How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

(Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, 1777). Printed broadside, 13 7/8 x 8 3/4 in. (352 x 222 mm). Ownership signature of Col. William Howard at top. Docketed on verso, additionally signed same ("Winslow"). Creasing from old folds, losses along same at bottom affecting some letters; wear and soiling along left edge. Evans 15425; Ford 2074; Wright, A Guide to Pre-Federal Records in the National Archives, 1989, p. 191

"The Perseverance of Britain in her Attempts to subjugate the Free States of America to an unconditional Submission to their arbitrary Impositions, demands a vigorous Perseverance in the Inhabitants of these States, to frustrate the barbarous Design. For this End the Supreme Council of the Continent, convinced of the fatal Impolicy of short Inlistments, have called for Eighty-Eight Battalions, to serve during the War or for the Term of Three Years, and for Fifteen of them from the Massachusetts-Bay. The Necessity and Wisdom of the Measure, must meet the Approbation of every Friend to his Country...And whereas it is the Judgment of this Court, that a Number amounting to One Seventh Part of all the Male Inhabitants, from Sixteen Years old and upwards, at home and abroad, belonging to this State, will compleat our Quota of the Continental Army...save the People called Quakers."

The Continental Army that emerged beginning in 1777 was the result of critical legislation passed by the Continental Congress to maintain a more regular army to meet the increasing number of British troops sent to America to crush the nascent rebellion. On September 16, 1776, Congress passed the "Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve", that authorized the creation of eighty-eight battalions of the Continental Army for the duration of the war, apportioned among the states based on population, who were to recruit their soldiers and appoint officers (as seen above). The act also extended enlistments for three-year terms (thus to avoid year-end terms that threatened to hobble the army), and subsequently gave General Washington the authority to raise an additional 16 regiments. The legislation also provided land bounties and bonuses for military service, and provided soldiers with a yearly uniform allowance.

Col. William Howard is presumably the same born in Augusta, Maine, in 1740, who served as a lieutenant colonel in the Maine militia, and later as a colonel in the Massachusetts state militia. He died in Augusta in 1810.