1

previous to their entering on the execution of their respective offices, give assurance of fidelity and attachment to the government of this state, by taking and subscribing the following oath before 21 some general or field officer of the brigade. I do sincerely profess and swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will, and do bear true faith and allegiance to the government established in this state under the authority of the people, and will with integrity execute the office of of the militia of New-Jersey according to the best of my abilities-so help me God. And a certificate thereof shall be made upon the back of every commission by the general or field officer before whom the said oath or affirmation shall have been taken and subscribed.

5. And be it enacted, That the commanding officer of every regiment, ¡independent battalion and squadron shall call a meeting of the commis- 22 ed officers of their respective regiments, independ ent battalions and squadrons, at such time and place as he shall appoint, for improvement in mili- 23 tary exercise twice in every year-and the commissioned officers having notice of such meeting and making default, shall be subject to a fine not 24 less than two nor exceeding four dollars, at the discretion of the brigade board hereinafter created, and return shall be made of such defaulter or defaulters by the commanding officer present at such meeting.

6. And be it enacted, That the militia of this state shall rendezvous three times in every year for the purpose of training, disciplining and im- 25 proving in martial exercise, once by companies or troops within their respective bounds on the third Monday in April, once by battalions within their 26 respective bounds, with the company or companies of artillery raised within the bounds of the bat

Kk

talion annexed: the first battalion of the first regi ment on the first Monday of May, the second battalion of said regiment on the Tuesday following, the first battalion of the second regiment on the Wednesday following, the second battalion of said regiment on the Thursday following, the first battalion of the third regiment on the second Monday of May, the second battalion of said regiment on the Tuesday following, the first battalion of the fourth regiment on the Wednesday following, and the second battalion of said regiment on the Thursday following, the first battalion of the fifth regiment on the third Monday of May, the second battalion of said regiment on the Tuesday follow27 ing, and the independent battalions shall parade on the days immediately succeeding the trainings of such battalions as may be formed into regiments according to their ranks in the brigade, always excepting the first and last days of the week-the 28 troops of horse of Bergen, Essex, Morris, Somerset, Middlesex and Monmouth brigades shall meet by squadron on the fourth Monday in May within their respective brigades, and it shall be lawful for the troop or troops of horse belonging to the other brigades to meet in like manner, but if the remote situation of the several troops composing a squadron shall render such meetings inconvenient, then they shall meet by troop at the time and place directed for the meeting of the battalion within the bounds of which the majority of the troop may reside, subject to the command of the major or commandant of the battalion, and once by regi 29 ments and independent battalions with the troop or troops of horse and the company or companies of artillery, the major part of which shall be raised within the bounds of each regiment or independent battalion attached to the same, the first regi30 ment on the first Monday of June, the second re

giment on the Tuesday following, the third regiment on the Wednesday following, the fourth regiment on the Thursday following, and the fifth regiment on the second Monday of June; it shall be the duty of the captains or commanding officers 31 of said companies or troops, the majors or commandants of battalions, the colonels or commandants of regiments, independent battalions and squadrons, to advertise the hour and place of meet- 32 ing of their respective corps, on the days appointed by law, at least two weeks, in two of the most public places in the company or troop, and six of 33 the most public places in the regiment, independent battalion or squadron so called to exercise; that it shall be the duty of every general of brigade when 34 more than one independent battalion exists under his command, to direct that they draw for rank by 35 their commanding officer, in the presence of the general, and the battalion drawing the lowest number shall be highest in rank, and called the first independent battalion of the brigade, and the

other or others shall be numbered and named accordingly; and in every brigade in which there is an independent battalion or battalions, the regiments shall proceed in their trainings each on the 36 days designated by law, and the independent battalion or battalions shall follow according to their numerical order or rank on the days immediately succeeding, always excepting the first and last days of the week; the brigade boards of each brigade 37 shall have full power and authority at their discretion, once in three years to order a brigade training 38 on one of the regimental days within the bounds of thebrigade, which brigade training shall be instead of the regimental training for that year, and the same fines and penalties shall be imposed for deficiencies as are directed in cases of regimental muster, and the said board may leave out of such brigade

orders any regiment or independent battalion, the local situation of which may in their opinion require it, which regiment or independent battalion shall observe the day or days above appointed for such detachment, and further, that if the order aforesaid, in which the regiments and battalions are directed to exercise, shall be found inconvenient, it shall be lawful for the brigadier general to change the order in which the said regiments and battalions aforesaid shall be exercised, at his discretion, not altering the days of training and 39 exercise, but confining such discretion to naming the particular regiment or battalion that shall train or exercise on a particular day as before mentioned, so that the inspection and review may be rendered more convenient to the brigadier gene40 ral and brigade inspector; the brigade inspector by order of the brigadier general, to give notice by ad41 vertisements set up in three of the most public places within the bounds of each regiment and independent battalion belonging to said brigade, at least thirty days previous to the day of meeting; that it shall be the duty of the captain or commanding officer of every company, of the major or commanding officer of every battalion, of the lieutenant colonel or commanding officer of every regiment, of the general or commanding officer of every brigade, of the major-general or command42 ing officer of every division, to make accurate returns of the troops under their respective commands to their next superior officer at least once 43 in every year, which shall be done in three months after the annual training: Provided however, That the regimental muster in the Cumberland brigade shall commence on the second Monday in June in every year, and the regiments and independent battalions of said brigade shall succeed each other

in the same order, and continue to observe every other matter and thing enjoined by this act.

44

45

7. And be it enacted, That the fines for nonattendance on days of exercise shall be as follows: on a field officer the sum of five dollars, on every other commissioned officer the sum of three dollars 46 per day, on every non-commissioned officer and 47 private the sum of one dollar per day, and the same fines and penalties shall be respectively paid by every officer, non-commissioned officer and private, who shall be absent at either roll call, or 48 leave the parade of his regiment, battalion, squadron, troop or company, without permission obtained from the commanding officer, before the said regiment, battalion, squadron, troop or company shall be discharged; and if any militia man shall appear on parade without his musket or firelock, or if a trooper without his sword and pistols, he shall forfeit and pay fifty cents, and if any footman for want of a bayonet and belt six cents; Provided, That no militia-man shall be liable to such fines who in the opinion of the company court created by this act, may be deemed unable, 51 from whatever cause, to procure arms and equipments, or either of them, but when any militia man shall be called into actual service he shall appear 52 fully equipped with every article required by act of congress, or be subject to a fine, if an officer of ten dollars, or if a private two dollars.

49

50

8. And be it enacted, That in order to ascertain those persons who by their absence on days of exercise shall be liable to the fines and forfeitures of 53 this act, a clerk appointed by the captain or commanding officer of every troop or company, shall on every day of training, in presence of said captain or commanding officer of said troop or company, one hour after the time appointed for the meeting of the troop, company, battalion, squad