Instructions to senior officer of the troop to be raised in Virginia by virtue of the act of Congress of the 20^th of October 1786. Sir As commanding officer of the troop to be raised in the State of Virginia you are to superintend the recruiting of men for the service of the United States. In the execution of this duty you will yourself pay the greatest attention to the following instructions, and enjoin on your inferior officers the most rigid observance thereof. Neither negros mulattoes or indoins shall be inlisted in the service of the United States. Every man under five feet six inches in height shall be refused. No man under sixteen or above fortyfive years of age shall be inlisted. Every man who shall be inlisted must be robust and perfectly formed with respect to his body, limbs and organs and in full health. Any officer who shall inlist men contrary to the above instructions shall be obliged to pay the expences which the United States may incur by such inlistment. No inlistment shall be deemed valid except the person inlisted shall sign his name before a witness and take the oath as directed by the articles of war before a magistrate. The clothing arms and accoutrements shall be forwarded to you as soon as possible and also a sum of money for to pay half a months pay to the men on their being inlisted and sworn. The officers and men will be complited with a months pay previous to their marching. A contract for furnishing your recruits with rations will be formed as soon as posible. The highest excertions and best arrangements must be made to obtain the full number of men immediately. You will establish a proper rendezvous for the reception of your recruits. You will for this purpose hire some convenient building at a certain rate per month. You will also obtain some fuel taking care to keep only the number of fires which shall be absolutely necessary. You must also purchase some straw, bowls and camp kettles for cooking. I have written to his Excellency Governer Henry to furnish you money for the advance pay to the men and for the purchasing these small necessary articles which shall be reimbursed to him. You will inform me weekly of your actual success and prospects in recruiting. In every expenditure you will consider oeconomy and an attention to the public interest as essentially connected with your reputation. The accounts of your disbursements must be kept in the fairest manner. no expenditures will be allowed unless accompanied by authentic vouchers. You must therefore take receipts for the arms clothing and every other supply as well as of the money advanced. You will introduce the best oeconomy and discipline among the recruits in every department. Having formed your system of conduct and made proper arrangements for its execution in the first instance, you will find an ease and harmony resulting therefrom which cannot be afterwards attained and established on a tolerated licentiousness among the recruits. And as it is presumed that every officer who now enters the service intends to elevate himself by a military behavior those only will be countenanced and encouraged who shall make the good of the service and the honor of their country the objects of their pursuits. As soon as his Excellency the Governor shall transmit to me official information of your appointments the Commissions for yourself and the other officers shall be forwarded to you. His Excellency the Governor will furnish you with the establishment of the pay subsistence and forage allowed the troops in service of the United States. I intend that the Horses shall be of the best kind so as to answer the end for which they are designed. I request that you would endevor to ascertain the price of serviceable horses which in every respect shall be proper for a well appointed troop. and inform me of the places where they may be best obtained. I wish for extensive and perfect information on this Subject. Given at the War Office This 25^th day of October 1786. HKnox.