The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-04-12
The Military Organisation Of the Con.
federate States.

Much apprehension exists in the pub
lie mind in regard to the military organi-
nations established by the Congress for the
protection of the Confederate States. We
observe that even the New Orleans Delta
has fallen into q popular erroT-that of
supposing that State troops are, or may
be, incorporated into the Regular Army of
the Confederscy; it spoke, some days
ago, of the Zouave Battalion Of Louisiana
as having been thus incorporated. Aswe
proceed we shall show that this is not and
cannot be the case.
On making some inquiries in the proper
quarters, we ascertain that hoo distinct
armies have been provided for, by the acts
of the Congress. They have no connection
with each other; the mode of offering
them is essentially different; and their
terms Of service are dissimilar.
The first Of these armies is what is
called the provisional Army" 1t is
this, to which the Zouave Battalion and
all other volunteer corps, now in the SER
vice of the Confederate States, belong.
1t was raised by the Congress to meet the
pressing exigencies upon US; and will be
disbanded when the emergency shall have
ceased which called it into existence. u
is composed of such companies, battalions
and regiments" as have been Tor may bel
turned over to the Confederacy, by the
several States, from their several armies,
or corps of volunteers, 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, have previ-
ously secured the assent of the organiza-
tons transferred. These troops retain the
organizations with which they enter the
Provisional Army; companies, battalions
and regiments" remaining such and re-
tanning their officers. But the President has
the right, by law, to appoint certain Field
Offers for this provisional Arm" "a
right which he has exercised, in making
Brigadiers thereof, of Coils Bragg and
Beauregard, and appointing Col. Hardee
Colonel of its first Regiment.
Many "crack" volunteer companies
not only from the Confederate States, but
also from the Bo1Aer States. have sought
Independently, to he Incorporated into thii
Provisional Army" Bot he me- is igfyi
bic, and unless they are offered by som'
one of the Governors of the Confederate
States, upon a requisition from the Wa
Department, they are not receired Praeti
cally, the provisional Army" is abou
full; the patriotism of the people wa
fully up to the mark of the needs of tn,
country.
Memorandum, that in contemplation O
law, Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons Of n
Volunteer and State Army Troops, turne'
over to the Confederacv, to make part Q
the provisional Army" are not ''offi
GERS :" and hey are therefore not retained
! The deficiency is supplied 10y appointin
! temporarily acting assistant Surgeons 70
such troops.
, Mernoraadun. also, that the single Sigh
/ exception to the rule, that the componen
organizations Of the Provisional Army,
) derived IS aforesaid, from the severs
States, remain as when mustered into TIA
, service of the Confederate States-is. tbs
independent, or isolated. companies wi
/ be consolidated into battalions of reg
I ments. This, of course. is indispensable
2 Another point about the provision,
P | Army :" IFS Surgeons and Assistant Su
! geons are only temporary appointee
5 acting as such ,0hilc the service mag regoa
D them.
2 The Regular Army of the Confederac
: is entirely distinct from the Provision
e al" II is not vet organised The officers
s only hoo Regiments have yet been appoin
e ed soon the officers of four other Reg
: ments will be appointed. The organic
+: ton is very similar to that of the Unite
!, States Army.
e As soon as appointed, many of the of
f GERS of the Regular Army will be ordere
It to the Recruiting Service. And it is
v this lcdy only that the Regular Army wi
t be raised. As vet, it does not contain
d single non-commissioned officer or privat
e while the Provisional Army has housan
> Of men in the field.
The Regular Army will begin to tai
+ form and substance, probably, within S
|, months.
" Officers resigned, on account of secC
e sion. from the Army of the United Stat,
E. receive appointments, as Of course, in 4
Regular Army. Civilians are eligibl
" but the former are certainly provided.
!, Applications. by civilians, for positio
D. as Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons,
is the Regular Army, need now hardly
IN made, with expectation of success.
E. There IS oniya limited number Of appointing
N TO i'll; and these, necessarily, will
rs given to resigned Surgeons and Assistar
G. from the Army Of the United States.
" The Engineer Corps is, we learn, M
c. inaccessible to civilians; probably becaJ
bit there are accomplished officers lresigne
De from the U. S. Army to fill the position
e. We doubt-without being able to ST
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. any civilian, whatel
his attachments, will be received into I
Engineers. Position, for cirilians, is ne
most difficult of attainment in the .
tillery.
r. We believe that we have correct
90 above a score or moEe of popular errors
a regard to our mil Harry organizations
or Those who, feel special interest in the 81
L. ject will, OF course, notice the empha
he of the foregoing. Doing so may save
Of good deal Of trouble. as we feel con6d'
,at that our statements are accurately
nm gOmery Nal.