# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/12th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 83

Chap. LXXXIII.—An Act for the better regulation of the Ordnance.
Of what officers the department to be formed. Repealed by act of February 8, 1815, ch. 128. Commissary general may employ workmen. Act of August 2, 1813, ch. 36.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and hereby is established an ordnance department, to consist of a commissary general of ordnance, an assistant commissary general, four deputy commissaries, and as many assistant deputy commissaries as the President of the United States may think necessary, not exceeding eight.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the commissary general be authorized, from time to time, to employ as many wheelwrights, carriage-makers, blacksmiths and labourers, as the public serve may in his judgment require.
​Rank and pay of commissary general, &c.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the commissary general of ordnance shall be entitled to the rank, pay and emoluments of a colonel of infantry, and be further allowed at the rate of five hundred dollars per year, and four rations per day for clerks in his department: the assistant commissary general of ordnance shall be entitled to the rank, pay and emoluments of major of infantry, with three additional rations per day; the deputy commissaries of ordnance shall be entitled to the rank, pay and emoluments of a captain of infantry, with two additional rations per day and forage for one horse; the assistant deputies shall have the rank, pay and emoluments of a second lieutenant of infantry, with one additional ration per day.
Pay of the workmen.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That a master wheelwright and carriage-maker, and a master blacksmith, be allowed thirty dollars each, per month, and one ration and one half ration per day; that any other wheelwrights, carriage-makers and blacksmiths, be allowed each sixteen dollars per month, and one ration and one half of a ration per day; that the labourers each be allowed nine dollars per month, and one ration per day.
Duties of commissary general of ordnance.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commissary general of ordnance to direct the inspection and proving of all pieces of ordnance, cannon balls, shells and shot, procured for the use of the army of the United States; and to direct the construction of all carriages, and every apparatus for ordnance, for garrison and field service, and all ammunition wagons, pontoons and travelling forges; also the direction of the laboratories, the inspection and proving the public powder, and the preparing all kinds of ammunition for garrison and field service; and shall, half yearly, examine all ordnance, carriages, ammunition and apparatus, in the respective fortresses, magazines and arsenals, and cause the same to be preserved and kept in good order.
To execute such orders as may be prescribed by the Secretary of War.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the commissary general of ordnance shall execute all orders issued by the Secretary for the department of war, in conveying all ordnance, ammunition and apparatus, to the respective armies, garrisons, magazines and arsenals; and in time of war he shall execute all orders of any general officer, commanding in any army or garrison, for the supply of ordnance, ammunition, carriages, pontoons, forges, furnaces or apparatus, for garrison, field or siege service, and forward the same without delay and in good condition.
Commissary general of ordnance to make returns to the department of war.Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the commissary general of ordnance shall, half yearly, transmit to the department of War a correct return of all ordnance, ammunition, military stores and effects, in the respective garrisons, arsenals, magazines, posts and camps, with a statement of their order, quality and condition; and also what may be necessary to keep up an ample supply of each and every article in the ordnance department, and shall, in all things, faithfully and without delay, execute the orders of the Secretary for the department of War touching the same.
Superintendents of military stores to make returns to the commissary general, &c. &c.Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That the superintendents of military stores, keepers of magazines and arsenals, shall, half yearly, make correct returns to the commissary general of ordnance, of all military stores that they respectively have in charge; and that the assistant commissary general of ordnance, the deputy commissaries and assistant deputies shall faithfully, and without delay, execute all orders that shall be issued by the Secretary for the department of War, the commanding general, in time of war, of any corps, camp or garrison, or of the commissary general of ordnance, in their respective departments, by virtue of this act.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the commissary general of ordnance shall make a correct report of the artificers and labourers, ​Commissary to make a correct report of artificers, &c. &c.from time to time, employed by him, and transmit the same to the adjutant general.
Appropriation.Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That for defraying the expense that may be incurred in the execution of this act, the sum of twenty thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Approved, May 14, 1812.