The national Republican., 1861-07-29
lPuRLIc, No. l3l

Passed at the First Session Of the Thrty-'eVenm
Congress.
Public, No. l3.
AN ACT to authorize the employment of volun. |
teers to aid in enforcing the laws and pro. !
tecting public property.
Whereas certain of the forts, arsenals, custom |
houses. navy yards, and other property Of
the United States have been seized, and |
other violations Of law have been committed |
and are threatened By organized bodies Of
men in several Of the States, and q con-
spiracy has been entered into to overthrow
the Government Of the United States There
fore,
Be It enacted By The Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States of America
IN Congress assembled, That the President be
and he is hereby authorized to accept the ser
vices Of volunteers, either as cavalry, infantry,
or artillery, in such numbers, not exceeding
Eve hundred thousand, as he may deem neces-
ssry, for the purpose Of repelling invasion, sup.
pressing instruction. enforcing the laws, and
preserving and protecting the public property
Provided, That the services Of the volunteers
shall be for such time as the President may
direct, not exceeding three years nor less than
six months, and they shall be disbanded at the
end Of the war. And all provisions Of law ap.
to two years volunteers, and to all volunteers
who have been or may be accepted into the
service of the United States for period not
less than six months, in the same manner as If
such volunteers were specially named. Before
receiving into service any number Of volunteers
exceeding those now called for and accepted.
the President shall, from time to time, issue
his proclamation, stating the number desired,
either a. cavalry, infantry, or artillery, and the
States from which they are to be furnished,
having reference, in any such requisitiou, to
the number then in service from the several
States, and to the exigencies Of the service at
the time, and equaliz'ng, as far as practicable,
the number furnished by the several States,
according to Federal population.
Sec. 2. And Be 1t further enacted, That the
said volunteers shall be subject to the rules and
regulations governing the army of the United
States, and that they shall be formed, BY the
President, into regiments Of infantry, with the
exception Of such numbers for cavalry and ar.
tillery as he may direct, not to exceed the pro-
portion Of one company Of each Of those arms
to every regiment OF infantry, end to be organ
lied as in the regular service. Each regiment
Of infantry shall have one colonel, one lieuten.
ant colonel, one major, one adjutant, (s lieu.
tenant,) one quartermaster, "a lieu,enant,) one
surgeon ana one assistant surgeon, one scr.
resnt'major, one regimental quastesmaster
sergeant, one regiDental coumsssry sergeant,
one hosp ptal steward, two principal musicians
and twenty four musicians for a band and
shall be composed Of ten companies, each COM
peny to consist Of one captain, one 6rst lieu
tenant, one second lieutenant, one first ser
geant, four sergeants eight corporals, two rnu
sicians, one WAGNER, and from sixty.four to
eightJ.two privates.
Sec. 3. And be ii further enacted, That these
forces, when accepted as herein authorized
shall be organized into divisions Of three or
more brigates each; and each division shall
lave a major general, three aides.de.canp, and
one assistant adutsnt general with the rank Of
major. Each brigade shall be composed o
four or more regiments, and shall have one
Drigaoier general, two ades.decaEp, one as
sistant adjutent general with the rank of cap
tain, one surgeon, one assistant quarteruaster
and one commissary of subsistence.
Sec. a. And be il further enacted, That the
President shall be authorized to appoint, b.
and with the advice and consent of the Senate
for the command of the forces provided for il
this act, number of major generals, not ex
ceeding six, and q number of brigadier gene
rails, not exceeding eighteen, and the other di
vision snd brigade officers required for the or
sanization oil these forces, except the aides. de
camp, who shall be selected By their respective
"
unteer corps: Proeidei, That the Presiden
may select the major generals and brigadie
generals provided for IN this act, from the lin
or staff OF the regular army, and the officer
so selected shall be pernitted to retain thei
rank therein. The governors Of the States fur
nishing volunteers under this act shall com
mission the field, staff, and company officer
requisite for the said volunteers; but, in case
where the State authorities refuse OF omit {;
furnish volunteers, at the call or on the proofs
nation OF the President, and volunteers from
such States offer their services under such cal
or proclamation, the President shall have powe
to accept such services, and to commission tn
proper field, staff, and company officers.
Sec. s. And be ii further enacted, That tn
officers, non commissioned officers, and pr
Yates, organized as above set forth, shall, in a.
respects be placed on the footing, as to pa
and allowance of similar corps of the regr
lar army: Provided, That the allowances {
non-commissioned officers and privates 70
clothing, when not furnished in kind, shall b
three dollars and fifty cents per month, an
that each company officer, non.commissione
officer, private, musician, and art6cer Of cav
airy, shall furnish his own horse and hors
equipments, aud shall receive forty cents pc
day for their use and risk, except thstin cas-
the horse shall become disabled, or shall die
the allowance shall cease until the disability b
removed Or another horse be supplied. Ever
volunteer roncommissioned officer, private
musician, and artifcer, who enters the servic
of the United States under this oct, shall b.
paid at the rate Of ftty cents in lieu of aubsst
ence, and, if a cavalry volupteer, twenty.fv
cents additional, in lieu Of forage, Tor ever,
twenty miles of travel from his place of enrol
nent to the place Of muster the distance TO b
measured by the shortest usually travelled route
l., IL, 4 obar ,.5 Ill