The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-09
SAINT PAUL FRIDAY. AUGUST 9, 1861.
Law tn Relation to Volunteers.

A<~N AH 1tcIatI0h 10 tOIuhtccTS
An act to authorize the employment of vOlun-
teers to aid in enforcing the laws, and pro-
'ecting public property.
Whereas, certain of the forts, arsenals,
custom houses, navy yards, and other prop.
erty of the United States, have been seized,
and other violations Of law have been COM
mitted and are threatened by organized
bodies OF men in several Of the States, and
a conspiracy has been entered into to over
throw the government of the United States;
therefore,
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 services of volunteers, either
as cavalry, infantry, or artillery, in such
plumbers, not exceeding five hundred thous-
and, as he may deem necessary, for the pur-
pose of repellng Invasion, snppressing in
surrectlOn, enforcing the laws, and preserv-
ing and protecting the public property !:
Provided, That the services of the vOlun.
teers shall be for such time as the President
may direct, not exceeding three years nor
less than SIX months, and they shall be dis
banded at The end of the war; all provisions
OF law applicable to three years volunteers
shall apply to two years volunteers, and to
all volunteers who may have been or may
be accepted into the service of the United
States for period of not less than six
months, In the same manner as if volunteers
were specially named Before receiving
into service any number of volunteers ex-
cepting those now called for and accepted,
the President shall, from time to time, issue
bis proclamation stating the number de-
sired, either as cavalry, infantry, Or arti-
lery, and the States from which they are to
be furnished, having reference, in any such
requisition, to the number then in service
from the several States and to the eXigencies
Of the service at the time, and equalzing,
as far as practicable, the number furnished
by the several States according to federal
population.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That
the said volunteers shall lie 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 euch num-
bers for cavalry and artillery as he may d.
rect, not to exceed the proportion of one
company OF each Of those arms to every
regiment of infantry, and to be organized
as in the regular service. Each regiment
of infantry shall have one colonel, one lieu
tenant colonel, one major, one adjutant, ia
lieutenant), one quartermaster, ia lieuten-
anti, one surgeon, and one assistant surgeon,
ptoI
master sergeant, one regmental commissary
sergeant, one hospital steward, two princi.
pal musicians, and twenty four musicians
for band and shall be composed OF ten
companies, each company to consist of one
captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieu
tenant, one first sergeant, four sergeants,
eight cOrporals, two musicians, one wagner,
and from sixty four to eighty two privaIes.
SEC. 3. Aud be it further enacted That
these forces, when accepted as herein au-
thorlzed, shall be organized into divisions
OF three or more brigades each and each
division shall have major general, three
aides de camp, and one assistant adjutant
general with the rank of major. Each br.
gade shall be composed OF four or more regl-
ments. and shall have one brigadier general,
two aides de camp, one assistant adjutant
general with the rank of caytain, one sur
geoO, one assistant quartermaster, and one
commssary of subsistence.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That
the President shall be authorized to appoint,
by and with the advice OF the Senate, for
the command OF the forces provided for IN
this act, 6 number of major generals, cot
ceeding six, and number of brigadier
generals, not exceeding eighteen, and the
other division and brigade officers required
for the organization of these forces, except
the aides de camp, who shall be selected
by their respective generals from the
officers of the army of the volunteer corps
Provided, That the President may select
the major generals and brigadier generals
provided for in this act from the line or
staff of the regular army, and the officers so
selected shall be permitted to retain their
rank therein. The governors of the States
furnishing volunteers under this act shall
commission the field, staff, and company of.
fcers requisite for the said volunteers but
in cases where the State authorities refuse
or omit to furnish volunteers at the call or
en- the proclamation of the President, and
volunteers from such States offer their SER
vices under such call or proclamation, the
President shall have power to accept such
services and to commission the proper field,
staff, and company officers.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That
the officers, non.commissioned officers, and
privates, organized as above set forth, shall,
in all respects, be placed on the footing, as
to pay and allowances, of similar corps of
the regular army: Provided, That the
allowances of non-commissioned officers and
privates for clothing, when not furnished in
kind, shall be three dollars and fifty cents
per month, and that each company officer,
non. commissioned officer, private, musician,