Continental Congress

In Congress, April 14th, 1777. Resolved that it be recommended to the Executive Powers of each of the United States, to enquire into the conduct of all Officers on the recruiting service ... [Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1777]



Printed broadside (13 1/8 x 8 3/8 in.; 334 x 214 mm) signed in type by John Hancock; light browning, a few short tears with minor losses to top and right margins. Red cloth folding-case.

Evans 15664

A resolution regarding the recruitment of soldiers for the Continental Army. The Continental Army of 1777 was the result of several critical reforms and political decisions that came about when it was apparent that the British were sending massive forces to put an end to the American Revolution. The Continental Congress passed this resolve ordering each state to contribute one-battalion regiments in proportion to their population. Also, enlistment terms were extended to three years or "during the present War" to avoid the year-end crises that depleted forces.  In spite of the resolve the overall strength of regulars and militia in 1777 was 68,720, representing a drop of nearly 21,000 from the strength in 1776 (Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p. 263). Scarce. Evans records only one copy at the Library of Congress and no copy has been sold at auction in the past 35 years.