256 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



20tli. All National distinctions in dress or name to be avoided, it being 

 proper tliat we should now be united in tliis general Association for 

 defending our liberties and properties under the sole denomination of 

 Americans. 



2 1st. 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, 



22nd. No Field Officers to have Companies. 



23rd. 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 inde- 

 pendent, 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 that till that number be com- 

 pleted, the associators join the most convenient Battalion, exercise and 

 do duty with such Batalion. 



24th. 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 respec- 

 tive rank of each Battalion in their County, to this Board, that Commis- 

 sions may be issued immediately for every officer, in conformity with 

 these rules. 



25th. And as there may happen occasions wherein it may be neces- 

 sary to call out a part of the Associators to actual though temporary 

 service, and not the whole body, and it would be extremely inconven- 

 ient and burthensome 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 recom- 

 mended not only the Battalions of each County, but also that the Com- 

 panies of each Battalion be by lot number'd, 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., so that orders 

 may 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 com- 

 pany serving ©n such calls in its turn, and for such proportion of time 

 as shall make the burthen nearly equal, and if the Associators who are 

 called forth, are not all yet provided with good arms, it is recommended 

 to those who have such, and are not called out, to lend the same for that 

 occasion, at the risk of the public. 



