tenant. That the general officers to command the Officers, &c. same, to wit: One major general and two brigadier how appointed. generals, be appointed by joint ballot of both houses of assembly, and commissioned by the governour; the lieutenant colonels and majors, captains and subalterns, shall be appointed by the governour, with the advice of the council, and commissioned by the governour; the surgeon, surgeon's mate, adjutant, and regimental quarter-master, the serjeant major and drum major, to be appointed by the lieutenant colonel; the serjeants, corporals, drummers, and fifers, by the captain of each company; there shall also be a chaplain Chaplains. to each battalion, who shall be appointed by the lieutenant colonel; that there be provided for each battalion, one field piece, with the necessary implements tal. to fit them for service; that the pay, rations, and fo- Pay,&c.same rage, of the officers and soldiers be the same as in the as continen. continental army; that a complete suit of clothes, to wit: A coat, waistcoat, pair of overhalls, and shoes, two shirts, and a hat, be given to each soldier or noncommissioned officer, on the first day of November next, or as soon after as they can be procured, provided that such soldier or non-commissioned officer continue in service five months from the time of his enlistment, or an equivalent in money, proportioned to his time of service, if sooner discharged; that blankets and tents also be provided for them, together with neces saries for travelling and camp uses, arms, ammunition, and accoutrements; and if it shall so happen that any soldier who shall be enlisted into the service, shall have it in his power to furnish any of the conveniencies and accoutrements which may be necessary, the same may be purchased from him for the publick use, at a reasonable and adequate price. Spirits and furnished. And for their better accommodation, each officer and soldier shall be furnished, during his service, with sugar, how spirits and sugar from the publick stores, on the same terms as the continental or state troops, and be subjected to the like rules and discipline; but instead of a gill of spirits to each officer and soldier in the state, which is now delivered daily, there be allowed only a gill to every officer, soldier, and militiaman, who shall be on duty, until a greater quantity can be procured by the executive for that purpose than at present. Bounty, Term of serAvice. Volunteers frontiers. 1 And in order to complete the levy as speedily as may be, each volunteer soldier shall receive a bounty of fifty dollars, to be paid him upon his joining the regiment or company, to which he shall belong; for which purpose the governour, with the advice of the council, is hereby authorized to draw upon the treasurer for the time being for such sum or sums of money, to defray that and the other expenses incurred by this act, as may be sufficient for the same, which the treasurer shall advance out of any publick money which may be in his hands. The governour, with the advice of the council, is hereby authorized and directed to proceed immediately to the appointment of the lieutenant colonels, majors, captains, and subaltern officers, and to take proper measures for raising the whole of the said four thousand five hundred and sixty men as speedily as may be, and as the situation of the state seems to require. The said volunteers to be continued in service for ' space of one month after the enemy shall have withdrawn themselves from the commonwealth, unless sooner discharged by the governour, with the advice of the council; and if they shall return within that time, it shall be considered as a continuation of the same invasion. The governour, with the advice of the council,, is hereby empowered to appoint a lieutenant colonel and major, to command each of the several regiments of militia which shall be embodied for the immediate defence of the state, which militia so to be embodied, shall be commanded by the same general officers as are appointed to command the volunteers. And for the defence and protection of the western for western frontiers against the Indian or other enemies, who may commit hostilities in that quarter, Be it enacted, That two battalions of the said volunteers be raised in the counties lying on that side the state, and be officered with fit persons to command on that station; and instead of the clothing, arms, and accoutrements, herein before directed, the said battalions shall be furnished Arms, &c. with such clothing, arms, and accoutrements, as are how furnishfor that service; and if any soldier or nonproper commissioned officer, enlisted into the said battalions, shall be willing to furnish himself with proper clothing, arms, and accoutrements, the governour, with advice of council, may fix the sum to be paid for the purs ed. most ed. chase or use of such clothing, arms, and accoutrements, and direct the lieutenant colonel or officer commanding the battalions accordingly, who is to take Where postcare that such necessaries, especially the arms, are in proper order and kind, and fit for the service. The said battalions to be posted or garrisoned on the frontiers of this state, at such places as shall, from time to time, appear most convenient; the said battalions shall not be compelled to march out of the commonwealth, unless in case of an expedition against the enemy Indians, or in pursuit of any enemy who shall have invaded the frontier. of service. And as it is uncertain how long the dangers which Their term at present threaten the western frontier may continue, Be it enacted, That the said battalions shall be continued in the service for the space of nine months, from the tenth day of June next, unless sooner discharged by the governour, with advice of the council; and if the time of their enlistment shall expire, or the battalions be discharged at any considerable distance from the counties where the same were raised, the officers and soldiers shall be allowed pay and provisions for so many days as may be deemed necessary for their return. These battalions to be subject to the rules and discipline as aforesaid. Pensions; & And be it farther enacted, That all volunteers raised under this act, who may be disabled in the service, provision for shall be entitled to receive full pay during life, to com- wives and mence at the time of their discharge; and if any of indigent pa them lose their lives in the service, either by sickness or in the field, the same provision shall be made for their wives and indigent parents, as has heretofore been made for others in similar situations. rents: CHAP. V. [From Revi sed Bills of An act prescribing the oath of fideli 1779, chap XCVIII.p.68; Chan. Rev. p. 89.1 ity. vernor. ty, and the oaths of certain publick officers. "I BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That every Oath of fidel- person by law required to give assurance of fidelity, shall, for that purpose, take an oath in this form. "I do declare myself a citizen of the commonwealth of Virginia; I relinquish and renounce the character of subject or citizen of any Prince or other state whatsoever, and abjure all allegiance which may be claimed by such Prince or other state: And I do swear to be faithful and true to the said commonwealth of Virginia, so long as I continue a citizen thereof. So help me God." And no person shall have power to act in any office, legislative, executive, or judiciary, before he shall have given such assurance, and shall moreover have taken such of the following oaths, if another be not specially prescribed, as is adapted to his case. The oath of the governour. Oath of go elected governour of Virginia, by the representatives thereof, do solemnly promise and swear, that I will to the best of my skill and judgment, execute the said office, diligently and faithfully, according to law, without favour, affection, or partiality; that I will to the utmost of my power, protect the citizens of the commonwealth in the secure enjoyment of all their rights, franchises, and privileges; and will constantly endeavour that the laws and ordinances of the commonwealth be duly observed; and that law and justice, in mercy, be executed in all judgments, and lastly, that I will peaceably and quietly resign the government to which I have been elected, at the several periods to which my continuance in the said office is or shall be limited by law and the constitution. So help me God." The oath of a privy councillor, "I elected one of the privy council of Virginia by the representatives thereof, do solemnly promise and swear, that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, execute the said office diligently and faithfully, according to law, without favour, affection, or partiality; and that I will keep secret such proceedings and orders of the privy Oath of Privy Council lor. • council, as the board shall direct to be concealed, un- Oath of any other. By who according to the best of my skill and judgment. So help me God." The said oaths to be taken by a member or officer of either house of general as- administer sembly, shall be administered by any member of the ed. privy council, and the taking thereof shall be certified to the clerk of such house; and the said oaths to be taken by any other person if it be not otherwise directed, shall be administered in some court of record or by any judge or justice thereof, and the taking thereof shall be recorded in the said court. CHAP. VI. An Act concerning officers, soldiers, Bills (1779, sailors, and marines. chapV. p. 12.) lor and ma ries. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That every Aditional able bodied freeman who will enlist, and who having bouties to enlisted to serve a particular period of time unexpired, solvers, sal will re-enlist to serve during the continuance of the present war, among the troops of this commonwealth, either at home or in the continental army, as he shall be directed, or as a sailor or marine on board the armed vessels in this commonwealth, shall receive so much money as with the continental bounty if he be put on that service, shall make up seven hundred and fifty dollars, taking into account in the case of re-enlistment the bounty before paid the soldier, saior, or marine re-enlisting, and the pay and rations allowed to the like soldiers, sailors, or marines in the continental service, to begin from the day of his enlistment; he shall also be furnished at the publick expense, with a coat, waistcoat, pair of overhalls, two shirts, a pair of shoes, and a hat, to be delivered at the place of rendezvous, and with the like articles every year after |