Image courtesy of Concord Museum Adopting Rules and Regulations for the Massachusetts ArmyBy Joel BohyIn the spring of 1775 as tensions between England and her American colonies were steadily rising, preparations were being made to form a Massachusetts army for when the inevitable split happened. Military companies and regiments were being formed and existing militia companies began training more actively in the art military, as well as arming and equipping while the Provincial Congress was gathering stockpiles of military stores. But when the army did form rules and regulations would need to be put in place to keep order and cohesion. On February 10, 1775, the Provincial Congress formed a committee to address this issue and draft the rules “Ordered, that Col. Palmer, Col. Cushing, and Mr. Cushing of Scituate[1], be a committee to sit in the recess of this Congress, to prepare all such rules and regulations, for the officers and men of the constitutional army which may be raised in this province, as shall be necessary for the good order thereof.[2]” This would be no easy task, and on March 27 it still was not complete.[3] The original draft shows a lot of the changes and alterations made,[4] but the committee who prepared it was ready to present it before the Congress meeting in Concord on April 5. The opening is telling as it explains why rules for an army were being written; stating that they were wrongly called treasonous, rebellious, and seditious, and then, they do a rebellious and treasonous thing and write them! [5] So now we know when the resolve was read and accepted, but when were they actually printed? Looking at auction records only one could be found, sold many years ago. It stated it was printed in April 1775 and other museum records had the same information. Going through documents at the Massachusetts Archives there is a note dated May 3 from printer Samuel Hall of Salem, Massachusetts. It states “Sir, The Rules of the army are almost ready to put on the Press. They are considerably long. We have spared no Pains to finish them and the other Papers as soon as in our power.[1]” One example in the collection of the Concord Museum is marked on the back cover “Capt. Abijah Wyman/martial Book/given him by Coll Prescott/June 1775.” But how closely were these rules followed? Another document gives us a little insight “Whereas certain Rules & Regulations for the Massachusetts army, were Resolved & agreed upon by a former Congress of this colony; but no provision was there in made for the regular reading of the same to the Several Corps in said army, Therefore Resolved, That said Rules be read, at least, once every month at the Head of each Regiment.[2] While the Rules and Regulations are a fairly unknown part of the buildup to war, they are yet another example of the Provincial Congress preparing to form and army, which would eventually become a part of the new Continental Army within months of this printing. [1] Nathan Cushing. His draft is mentioned in footnote 4
[2] Journals of Each Provincial Congress, p. 95
[3] Journals of Each Provincial Congress, p. 111
[4] Massachusetts Archives, Volume 295, 154
[5] Journals of Each Provincial Congress, p. 120-129
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Last updated: April 5, 2020