The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-01-21
AN ACT
Regular Forcef5rt6e Defsnce
u The Commonwealth.
(PQssea La1luaru IRE 1871 1917


raised January The 1871, 1916.
WHEREAS, the system that has hereto
fore prevailed, of providing for the defence of
thus Commonwealth, by drafts of the militia
FOR short terms of service, has been found by
experience to be wasteful, expensive and i'm
proUdent as 1t affects the public, destitute.
OF vigor and efficiency as means Of defence.
and harrassing anI vexatious to the Militia
runous IN many instances to the agricultural
prosperity Of the State, and productive of an
unnecessary and deplorable waste of lives.
without any equivalent of public advantage {:
ma 2UheTe1S, there is reason to believe. that
the people of this Commonwealth require on
y the sanction of law, & its aid in organizing
them so as to afford them the opportunity Of
furnishing on an uniform and equitable plan
Tor the public defence, troops destined to a
longer service, and capable of making more
efficient and economical defence. To effect
this desirable object,
sec. l. Be IL enacted by The General .fs-
sen6ly, That it shall be lawful for the Gov
erncr OF this Comm Unwealth, to call into ac
tuai service, ten thousand able-bodied and eff
fecuve men, or smaller number if desired
,, the Government of the u. States, to be
raised IN the manner prescribed by this Act
ToUlded, that the government of the United
otates shall have declared that the said troops
shall be equipped, paid, clothed and subsis-
ted at the expence Of the United States &
that they will accept them under the conditions
and limitations enacted in this law.
Sec. .. Be 10 further cnacfed, That II shall
be the duty of the Governor of this Common
wealth, without delay, to transmit COPY of
tins Act to the Government Of the IT, s. and
TO ascertain whether they will so accept the
troops aforesaid, and TO what number If
they accept them, the Governor shall then
prescribe the number Of militia. TO be con-
Laned IN the classes herein directed to l.,
formed, to be ascertained as follows The
whole number Of tine militia of this Common
wealth, liable to classification under this Act
shall be divided by the number of troops TO
be raised, and the quotent shall be the mum
Der OF individuals from each class. He shall
then, by General Orders, cause Court-Mar-
hal T. be held in each Regiment in the State.
on such convenient day as he shall appoint
such General Orders shall be published j.
the newspapers printed in the City o.
Richmond and shall be moreover sent
by express, to the Commandments Of Regi
mCnts.
On the receipt Of the orders, the comman-
ding officer Of the regiment shall Forthwith
give notice 70 all the field officers and an the
Commanding officers Of companies, who ma,
be found within the regiment, requiring them
TO attend at such place as the conmandant
snail appoint, on the day ascerained IN the
General Order and requiring all the com
handing officers of Companies, whether of ca
VARY artillery, grenadiers, fifcmen, light in
tantry, or infantry Of the line, to prepare com
plete muster-rols of their respective conpa-
MES
The commanding officers Of compznies shall.
WITHOUT delay, prepare their rolls accordingly,