State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations. In General Assembly, May session, 1777 : This Assembly taking into consideration a resolution of Congress, of the 14th of April last ... do vote and resolve ... that if any two men in this state inlist, and deliver to any commissioned officer of either of the two Continental battalions ... an able-bodied effective man, to serve in the same for three years ... they shall be exempted from being draughted ...