"Major Souter desiring that the orders Lieut. Colonel Collins has issued for the regulation and management of both battalions be uniformly and invariably pursued; particularly those of an Officer of a Company seeing that the men are properly dressed and appointed, when ordered on duty, before they are brought to the parade, and that no drunken men are allowed to fall into the ranks at roll-calling. The Captains are likewise to keep up the necessaries and appointments that have been ordered."
The gallant conduct of the Light Infantry Companies of Marines on a preceding occasion, drew forth the encomium of Major General Massey, upon the 19th of December, in these handsome words:
"His Honor the Lieutenant Governor having made application to Major General Massey, that the two Light Infantry Companies of Marines should continue at Fort Cumberland, the General has consented to it, and takes this opportunity to inform their Brother Soldiers that Major Bald, (who commanded there in a late skirmish with the banditti rebels), in his report to Major General Massey, tells him "that the two Light Companies run at the rebels like lions, and behaved most bravely," which General Massey communicates to the garrison with vast pleasure."
That gallant and good Officer, now Lord Clarina, ever ready to attend to suppliant merit, and the Soldiers wants, in general orders of the 24th of February, 1777, thus answers the Petition of the 1st Battalion of Marines:—
"Major General Massey often receiving a petition from the 1st Battalion of Marines (signed Launcelot Poverty), is happy to comply with their request, as their uniform good behaviour, during the winter, well merits that indulgence. It is therefore his orders, that Major Souter permits the men to work as he shall judge proper, but that no substitutes must be allowed in their public duty."
In the month of March, the Commander in Chief expecting some actual service, was pleased to nominate Lieutenant (now Colonel) Trollope, with a party of Marines, to be trained under Lieutenant Gillespie, of the Royal Artillery, to practice quick firing and traversing the great guns.
Early in April the two Battalions were consolidated into one, by orders of the Board of Admiralty, addressed to Major Souter, to the following effect:—
"By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland, &c.
"Whereas the Earl of Sandwich has signified to us his Majesty's pleasure, that the two Battalions of Marines, serving under your command, shall be formed into one Battalion, each Company to consist of one Captain, four Subalterns, five Serjeants, five Corporals, four drummers, and 100 private men each, conformable to the present establishment of the Corps, together with the following Field and Staff Officers, viz. two Majors, one Adjutant, one Chaplain, one Quarter Master, one Surgeon, and one Surgeon's Mate; you are hereby required and directed to form the said two Battalions into one Battalion accordingly, with the Field and Staff Officers as before mentioned, and having so done, you are to cause the non-commissioned Officers and private men which may remain after this Battalion is formed, to be embarked in such of his Majesty's ships serving in North America under the command of Vice Admiral Viscount Howe, as may be in want of them, agreeable to the requisition which will be made to you by his Lordship for that purpose; but with respect to the commissioned Officers, over and above the number necessary for completing the said Battalion, you are to send them to England by the first opportunity that offers, in order to join their respective Divisions, unless Lord Howe shall apply to you, for any of them to serve in the ships of his squadron, in which case you are to supply them accordingly.
"Given under our hands, 1st January, 1777.