The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly

790 COMMONS JOURNAL, JANUARY 5, 1761–JANUARY 24, 1761them just in good time, assuring them, that, on their return, they shou’dreceive all their pay to the first of December; & further, that I was so wellsatisfied with their past behaviour, & the General Assembly were so sensibleof the good services they had, & cou’d render their country, that I made nodoubt but they wou’d be continued in pay until the Cherokee war shou’dbe happily concluded; which made them all easy, & they proceededchearfully: Therefore, as the like difficulty arose among the Rangers, at thefirst period of their establishment in July last, while with colonel Montgomeryat Kewohee, I earnestly recommend it to you to come to such resolutions,concerning the continuance of their establishment, as will prevent any suchinconveniencies or risque hereafter.At the same time, I must propound for your consideration, that, as thereis no probability of our filling up the South-Carolina regiment of foot, withthe whole number proposed, whether it wou’d not be proper to add to majorThompson’s regiment, one or two troops of rangers; which I can immediatelyraise: And, when the bounty-money given to the foot, with cloaths,arms, tents, & the charge of waggons, for their most ordinary marches, aretaken into the account, which are all saved in the rangers, they will not befound more expensive to this province, than an equal number of the foot.As the regiment of horse is now compleat, & having found great advantageby the inregimenting them under the command of major Thompson,I wish you to make some small provision for an adjutant; an officer very necessaryto assist the major; & more especially when the regiment is to be keptconstantly in one body, & joins the army; & also a quarter-master. The onlysurgeon they have hitherto had is a free Negro, one of their men, who hasbeen of great service to their sick & wounded; to whom I have given a rewardof thirty pounds currency, for his care therein, on a certificate thereofsign’d by the captain, & recommended by the major.There is a matter also I must mention for your consideration, whichcreates some dissatisfaction to the officers of the horse. It is, that, tho’ theirduty is far from being less, their pay is so much less than that of the officersof the foot; & having no uniform dress subjects them to some kind of contempt& ridicule from the foot-officers. It wou’d give some encouragementto the officers if you made some augmentation of their pay, of about tenpounds a month to the subaltern, & fifteen pounds to the captain; which Iam persuaded will satisfy them, as it will likewise be an instance of your approvingtheir behaviour. And, without any charge to the public, I haveorder’d a cheap uniform for the private men, suitable to their duty. I haveorder’d a new supply of provisions to be sent in a month’s time to fort Prince-George, by a party of four hundred & fifty rangers. And am in hopes thisfrequent returning to the Cherokee-country will produce the double advan-