The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-05-17
An Act
TO Raise, Organize and Equip Provisional Force
and for other purposes

%, "a
hfty-fve thousand volunteers, twenty five thou.
sand OF whom, or any less number which the wants
OF the service may demand, shall be fitted for the
Held at the earliest practicable moment, and the
remainder Of which shall be held in reserve, to
march Mt short notice. And should 1t become
necessary for the safety of the State, the Cover
nor may call out the whole available military
strength of the State.
SEC. 2. De II FURTHER cRacied, That in the pcr.
fornance of this duty, the Governor shall take
charge of the military direct the military defence of
the State, organize the different arms and with the
concurrence of tho Military and Financial Board
hereinafter provided for, control the military fund
make contracts FOR arms, ordnance, ordnance
stores, procure material for the construction of
arms, employ artifccrs, organize one or t.ore
nrmorics Tor the construction of arms aud do al
other things necessary for the speedy and Ell ,rni
organization of force adequate for the pablir
safety. And he shall organize Military aud
Financial Board, to consist of three pcrsnus, Of
which he shall be, err oycio, President, aud who
shall discharge such dudes as he may assign them
in ciccting the objects and purposes of tins get.
and appoint such number of clerks ms may be nc.
ccssary under such rules and regulations rs. tloy
may adopt
SEC. 3. BE IL further cnucied That the force
provided for by this act shall be organized into
regiments, brgades and divisions, the whole to
be commanded by the senior Major Gencral,.,y
shall Immediately enter upon the duty of organ
king the entire force for the field; the force au-
thor1cd by this act shall be mustered into service
for tho period Of twelve months, Lnlcss sooner
discharged
SEC. 4. be il FURTHER enacted, That the staff Of
said force shall consist of one Adjutant General,
ono Inspector General, ono paymastor General.
one Commissary General, one Quarcrnastcr GEN
crn and one Surgeon General, with such number
of assistants Of each the wants of the scrvi, c
may require; and that the rank of Quartcrmastcr
General Inspector General, Adutan. General,
and Commissary General, shall be that of Colonel
q! Cavalry. and the rank of their assistants shall
be that Of Lieutenant Colonel, Major of Infantry.
and Captain of Cavalry; all of whom shall be ap-
pointed by the Governor subject to the confrina-
ton of tho General Assembly in joint session.
SIC. 6. BE Il further enncted That there shall
lie two Major Generals, and such number of Briga-
der Generals as the proper and efficient command
of said force may require, who shall be nominated
by the Governor and confirmed by the General
Assembly, with power to appoint their own staff,
and Chief of Engineers, with sNeh assistants as
The service may require, to be nominated and
confirmed in the same manner.
SIC. 0. BE il further enacted That for the pur-
pose of carrying out the provisions of this act the
Governor Of the State is hereby authorized to is
site and dispose of five million of the bonds of
the State of Tennessee, similar in all respects to
the bonds of the State heretofore issued, except
that they shall not have more than ten years TO
run to maturity, and bear interest at the rate of
eight per cent. per annum, payable semi an
nually at such point rs may therein be desig-
mated; Prorid"d. That three millions Of said
bonds shall be held as a contingent reserved fund.-
and not used unless in the opinion of the Gov
crnor, by and with the concurrence and advice of
the Military and Financial Board. the cxigcnccs
of the service and public safety imrcrativcy de-
mand it; and said bonds shall he in denomina-
tons of not less than one hundred, or greater
. 81,
SIC. 10. Re IL further enacted, That the public
faith and credit of the State il hereby pledged for
the payment of the interest on said bonds and the
final redemption of the same: and that an annual
tax OF eight cents on the one hundred dollars on
the property, and hni cen, upon the dollar on
sales Of merchandise or invoice cost whether
bought in or out of the State of Tennessee which
said Que half of ono per cent. is TO be in lieu of
the one fourth of one per cent. now levied be as
scsscd and set apart and held sacred for the pay
mcnt of tie interest on said bonds, and the crea-
ton of sinking fund for their final redcmption
Iforidei. That no more of said tax than is suli-
cicnt to pay the ipterest on said bonds shall he
collected until the expiration of two years from
the Issuance of tho same, and that the whole
amount of said sinking fund shall from time to
time, as the same may accumulate. be used by the
Governor in the purchase of said bonds; Prorided,
They can be had at price not exceeding par
rates.
SEc. II. BE Il firrtLcy enncicd That Banks and
Branches purchasing said bonds from the Cover
nor, shall have the privilege of chasing the bonds
purchased, in the classification of their assets
as specie funds; and that the banks of the State
arc hereby authorized to invest their means in
said bonds; Proriied, That the State shall have
the right to pay said bonds so purchased and held
by Said banks in their own notes; and individuals
owning said bonds, having purchased the same
previously of the State, shall hold the same free
.
SEC. II. BE il further enacted That the Coun-
ty Courts of this State empowered to assess
and collect n tax on property and privileges in
their respective counties, to provide fund for
tho relief and support of families of volunteers
whilst in actual service, when, from affection or
indulgence it may be necessary; Prorided, that
the said fund thus raised SHALL in all cases be cx-
pended for the benefit of the families of volun.
tccrs residing in the county where the same is
raised; and the Revenue Collector, for collecting
said tax, shall receive no compensaton-and the
same shall be paid by him, under order of the
County Court, to the person to whom the same
may he appropriated.
SIC. Is. BE Il further enacted, That the County
Courts be authorized to issue County Scrip antici-
plting the tax necessary in efecting the objects of
the preceding section.
SEC. 10. be il further enacted, That the County
Courts of this State are authorized and empower
cd to appoint and raise semi annually Home
Guard Of Minute Men, who,c term of service
shall he three months, in their respective limits,
to consist Of companies Of not less than ten for
each Civil District, whose officers, when elected
ny the companies respectively, shall be commits
stoned by the County Courts, and whose duty il
shall be to procure n warrant from some Justice
of the poace and arrest all suspected persons and
bring them before the Civil Authorities for trial
to see that all slaves are dsarmcd-to prevent the
assemblages of slaves in unusual numbers
keep the slave population in proper subsection,
and to sec that peace and order is Observed
The Home Guard of Minute Men shall he armed
and equipped by each county at its own expense,
and tax may be assessed and collected for the
purpose, IA well as to compensate those engaged
in this branch of duty, If, in their discretion,
compensation should be made. The Home Guard
shall assemble in their respective Districts to take
precautionary measures, at least once in each
week. at the call of the commanding officer, and
shall be momentariy ready for service at his call
Persons engaged in this branch of duty shall, up
on failure to obey the call to duty by the Com
inanaer, forfeit not less than one dollar nor more
than five for each offence, to DO collected in the
name OF the Chairman of the County Court he
fore any Justice of the Peace to be applied by
the County Court in dcfraying the expenses Of
this branch of the public service, unless such
failure was the result of sickness or good cause
A general Commander shall be appointed for each
county by tho several County Courts, whose duty
it shall be, when necessary, to take charge of all
the Home Guard Miuntc Men in his county and
direct their operations. And the County Court is
authorized tc issue County Bonds or Scrip for the
purpose of raising money Immediately to meet
the expenses contemplated by this section.
SEC. II. BE il further enacted, That the prop
erty of all volunteers raised under the provisions
of this act shall BIZ exempt from execution and
other civil process whilst in actual service; hut
this section shall not apply to the Home Guards
SEC. is. BE il further enacted That the Gov
crnor, in raising the volunteers provided for in
this act, shall have the discretion to accept into
tho service volunteer companies rendered from
other States and from the Confederate States, it,
in his opinion, tho exigcncics of tho service or
the public safety requires it,