1

The Committee appointed to prepare a plan for embodying
arming and disciplining a militia for the purpose of putting this
colony into an immediate posture of defence have had the same
under their consideration and agreed to a report as follows.

The committee propose that it be strongly recommended
to the colony diligently to put in execution the Militia law
passed in the year 1738, entitled "An Act..
which act has become in force by the expiration of all subse-
quent Militia laws.

The committee are further of opinion that, as from
the expiration of the abovementioned latter laws, and various
other causes, the legal and necessary disciplining of the mi
-litia has been much neglected and a proper provision of arms
and ammunition has not been made, to the evident danger
of the community in case of invasion or insurrection, that
it be recommended to the inhabitants of the several counties
of this colony that they form one or more Volunteer companies
of infantry and troops of horse in each county and be in con-
-stant training and readiness to act on any emergency.

That it be recommended particularly to the counties
of Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover,
Spotsylvania, King George and Stafford and to all counties
below these that out of such these Volunteers they form each
of them one or more troops of horses and to all the counties
above these it is recommended that they pay a more parti-
cular attention to the forming a good infantry.

That each company of infantry consist of sixty eight
rank and file to be commanded by one captain, two lieuten-
ants, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals and that
they have a drummer