History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 255
Under Capt. Currier, Lieut. Wells Chase was appointed re-
cruiting officer. It will be noticed that the instructions were
very particular, requiring the greatest caution against engaging
bad characters or even negroes to fight for the "best cause
that can engage men." It was believed that when such ample
provision had been made in regard to " Pay and Provisions,"
that good men would readily be obtained. Could they have
been permitted to look into the future, little would have been
said about negroes, vagabonds, or "ample Pay." Capt. Cur-
rier was willing that negroes should fight in a good cause and
forthwith enlisted Sipeo Gray " slave to Benjamin Barnard,"
and " Robert Negro Man Servant to Eliphalet Currier." Sipeo
was a young man aged twenty-one years, and very probably
interested in the good cause choosing to join the army rather
than remain with his master and hoe corn, etc.
The rations ordered by the Provincial Congress were " ample "
when obtained but failed in a short time — long before the
terrible struggle was over. The following document accompa-
nied the enlisting papers :
"In Provincial Congress, Watertown, June 10, 1775.
RESOLVED, That each Soldier in the Massachusetts Army,
shall have the following Allowance per Day viz.
Article 1. One Pound of Bread.
Article 2. Half a Pound of Beef, and Half a Pound of
Pork ; and if Pork cannot be had, one Pound and a Quarter
of Beef.
And one Day in seven they shall have one Pound and one
Quarter of Salt Fish, instead of one Day's Allowance of Meat.
Article 3. One Pint of Milk, or if Milk cannot be had, one
Jill of Rice.
Article 4. One Quart of good Spruce or Malt Beer.
Article 5. One Jill of Pease or Beans, or other Sauce equiv-
alent.
Article 6. Six Ounces of good Butter per Week.
Article 7. One Pound of good common Soap for six men.
Article 8. Half a Pint of Vinegar per week per Man, if it
can be had. Joseph Warren, President.
Attest. Samuel Freeman,. Secrv."