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Recruiting Instructions for John Stake: Page #1

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Recruiting INSTRUCTIONS For Captain John Stake of the Squadron of light dragoons in the Service of the United States.

SIR,

<s>If you accept the appointment of which I have informed you by my letter of</s> 
You are immediately to commence the recruiting fervice in the State of New York & New Jersey. The principal rendezvous will be at Elizabeth Town New Jersey.

You will recruit for the Service of this cavalry, and no foreigners to be inlifted. You will engage none but active, healthy, young men. the [ye omanry?] of the country, of good characters, and morals.
Your recruits will be furnifhed by- Mr. Elias B. Dayton of Elizabeth Town- with rations, barracks, barrack utenfils, ftraw and fuel; and alfo with fuch neceffary medicinal affiftance as they may require.

The recruiting fervice is fomtimes abufed, both as it refpects the individuals recruited and the public at large,- that is, recruits are unwarily and unworthily entangled, contrary to their intentions: Such men generally defert the fervice, at fome critical moment, or ferve grudgingly, and fet bad examples to others; or, unfuitable perfons are engaged, who are conftitutionally defective and unfit for the hardfhips incident to a military life.

Although a recruiting officer may require talents to obtain uncommon fuccefs, yet it is the power of every officer to conduct himfelf with candor, integrity and induftry.

In order therefore to avoid the errors of this bufinefs, the following inftructions are to ferve as the genreal rules and principles of your conduct:

1ft. The recruits are to be inlifted for three years, unlefs fooner difcharged. 2d. Each recruit is to receive a bounty of Eight Dollars;-but no part of this fum is to be advanced until the recruit fhall have been fairly inlifted and fworn before a Magiftrate, according to the form herein prefcribed, and then only the faid fum is to be advanced in fuch proportions as the judgement of the