On this day 250 years ago in Alexandria, Virginia, the Fairfax Independent Company under George Washington’s command drilled during the day. That night, the Fairfax County Committee, chaired by Washington, passed a resolution stating

As well regulated militia, composed of gentlemen, freeholders, and other freemen, is the natural strength and only staple security of a free government . . . it is recommended to . . . inhabitants sixteen to fifty years of age, to form themselves into companies of 68 men. They provide themselves with good firelocks, and use their utmost endeavours to make themselves masters of the military exercise published by order of his majesty in 1764.

The Committee also voted to assess a 3 shilling tax on every tithable person in the county to pay for powder, and to keep a list “of such persons as shall refuse to pay the same,”

George Washington succinctly described his busy day in his diary as “Under Arms this day also and in Committee in the Eveng.”

Sources: “[Diary entry: 17 January 1775],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0005-0001-0017. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, p. 303.] available at https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2217%20January%201775%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=1&sr=

“Resolutions of Fairfax County Committee, 17 January 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-10-02-0169. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, vol. 10, 21 March 1774 – 15 June 1775, ed. W. W. Abbot and Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1995, pp. 236–237.] available at https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%2217%20January%201775%22&s=1111311111&sa=&r=3&sr=

https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/revolutionary-war/250-years-ago-day

Cecere, Michael, In This Time of Extreme Danger, Northern Virginia in the American Revolution, Heritage Books (2006) at pp. 35-36

Also on that day in Charles Town, South Carolina, the Provincial Congress passed a resolution “That it be recommended by this Congress, to all inhabitants of this colony, that they be diligently attentive in learning the use of arms; and that their officers be requested to train and exercise them at least once a fortnight.” The South Carolina Provincial Congress then adjourned leaving governance of South Carolina in opposition to the Royal Governor in the hands of the Council of Safety chaired by Henry Laurens until the Provincial Congress was to reconvene in June.

Source: https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/sc_revolution_provincial_government.html