The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-04-17

federate States.
Much apprehension exists in the public mind
in regard to the military organizations sstsb.
lished by the Congress for the protection " the
Confederate States We observe that evcn the
New Orleans Delta has fallen into popular er-
ror-that Of supposing that State troops. are,
or may be incorporated into the Regular Army
Of the Confederacy; It spoke, some days ago
Of the Zouave Battalion Of Louisiana - hssinI
been thus incorporated. As We procsed We
shall show that this Is not and cannot be The
case ~H sft
On making some inquiries in the proper quar-.
tiers, we ascertain that tseo distinct aymies have
been provided for, by the acts Of the Congress-
They have no connection with each other the
mode Of cficering them is essentially different,
| and their terms OF service are dissimilar
The first OF these armies is what Is called the
provisional Army" Il is this, to which the
Zouave Battalion and all other volunteer corps,
now Ia the service Of the Confederate States, be.
long. It was raised by the Congress. to meet
the pressing exigencies upon us; and will DO
disbanded when the emergency shall have ceas.
cd which called Il into existence. IL 10 cosnpos-
ed of such companies, battallions and regi-
ments" as have been Tor may be) turned over
to the Confederacy, by the several States, from
their several armies, or corps Of voluntrcrA
with the consent of the troops transferred -
The minimum term Of service Is one year. A
rule Of the War Department requires these
troops to be received only from the several
State Executives they, Of course, having pre-.
viously secured the assent Of the organizations
transferred These troops retain the organiss-
tions with which they enter the Provisional Ar
my; companies, battalions and regiments" re-
naming such and retaining their officers But
the President has the right by law, to appoint
certain Field Officers for this "Provisionai Ar
my"-a right which he has exercised in max.
ing Brigadiers thereof of Coils. Bragg and Beau
regard, and appointing Col Hardcc Colonel Of
Its first Regiment.
Many crack" volunteer companies, not only
from the Confederate States, but also from tho
Border States, have sought, Independently to
be incorporated into this provisional Army"
bat the rule is inferibie, and unless they arc
offered by some one Of the Governors Of tho
Confederate States, upon requisition from tho
War Department, they are not receired practi.
cally, the provisional Army" is about full
the patriotism Of the people was fully up TO the
mark of the needs Of the country.
Memorandum, that in contemplation OF law,
Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons Of the Vol
unteer and State Army Troops, turned over TO
the Confederacy, to make part Of tho "Provs.
onal Army" are not "officers; !" and they are
therefore mot retained The deficiency is sup.
piled by appointing temporarily acting Assis.
tant Surgeons for such troops
Memorandum, also that the single slight cx-
ception to the rule, that the component organic
atoms Of the provisional Army" derived A.
aforesaid from the several States, remain an
when mustered into the service of the Confeder.
ate Statcs-is, that independent, or isolated,
companies will be consolidated into battalions or
regiments This of course, is indispensable.
Another point about the Provisional Army;"
its Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons are only
temporary appontees acting as such, rhile the
serUice may require them.
The REGULAR ARMY of the Confcdcracy 10
entirely distinct from the provisional" II 10
not yet organized. The officers Of only tao
Regiments have yet been appointed; soon, the
officers of four other Regiments will be appoint.
ed. The organization is very similar TO that Of
the United States Army.
As soon as appointed, many Of the officers Of
the Regular Army will be ordered to the Re-
cruiting service. And it is ia This way only,
that the Regular Army will be raised. As yet
it does not contain single commissioned
officer or private, while the Provisional Army
has thousands Of men ih the FIELD.
The Regular Army will begin to take form
and substance probably, within six months.
Officers resigned, on account of secession,
from the Army of the United States receive
appointments as Of course, in the REGULAR
ARMY. Civilians are eligible; but tho former
are certainly provided.
Applications by civilians, for positions rs
Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons, in the Rcgu-
lar Army, need not hardly be made, with ex.
pectation of success. There is only limited
numjer Of appointments to .fu;; and these,
necessarily, win be given to resigned Surgeons