloniſts; for the due regulating and well-ordering of which- Reſolved, That the following RULES and ORDERS be attended to, and obſerved by ſuch forces as are or may hereafter be raiſed for the propoſe aforeſaid. ARTICLE 1. That every officer who ſhall be retained, and every ſoldier who ſhall ſerve in the Continental Army, fall, at the time of his acceptance of his commiffion or inliſtment, ſubſcribe theſe rules and regulations. And that the officers and ſoldiers, already of that army, ſhall alſo as ſoon as may be ſubſcribe the fame; from the Time of which ſubſcription every officer and ſoldier ſhall be bound by thoſe regulations. But if any of the officers or ſoldiers, now of the ſaid army, do not ſubſcribe theſe rules and regulations, then they may be retained in the faid army, ſubject to the rules and regulations under which they entered into the ſervice, or be diſcharged from the ſervice, at the option of the Çom- mander in Chief, ART. 2. It is earneſtly recommended to all officers and ſoldiers diligently to attend Divine Service ; and all officers and foldiers, who ſhall behave indecently or irreverently at any place of Divine Worſhip, ſhall, if commiffioned officers, be brought before a court-martial, there to be publicly and ſeverely reprimanded by the Preſident; if non-commiſſioned officers or foldiers, every perſon fo offending, fhall, for his firſt offence forfeit One Sixth of a Dollar, to be deducted out of his next pay; for the ſecond offence, he ſhall not only for- feit a like fum, but be confined for [wenty four hours; and for every like offence, ſhall ſuffer and pay in like manner, which money fo forfeited ſhall be applied to the uſe of the fick fol- diers of the troop or company to which the offender belongs. ART. 3 Whatſoever non-commiflioned officer or foldier Mall uſe any profane oath or execration, ſhall incur the penal- ties expreſſed in the firſt article; and if a commiſſioned officer be thus guilty of profane curſing or ſwearing, he ſhall forfeit and pay for each and every ſuch offence the ſum of Four Shillings, lawful money. ART. 4 [ 5 ] ART. 4. Any officer or foldier, who ſhall behave himſelf with contempt or diſreſpect towards the General or Generals, or Commanders in Chief of the Continental Forces, or ſhall ſpeak falſe words, tending to his, or their hurt, or diſhonour, thall be puniſhed, according to the nature of his offence, by the judgment of a general court-martial. ART. 5. Any officer or foldier, who ſhall begin, excite, cauſe or join in any mutiny or fedition, in the regiment, troop or company to which he belongs, or in any other regiment, troop or company of the Continental Forces, either by land or fea, or in any party, poft, detachment, or guard, on any pre- tence whaſoever, ſhall fuffer ſuch puniſhment as by a general court-martial ſhall be ordered. ART. 6. Any officer, non-commiſſioned officer, or ſoldier, who being preſent at any mutiny, or ſedition, does not uſe his utmoſt endeavours to ſuppreſs the ſame, or coming to the knowledge of any mutiny, or intended mutiny, does not, without delay, give information thereof to the commanding Officer, ſhall be puniſhed by order of a general Court Martial according to the nature of his offence. ART. 7. Any Officer or Soldier, who ſhall firike his ſu- perior Officer, or draw or offer to draw, or ſhall lift up any weapon, or offer any violence againſt him, being in the execu- tion of his office, on any pretence whatſoever, or ſhall diſobey any lawful commands of his ſuperior Officer, ſhall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as ſhall, according to the nature of his offence, be ordered by the ſentence of a general Court-Martial. ART. 8. Any non-commiſioned Officer or Soldier, who fhall deſert, or without leave of his commanding Officer, abſent himſelf from the troop or company to which he belongs, or from any detachment of the ſame, ſhall, upon being convicted thereof, be puniſhed according to the nature of his offence, at the diſcretion of a general Court Martial. ART. 9. Whatſoever officer or foldier ſhall be convicted of having adviſed or perſuaded any other officer or foldier to deſert, ſhall fuffer ſuch puniſhment as ſhall be ordered by the ſentence of a general court martial. All officers, of what condition foever, ſhall have power to part and quell all quarrels, frays, and diſorders, though the perfons concerned fhould belong to another regi- ART. 10. ment [ 6 ] ment, troop or company; and either order officers to be arreft. ed, or non-commiffioned officers or foldiers to be confined and impriſoned, till their proper ſuperior officers ſhall be acquaint- ed therewith; and whoever ſhall refuſe to obey ſuch officer (though of an inferior rank) or ſhall draw his ſword upon him, ſhall be puniſhed at the diſcretion of a general court- martial. ART. 11. No officer or foldier (hall uſe any reproachful or prevoking ſpeeches or geſtures to another; nor ſhall pre- ſume to ſend a challenge to any perſon to fight a duel : And whoever ſhall knowingly and willingly fuffer any perſon what- ſoever to go forth to fight a duel; or fall ſecond, promote, or carry any challenge, ſhall be deemed as a principal : And whatſoever officer or ſoldier ſhall upbraid another for refuſing a challenge, ſhall alſo be conſidered as a challenger: And all ſuch offenders, in any of theſe or ſuch like caſes, Thall be pu- niſhed at the diſcretion of a general Court-Martial. ART. 12. Every officer commanding in quarters, or on a march, fhall keep good order, and, to the utmoſt of his power, redreſs all ſuch abuſes, or diſorders which may be committed by any officer or ſoldier under his command: If upon any com- plaint made to him, of officers or ſoldiers beating, or cther- wife ill-treating any perſon, or of committing any kind of riot, to the diſquieting of the inhabitants of this continent; he the ſaid Commander, who ſhall refuſe or omit to ſee juſtice done on the offender or offenders, and reparation made to the party or parties injured, as far as the offenders wages ſhall enable him or them, ſhall, upon due proof thereof, be puniſh- ed as ordered by a general court-martial, in ſuch manner as if he himſelf had committed the crimes or diſorders complained of. ART. 13. If any officer ſhould think himſelf to be wrong- ed by his Colonel or the commanding Officer of the Regiment, and ſhall, upon due application made to him, be refuſed to be redreſſed, he may complain to the General or Commander in Chief of the Continental Forces, in order to obtain juſtice, who is hereby required to examine into ſaid complaint, and ſee that juſtice be done. ART. 14. If any inferior oficer or ſoldier, fhall think himſelf wronged by his Captain or other Officer commanding the troop or company to which he belongs, he'is to complain thereof [ 7 ] thereof to the commanding Officer of the Regiment, who is hereby required to ſummon a regimental court-martial, for the doing juſtice to the complainant ; from which regimental court- martial, either party may, if he thinks himſelf ſtill aggrieved, appeal to a general court-martial ; but if, upon a ſecond hear- ing, the appeal ſhall appear to be vexatious and groundleſs, the perſon ſo appealing, ſhall be puniſhed at the diſcretion of the general court-martial. ART. 15. Whatſoever non-commiſioned officer or foldier, ſhall be convicted, at a regimental court-martial, of having fold, or deſignedly, or through neglect, waſted the ammuniti. on, arms, or proviſions, or other military ſtores, delivered out to him, to be employed in the ſervice of this continent, fhall, if an officer, be reduced to a private centinel; and if a pri- vate foldier, ſhall fuffer ſuch puniſhment as ſhall be ordered by a regimental court-martial. ART. 16. All non-commiſioned officers and ſoldiers, who fhall be found one mile from the camp, without leave in writing from their commanding officer, ſhall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as fhall be inflicted on him or them by the ſentence of a regimental court-martial. ART. 17. No officer or foldier ſhall lie out of his Quarters, or camp, without leave from the commanding officer of the regiment, upon penalty of being puniſhed according to the nature of his offence, by order of a regimental court-martial. ART. 18. Every non-commiſſioned officer and foldier fhall retire to his quarters, or tent, at the beating of the retreat; in default of which, he ſhall be puniſhed according to the nature of his offence, by order of the commanding officer. ART. 19. No officer, non-commiffioned officer or foldier ſhall fail of repairing, at the time fixed, to the place of parade or exerciſe, or other rendezvous appointed by the command- ing officer, if not prevented by ſickneſs, or ſome other evident neceſſity; or ſhall go from the ſaid place of rendezvous, or from his guard, without leave from his commanding officer, before he ſhall be regularly diſmiſſed or relieved, on penalty of being puniſhed according to the nature of his offence, by the ſentence of a regimental court-martial. ART. 20. Whatſoever commiſſioned oficer ſhall be found drunk on his guard, party, or other duty, under arms, ſhall be caſhiered [ 8 ] caſhiered for it; any non-commiſſioned officer or foldier, fo of- fending, fhall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as ſhall be ordered by the fentence of a regimental court-martial. ART. 21. Whatſoever centinel ſhall be found ſleeping up on his poft, or ſhall leave it before he ſhall be regularly relieveds fall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as ſhall be ordered by the ſentence of a general court-martial. ART. 22. Any perſon belonging to the Continental army, who by diſcharging of fire-arms, beating of drums, or by any other means whatſoever, fhall occaſion falſe alarms, in camp or quarters, ſhall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as ſhall be or- dered by the ſentence of a general court-martial. ART. 23. Any officer or foldier, who ſhall without urgent neceffity, or without leave of his ſuperior officer, quit his platoon or diviſion, ſhall be puniſhed according to the nature of his offence, by the ſentence of a regimental court-martial. ART. 24. No officer or foldier ſhall do violence, or offer any inſult, or abuſe, to any perſon who ſhall bring proviſions, or other neceffaries, to the camp, or quarters of the conti- nental army; any officerör ſoldier ſo offending, ſhall, upon com- plaint being made to the commanding officer, ſuffer ſuch puniſh- ment as ſhall be ordered by a regimental court-martial. ART. 25. Whatſoever officer or foldier ſhall ſhamefully abandon any poſt committed to his charge, or ſhall ſpeak words inducing others to do the like, in time of an engagement, fhall ſuffer death immediately. ART. 26. Any perſon belonging to the continental army, who ſhali make known the watchword to any perfon who is not intitled to receive it, according to the rules and diſcipline of war, or ſhall preſume to give a parole, or watch-word different from what he received, ſhall ſuffer death, or ſuch other puniſh- ment as ſhall be ordered by the ſentence of a general court- martial. ART. 27. Whoſoever, belonging to the continental army, ſhall relieve the enemy with money, victuals, or ammunition ; or ſhall knowingly harbour or protect an enemy, ſhall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as by a general court-martial ſhall be ordered. ART 28. Whoſoever, belonging to the continental army, ſhall be convicted of holding correfpondence with, or of giv- ing [ 9 ] ing intelligence to the enemy, either direäly or indirectly, ſhall ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as by a general court-martial ſhall be ordered. ART. 29. All public ſtores taken in the enemy's camp or magazines, whether of artillery, ammunition, cloathing or provifions, ſhall be ſecured for the uſe of the United Colonies. ART. 30. If any officer or foldier ſhall leave his poſt or colours, in time of an engagement, to go in ſearch of plunder, he ſhall, upon being convicted thereof before a general court- martial, ſuffer ſuch puniſhment as by ſaid court-martial ſhall be ordered. ART. 31. If any commander of any poſt, intrenchment, or fortreſs, ſhall be compelled, by the officers or foldiers under his command, to give it up to the enemy, or to abandon it, the commiſſioned officer, non-commiſſioned officers or ſoldiers who ſhall be convicted of having fo offended, ſhall ſuffer death, or ſuch other puniſhment as may be inflicted upon them by the ſentence of a general court-martial. ART. 32. All Suttlers and Retailers to a camp, and all per- fons whatſoever, ſerving with the continental army in the field, though not inliſted ſoldiers, are to be ſubject to the articles, rules, and regulations of the continental army. ART. 33. No general court-martial ſhall confift of a leſs number than thirteen, none of which ſhall be under the degree of a commiſſioned officer ; and the preſident fall be a field officer : And the preſident of each and every court-martial, whether general or regimental, ihall have power to adminiſter an oath to every witneſs, in order to the trial of offenders. And the members of all courts martial ſhall be duly ſworn by the Prendent; and the next in rank on the court-martial, fhall ad- minifter the oath to the Preſident. ART. 34. The members, both of general and regimental courts-martial, fall, when belonging to different corps, take the ſame rank which they hold in the army ; but when courts- martial ſhall be compoſed of officers of one corps, they shall take their ranks according to their commiſſions by which they are muſtered in the ſaid corps. ART. 35. All the members of a court-martial, are to behave with calmneſs, decency, and impartiality; and in B giving [ 10 ] giving of their votes, are to begin with the youngeſt or loweſt in commiſſion. ART. 36. No field oficer ſhall be tried by any perſon un- der the degree of a captain ; nor ſhall any proceedings or trials be carried on, excepting between the hours of eight in the morning, and three in the afternoon, except in caſes which re- quire an immediate example, ART. 37. The commiſſioned officers of every regiment may, by the appointment of their colonel or commanding offi- cer, hold reginiental courts-martial for the enquiring into ſuch diſputes or criminal matters as may come before them, and for the inflicting corporal puniſhments, for ſmall offences, and ſhall give judgment by the majority of voices ; but no ſen- tence ſhall be executed till the commanding officer (not being a member of the court- rt-martial) ſhall have confirmed the ſame. ART. 38. No regimental court-martial ſhall conſiſt of leſs than five officers, excepting in caſes where that number cannot be conveniently aſſembled, when three may be ſufficient; who are likewiſe to determine upon the ſentence by the majority of voices; which ſentence is to be confirmed by the commanding officer, not being a member of the court-martial. ART. 39. Every officer, commanding in any fort, caſtle, on barrack, or elſewhere, where the corps under his command conſiſts of detachments from different regiments, or of inde- pendent companies, may aſſemble courts-martial for the trial of offenders in the ſame manner as if they were regimental, whoſe fentence is not to be executed till it ſhall be confirmed by the faid commanding officer. No perſon whatſoever ſhall uſe menacing words, ſigns, or geſtures in the preſence of a court martial then ſetting, or ſhall cauſe any diſorder or riot, ſo as to diſturb their proceed- ing, on the penalty of being puniſhed at the diſcretion of the faid court-martial. ART. 41 To the end that offenders may be brought to juftice; whenever any officer or ſoldier ſhall commit a crime deſerving puniſhment, he ſhall by his commanding officer, if an officer, be put in arreſt; if a non-commiſſioned officer or foldier. be impriſoned till he ſhall be either tried by a court- martial, or ſhall be lawfully diſcharged by proper authority. ART. 40 ART. 42 [ 1 ] a ART. 42. No officer or foldier who ſhall be put in arreſt, or impriſonment, ſhall continue in his confinement more than eight days, or till fuch time as a court-martial can be conveni- ently aſſembled. ART. 43. No officer commanding a guard, or provoft- marſhal, ſhall refuſe to receive or keep any priſoner committed to his charge, by an officer belonging to the continental forces; which officer ſhall at the ſame time deliver an account in writ- ing, ſigned by himſelf, of the crime with which the ſaid priſo- ner is charged. ART. 44. No officer commanding a guard, or provoſt- marſhal, ſhall preſume to releaſe any priſoner committed to his charge, without proper authority for ſo doing; nor ſhall he ſuffer any priſoner to eſcape, on the penalty of being puniſhed for it, by the ſentence of a general court-martial. ART. 45. Every officer or provoſt marſhal, to whoſe charge priſoners ſhall be committed, is hereby required, within twen- ty-four hours after ſuch commitment, or as ſoon as he ſhall be relieved from his guard, to give in writing to the Colonel of the regiment to whom the priſoner belongs (where the priſoner is confined upon the guard belonging to the ſaid regiment, and that his offence only relates to the neglect of duty in his own corps) or to the commander in chief, their names, their crimes, and the names of the officers who committed them, on the pe- nalty of being puniſhed for his diſobedience or neglect, at the diſcretion of a general court-martial. ART. 46. And if any officer under arreſt ſhall leave his confinement before he is ſet at liberty by the officer who con- fined him, or by a ſuperior power, he ſhall be calhiered for it. ART. 47. Whatſoever commiſſioned officer ſhall be con- victed before a general Court-Martial, of behaving in a ſcanda- lous, infamous manner, ſuch as is unbecoming the character of of an officer and a gentleman, ſhall be diſcharged from the ſervice. ART. 48. All officers, conductors, gunners, matroſſes, drivers, or any other perſons whatſoever, receiving pay or hire, in the ſervice of the continental artillery, ſhall be governed by the aforeſaid rules and articles, and ſhall be ſubject to be tried by courts-martial, in like manner with the officers and foldiers of the continental troops. 2 B2 ART. 49, [ 12 ] ART. 49. For differences ariſing amongſt themſelves, or in matters relating ſolely to their dwn corps, the courts-martial may be compoſed of their own officers; but where a number fufficient of ſuch officers cannot be aſſembled, or in matters wherein other corps are intereſted, the officers of artillery ſhall fit in courts-martial, with the officers of the other corps. ART. 50. All crimes not capital, and all diſorders and neglects, which officers and foldiers may be guilty of, to the prejudice of good order and military diſcipline, though not mentioned in the articles of war, are to be taken cognizance of by a general or regimental court-martial, according to the na- ture and degree of the offence, and be puniſhed at their diſ- cretion. ART. . 51. That no perſons ſhall be ſentenced by a court- martial to ſuffer death, except in the caſes expreſsly mentioned in the foregoing articles; nor ſhall any puniſhment be infli&ed at the diſcretion of a court-martial, other than degrading, cathering, drumming out of the army, whipping not exceed - ing Thirty-nine laſhes, fine not exceeding two months pay of the offender, impriſonment not exceeding one month. ART. 52. The field officers of each and every regiment are to appoint fome ſuitable perſon belonging to ſuch regiment, to receive all ſuch fines as may ariſe within the ſame, for any breach of any of the foregoing articles, and ſhall direct the ſame to be carefully and properly applied to the relief of ſuch fick, wounded, or neceffitous ſoldiers, as belong to ſuch regi. ment; and ſuch perſon ſhall account with ſuch officer for all fines received, and the application thereof. ART. 53. All members ſetting in courts-martial ſhall be fworn by ihe Preſident of ſaid courts, which Prefident ſhall himſelf be tworn by the officer in faid court next in rank :- The cath to be admirilered previous to their proceeding to the trial of any offender, in form following, viz. * You A. B. ſwear that you will well and truly try, and in- partially determine the cauſe of the priſoner now to be tried, according to the rules for regulating the Continental army. So help you God." ART. 54. All perſons called to give evidence, in any caſe, before a court-martial who ſhall refuſe to give evidence, ſhall be puniſhed for ſuch refuful, at the diſcretion of ſuch court- martial: [ 13 ] martial : The oath to be adminiſtered in the form following, viz. “ You ſwear the evidence you fall give in the caſe now in hearing, ſhall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God.” ART. 55. Every officer commanding a regiment, troop, or company, ſhall, upon notice given to him by the commif. ſary of the muſters, or from one of his deputies, aſſemble the regiment, troop, or company under his command, in the next convenient place for their being muftered. ART. 56. Every Colonel or other field officer, or officer commanding any corps, to which there is no field officer, and actually reſiding with it, may give furloughs to non-commiſ- fioned officers and ſoldiers, in ſuch numbers, and for ſo long a time, as he ſhall judge to be moſt conſiſtent with the good of the ſervice; but no non-commiſſioned officer or ſoldier thall, by leave of his captain, or inferior officer, commanding the troop or company (his field officer not being preſent) be abſent above twenty days in fix months, nor ſhall more than two private men be abſent at the ſame time from their troop or company, except- ing ſome extraordinary occafion ſhall require it, of which oc- caſion the field officer preſent with, and commanding the regi- ment or independent corps, is to be judge. ART. 57. At every maſter the commanding officer of each regiment, troop, or company, then preſent, ſhall give to the commiſſary of mufters certificates figned by himſelf, fignifying how long ſuch officers, non-commiſſioned officers, and ſoldiers, who ſhall not appear at the ſaid muſter, have been abſent, and the rea!on of their abſence; which reaſons, and the time of abſence, ſhall be inſerted in the mufter rolls, oppoſite to the reſpective names of ſuch abſentees : The faid certificates ſhall, together with the mufter rolls, be by the ſaid commiſſary tranf- mitted to the General, and to this or any future Congreſs of the united Colonies or Committee appointed thereby, within twenty days next after ſuch mufter being taken ; on failure whereof, the commiſſary fo offending, ſhall be diſcharged from the fertice. ART. 58. Every officer who hall be convicted before a general court martial of having ſigned a falſe certificate, relating to the abſence of either officers, non-commiſſioned officer, or private foldier, ſhall be caſhiered. ART. 59. [ 14 ] a a ART. 59. Every officer who ſhall knowingly make a falſe muſter of man or horſe, and every officer or commiſſary, who ſhall willingly fign, direct, or allow, the ſigning of the mufter rolls, wherein ſuch falſe muſter is contained, ſhall, upon proof made thereof, by two witneſſes, before a general court-martial, be caſhiered, and moreover forfeit all ſuch pay as may be due to him at the time of conviction for ſuch offence. ART. 60. Any commiffary who ſhall be convicted of having taken any gift or gratuity on the muſtering any regi- ment, troop, or company, or on the figning the muſter rolls, ſhall be diſplaced from his office, and forfeit his pay, as in the preceeding article. ART. 61. Any officer, who ſhall preſume to muſter any perſon as a ſoldier, who is at other times accuſtomed to wear a livery, or who does not actually do his duty as a ſoldier, ſhall be deemed guilty of having made a falfe muſter, and ſhall fuffer accordingly. ART. 62. Every officer who ſhall knowingly make a falſe return to the Commander in Chief of the American forces, or to any his ſuperior officer, authorized to call for ſuch returns, of the ſtate of the regiment, troop, company, or garriſon, un- der his command, or of arms, ammunition, claathing, or other ſtores thereunto belonging, ſhall, by a court-martial be caſhiered. ART. 63. The commanding officer of every regiment, troop, independant company or garriſon, in the ſervice afore- ſaid, ſhall, in the beginning of every month remit to the Com- mander in chief of ſaid forces an exact return of the ſtate of the regiment, troop, independant company, or garriſon under his command, ſpecifying the names of the officers not then reſiding at their poſts, and the reaſon for, and time of their abſence : Whoever fhall be convicted of having through neglect or deſign omitted the ſending ſuch returns, ſhall be puniſhed according to the nature of his crime by the judge- ment of a general court-martial. ART. 64. No Suttler ſhall be permitted to fell any kind of liquors or victual, or to keep their houſes or fhops open, for the entertainment of ſoldiers, after nine at night, or be. fore the beating of the reveilles, or upon Sundays, during divine ſervice [ 15 ] ſervice or fermon, on the penalty of being diſmiſſed from all future ſuttling. ART. 65. All officers commanding in the camp, or in any forts, barracks, or garriſons, are hereby required to ſee that the perſons permitted to futtle, ſhall ſupply the foldiers with good and wholeſome provifions at a reaſonable price, as they ſhall be anſwerable for their neglect. ART. 66. No officers commanding in any camp, garri- fons, forts, or barracks, ſhall either themſelves exact exorbi- tant prices for houſes or ſtalls, let out to ſuttlers, or ſhall con- nive at the like exactions in others, nor lay any duty or impo- fitions upon, or be intereſted in the ſale of ſuch victuals, li- quors, or other neceſſaries of life, which are brought into the camp, garriſon, fort, or barracks, for the uſe of the ſoldiers, on the penalty of being diſcharged from the ſervice. ART. 67. That the general, or commander in chief for the time being, ſhall have full power of pardoning, or mitigating any of the punishments ordered to be infiated, for any of the offences mentioned in the foregoing articles; and every offen- der convicted as aforeſaid, by any regimental court martial, may be pardoned, or have his puniſhment mitigated by the co- lonel or officer commanding the regiment. ART. 68. When any commiſſioned officer ſhall happen to die, or be killed in the ſervice of the United Colonies, the Ma- jor of the regiment, or the officer doing the Major's duty in his abſence, Thall immediately ſecure all his effects, or equipage then in camp or quarters; and ſhall before the next regiment- al court-martial, make an inventory thereof, and forthwith tranſmit the fame to the office of the Secretary of the Congreſs, or aſſembly of the province in which the corps is ſtationed, or ſhall happen to be at the time of the death of ſuch officer; to the end, that his executors may, after payment of his debts in quarters, and interment, receive the overpluſs, if any be, to his or their uſe. ART. 69. When any non-commiflioned officer, or private foldier, ſhall happen to die, or be killed in the ſervice of the united colonies, the then commanding officer of the troop or company, ſhall, in the preſence of two other commiſſioned officers, take an account of whatever effects he dies poffefſed of, and [ 16 ] and tranſmit the ſame, as in the caſe above provided for, in order that the fame may be ſecured for, and paid to their reſpective repreſentatives. By ORDER of the CONGRESS, PHILADELPHIA, 2 JUNE 30, 1775. S } John HANCOCK, Preſident. A true Copy from the Minutes, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary. 90 United States. 1775 - Continental Congress Un SOUND YAGOT KOUTLIFE