Draft ordinance for augmenting the Ninth Regiment of Regular Forces, 1776 May 25.

Whereas it hath become necessary for the better defense of this Country to augment the ninth Regiment of Regular Forces so as to make the same equal to the other Regiments Be it therefore ordained by the Delegates and Representatives of the several Counties and Corporations of Virginia now assembled in General Convention and it is hereby ordained by the Authority of the same That the ninth Regiment of Regular Forces raised for the Defence and Protection of this country and stationed in the Counties of Northampton and Accomack by augmented by the Addition of two hundred and four men to be divided into three companies of sixty eight each rank and file under the command of one Captain two Lieutenants one Ensign and four Sergeants and each Company to be allowed a Drummer and Fifer and be it for the ordained That the Captain and [?Subaltern] Officers of one of the said Companies shall be appointed by the Committee for the said County of Northampton and the Captains and subaltern Officers to the other two companies by the Committee of the said County of Accomack which officers and men so to be appointed and raised shall be considered as part of teh said ninth Regiment and receive the same Bounty Pay and allowance and be subject to the same regulations and authority as the other part of the said Regiment. 25. And whereas there is too much reason so apprehend the Enemies of America are endeavoring to kindle an Indian War on our Frontiers which ought timely to be provided against Be it therefore farther 29. Ordained by the authority aforesaid That two hundred and fifty men be immediately raised and imbodied under proper officers as an additional Defence of the Frontiers of 32 this Colony in teh following manner, That is to say, one company consisting of one hundred men in the County of Fincastle under the command of a Captain three Lieutenants and one Ensign all of whom shall be chosen by the

Committee County of Fincastle and the officers so appointed shall immediately proceed to enlist their men in the following proportions, that is to say, the Captain forty and each of the subalterns fifteen which company when complete shall be viewed by two of the field officers of the militia of the said County at some convenienet place to be appointed by the Captain of such Company and two other Companies in the Counties of Augusta and Botetourt to augment the Garrison at the mouth of the great Kanhawa and Wheeling to be under the command of two Captains four Lieutenants two Ensigns and one Sergeants and each Company to be allowed a Drummer and Fifer That one of the said Companies consist of one hundred men rank and file and be under the command of one Captain three Lieutenants one Ensign and four Sergeants and the other of the said Companies to consist of fifty men rank and file and be under the command of one Captain one Lieutenant one Ensign and three Sergeants which said several captains and subalterns shall be appointed as follows, to wit, the Committee of the said County of Augusta shall appoint one Captain two Lieutenants and one Ensign and the Captain shall raise twenty three men the first Lieutenant eighteen and the Ensign thirteen which shall compose the company to be stationed at the mouth of Wheeling and the other Lieutenant shall also be appointed by the said Committee and shall enlist twenty men and join the company to be raised in the County of Botetourt and shall ranks as second Lieutenant and the committee for the said County of Botetourt shall appoint one Captain two Lieutenants and one Ensign and the Captain shall enlist thirty men the first Lieutenant twenty five the third Lieutenant eighteen and the Ensign thirteen and be it farther ordained that the Committees for the said Counties of or any two or more members of each of the said committees depuled by them Augusta and Botetourt shall view the said Companies when complete at some convenient place to be appointed by

the Captains for that purpose and the Committee of Safety or others having the executive powers of Government are hereby authorized and empowered to issuee Commissions to the several officers to be appointed pursuant to the directions of this ordinance and that the persons appointed to view the companies so to be raised if complete shall certify the same to the Committee of Safety and that the Troops so to be raised for the Defence of the Frontiers in the Counties of Augusta and Botetourt together with the Garrison now stationed at the mouth of the great Kanhawa be under the command of a Major to be appointed by the Convention And be it farther ordained by the authority aforesaid that the Officers and men to be raised by virtue of this Ordinance for the Defence of the Frontiers shall be continued in service for such time as shall be judged necessary by the Committee of Safety or others having the executive powers of Government and be under the same regulations and restrictions and be entitled to the same pay and allowance as the other Regulars in the Service of this Colony provided no Officer or soldier shall be compelled to continue in the service longer than one 20 year and be it farther ordained by the Authority aforesaid that the committee of safety shall appoint a Pay Master and Commissary for the Troops to be stationed on the Ohio and a PayMaster and Commissary for those stationed in Fincastle County each of whom shall be allowed th sum of shillings per day for his services exclusive of his necessary expences And whereas it is judged necessary for the further and more effectual Defence and protection of this Colony that certain Troops of Horse should be raised Be it therefore ordained by the Authority aforesaid That four Troops of Horse consisting of thirty each rank and file be immediately raised under proper officers and taken into the service of this colony and that each of the said Companies be under the command of a Captain a Lieutenant a Cornet two Sergeants and be allowed a Trumpeter and

that the several Officers and Troopers shall at their own expense be furnished with Horses proper Arms and Accoutrements and shall be allowed the following pay besides Rationsand Forage, to wit, the Captain the Lieutenant the Cornet the Sergeants each and that the Officers and Troopers so to be raised shall continue in Service for such time as shall be judged necessary by the Committee of Safety or others having the executive Powers of Government but shall not be compelled to continue in Service longer than one year and that they shall be under such Orders and Regulations as they shall from time to time receive from the commanding officer of the Continental Troops in this Colony.