George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0406

Recruiting Instructions for Colonel Edward Hand, 11 October 1776

Recruiting Instructions for Colonel Edward Hand

Head Quarters Harlem Heights Oct. 11th [1776]

sir

You are immediately to Inlist such of your Regiment or any other Troops raised in the Province of Pennsylvania1 as are able of Body & Willing to enter into the Service of the United States of America upon the following Terms.

1st. You are not to inlist any but Freemen able of Body & under the age of 502 carefully avoiding all persons Labouring under any Lameness or other Defect of Body prejudicial to the Service. If any such persons or any Boys or decripit persons are brought into the Service the Officer inlisting them will be chargeable with the Expence they may be to the publick.

2dly. You are not to inlist any Deserters from the Army of the King of Great Britain or persons of Disaffected and Suspicious Character—the American Service having already Suffered greatly by the Desertion of such persons.

3dly. you are to inlist Men to serve during the Continuance of the present War between Great-Brittain & the States of American unless sooner Discharged by proper Authority.

4thly. The Men inlisted by you are to be Subject to the Rules & Articles for the Government of the Army published by Congress the 20th Sepr 1776 and are to sign those Articles.

As an Encouragement to such persons as shall inlist in the above Service you are Authorized to engage besides the Pay & Provisions now allowed.

1st. Each Soldier shall Receive 20 Dollars Bounty Money on being approved by a Majr Genl a Brigr Gen. or Colo. Comdt of a Brigade.3

Secondly—He shall also be intitled to 100 Acres of Land at the expiration of his inlistment & in Case of his Death in the Service his Representatives will be intitled thereto.

When any Person is enlisted you are as soon as convenient to take him to some person duly Authorised by the above Articles to take the Oath there Prescribed.

LB, in Thomas Mifflin’s writing, DLC:GW; Df, in Joseph Reed’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The LB includes some draft changes. The draft in Reed’s writing omits the last paragraph. For other significant differences in wording between the LB and draft, see notes 1, 2, and 3.

1In the LB the words “or any other Troops raised in the Province of Pennsylvania” are inserted above the line. In the draft an almost identical phrase was inserted above the line and then changed to read: “or from the flying Camp or Militia of the State of Pennsylva.”

2The draft reads: “but Freemen above the Age of 17 & under 50.” The LB originally included the same wording and then was changed to read as it does here.

3Both the LB and draft originally read: “20 Dollars Bounty Money on passing Muster” before being changed to the present wording.

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