Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-03
BY AUTHORITY.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC
DEFIANCE

lish 1t as matter OF universal interest:
BY AUTHORITY.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC
DEFENCE.
SEC. l. 7he1Congress of the Confederate States Of
America do enact That in order to provide speedily
forces to repe invasion maintain the rghtu possession
of the Confederate States OF America in every portion
Of territory belonging to each State and to secure the
publc tranquil y and independence against threatened
assault the President be and he is hereby authorized 10
employ the militia, military and naval forces oil the Con-
federae States of America and to ask for and accept the
services OF any number OF volunteers not exceeding one
hu dred thousand who may offer their services, either
cavalry mountedrihemen artillery or infantry, in such
proportion ofsthese several as he may deem e1pe
dent for twelve months after they shall be mus
tered into service, unless sooner o'-,.arged
SEC. 2. ARd be IL further tn0t'et That the militia
when called into service by vr-ue u this act or any
other act if in the opinion of the President the public
interest requires may be compelled 10 serve Tor a
term not exceeding six months after they shall be mus
tered into service, unless sooner discharged
SEc. s. And be It further enacted, Tat said volun-
teers shall furnish their clothes; AID, if mounted
men, their horses and horse equipments and when
mustered into service shall be armed by the States from
which they came by the Confederate States Of Amer
lea.
SKC. 4. And be IL further enacted That said voun-
teers SHALL when called into active serve and who re-
naming therein be subject to the rules and articles OF
war; and instead of clothing, every noncommissioned
officer aud private in any company shall be entitled,
when called into actual service in money to sum equal
the cost of clothing of non-commissioned officer or
private in the regular army OF The Confederate States
OF America.
SIC 5. And be ii further enacted That the said VOL
unee so offering their services may be accepted by the
r sident in companies squadrons, battaons, and reg
ments whose officers shall be appointed in the manner
prescribed by law in the several States TO which they
shall respectively belong; but when inspected mustered
tba NJ ba
said troops shall be regarded in all respects part Of
the army of said Confederate States according TO the
terms OF their respective enstmen,s.
SIC 6. And be IL further enacted That the President
hereby authorz TO organize companies so rendering
their services into batiaons squadron bataons or
squadrons into regiments regiments into brdgade and
bigades into divisions whenever, in his Judgment such
organizations aay b, expedient-snd whenever brgades
or divisions shat 70 organized the President shall appoint
the commanding officers for such brgades and divisions
subject to the confirmation of Congress; who shall hold
their offices only while such brgades and divisions are in
service and the President shall if necessary, apporion
the staff and general officers among the respective States
from which the volunteers shall tender their services
lie may deem proper
SIC T. And be il further enacted That whenever the
mil tia or volunteers called and received into the
service of the Confederate States under the provisions
OF this act they shall have the organization, and
shall have the same pay and allowances may be pro-
vided for the regular army, and all mounted noncom-
missioned officers prvates musicians and arhcers shall
be allowed 40 per day for the and risk of their
horses and if any mounted volunteer shall not keep
himself provided with servcabe horse such volunteer
shall on foot. For horses killed in action volun-
eers shall be allowed compensation according TO their
appraised value at the date of muster into service.
SIC s. and be IL further enacted That the field and
staff officers of separate battalion of volunteers, shall
be one Lieutenant, SergeantNejor, one Quarter
master Sergeant and Chief Buglar, principal must
ctan IN
be entitled to an additional I'd Lieutenant and that the
President may limit the privates in any volunteer COM
pSny according his discretion, at from sixyour to
one hundred.
SKC. 9 And be IL further enacted, That when voun-
teers militia called into the service of the Confed-
crate States in such numbers that the officers of the Quar-
termaster Commissary and Medical Departments which
be authorized by law for the regular service not
sufficient 10 provide for the supply quartering trans
porting and furnishing them with the requisite medical at
tendance it shall be lawful for the President appoint
with the advice and consent OF the Congress, as many
additional officers Of said departments as the service may
require, not exceeding Commi-siary and one Quar-
termaser for each brigade with the rank Of Major and
assistant Quarermaser with the rank OF Captain, one
assistant CommissaIy with the rank OF Captain Sur
geon aud Surgeon for each regiment; and
said Quartermasers and Commsaries assistant Quarter
and Commssares to give bonds, with good Sc
cutes for the faithful performance OF their duties the
said officers 10 be allowed the same pay and eBolumens
shall be allowed to officers OF the same grade IN the
guar service and to be subject to the rules aud ari
ces of war and to continue in service only long
their services may be required in connection with the
militia or volunteers.
SIC 10 And be further enacted That the President
be and he ia hereby authorized to purchase charter
arm equip and man such merchant vessels and steam
ships or boats as may be found lit eas y converted
into armed vessels and In such number he may deem
necessary for the protection OF the seabord and the gen.
eral defence Of the country.
(Sgned) HOWELL Com,
President of the Congress.
Approved, March 6, 1861.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.