Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-05-25
From Sketches of the Acts of the last Legislature
y Militia.


16. An act providing for the enrolment
of the militia BY the Commissioners of the
revenue, the abolition of musters and
a reorganization of the volunteer crops.
The several commissioners shall annu-
ally make out an alphabetical roll of all
persons in their districts, between eighteen
and forty five years, liable to be enrolled
under the laws of the United States, with
the regiment and company to which each
person belongs. The adjutant general to
prepare the rolls and attach instructions to
commissioners. The said rolls. when
made out, to be fled in the clerks Office,
with an affidavit by the commissioner of
its correctness: the oath to be administered
by a justice without compensation. All
masters. for mistresses) of any house, pub
lie or private, shall give the names of per-
sons residing with them liable to be en-
rolled, with other proper Information. If
any person. when required. refused 10 give
information. or falsely give it, he shall pay
ten dollars for each person concerning
whom enquiry is made. or whose name
was concealed improperly given. Said
fine to be recovered before any Justice, in
the name of the commandant of the regi-
ment. Said rolls to be open to inspection
for one month without fee. The clerk of
the court, when required by the comman-
dant of a company or colonel of regi-
ment, shall annually make out roll Of all
persons so enrolled in any company dis
trict, and shall forward to the adiutant
general, within two months after the filing
of said rolls, return of the strength OF
each regiment in his county, city or town.
The form of the return to be furnished by
the adjutant general. The adjutant gem
eral shall annually consolidate the returns
oil the clerks. superintendent of the Fir-
ginia military institute and commandant
of the condition of the militia, with the ord
nance, arms, equipments. DC, specifying
those in arsenals or magazines.
When company is without commission
ed officer, the commandant of the reg iment
to detail any officer to fill vacancy un-
til an election is held. The cavalry and
artillery not belonging to any volunteer
battalion shall compose one regiment of ca
yalry and artillery.
From the LIST to the 18th section, inclu-
sive OF the Goth chapter the 28th chap
ter the 5 section, from the 18th to the
29th section, inclusively, and from the SD
to the 51st section. inclusively of chapter
80; and fir Jm the Sd to the 10Th section,
inclusive, ofthe 3lst chapter, are repealed,
except cases of war, instruction or inva-
sion The 9Th, 9th, 7th and 10th sections
of chapter &c of the Code are repeal
ed.
Two or more volunteer companies agree
ing to be mustered together, shall consLi.
TUE battalion and elect a ma or; four
or more may constitute a battalion and
elect lieutenant colonel and ma or six
or more may constitute regiment andelect
a colonel, lieutenant colonel and major.
Which officers shall be commissioned by
the governor and rank above officers of
like grade in the line. The field officers
of volunteer regiments to be elected by
the commissioned officers. The law
further provides Who shall constitute the
staff in the battalions and regiment. Com
panles of artillery and cavalry drilling with
earbines or muskets may unite with in
fantry in the formation OF battalion or re-
giments, subject to the orders of the Off
GERS, or may unite and form battalions or
squadrous us infantry may now do. The
officer conducting the election of field Off
GERS to report the fact, with an s.fidavis, to
the governor at such elections majority
of commissioned officers to constitute a
quorum. The adjutant general to number
such volunteer regiments or battalion, and
when disbanded the next organized regi-
ment or battalion to take the number of
the one disbanded. The commandment of
each company TO make return of its
strength, NC, to the adjutant of the regi-
ment or battalion on the morning of the
muster; the adjutant, within ten days
thereafter, to make return TO the COM
mandant of the regiment or battalion /;
such returns 10 the countersigned by him
annually and reported to the adlutant
general. The form OF returns shall be pre-
scribe by the adjutant general. Volunteer
companies to be hereafter organized and
hold elections under the superintendency
of any field officer of the militia or volun-
teers Musters of y olunteer regiments and
battalions shall be annual in April, May or
June and of each company, four other
days, to be prescribed by the courts OF en-
curry of the battalion and regiment and
independent companies, i've umes in each
year. The companies DC, to be kept on
duty three hours. Notice of time and
place of regimental o. battalion musters
to be advertised fifteen days at the place
of company musters. Commissioned Off
GERS to be drilled three days previous to
regimental musters, when musicians may
be employed at two dollars per day
Courts OF enquiry, in battalions of four, TO
consist of field officers and commandanIs
of companies of less than four, the same
officers, together with first lieutenants in
independent companies, the commissioned
officers. The senior officer present to be
president. AT such courts clerk may