This Day in History: April 3

The commissioners were appointed in consequence of a New Jersey act of April 3, 1778, "for the . . . recruiting of four New-Jersey Regiments." Essentially it provided a selective-service machinery through which the needed Continental Line soldiers were secured, either as volunteers or by draft, from among the men already enrolled in the various militia companies. The commissioners designed for each area drew up lists of the militiamen in 18-man groups or classes, each of which was required to produce one recruit for Continental service. [More]