Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-03

interest to the volunteers now rendering their
services, in such countless numbers, from all
quarters of Virginia and the other Confederate
States of America. We publish it as a matter
Of universal interest:
lBY AUTHORITY.
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC
DEFENCE.
SECTION l. The Congress Of the Confederate
States of america do enact, That IN order 10
provide speedily forces to repel invasion, MAN.
tain tho rightful possession Of the Confederate
States of America, in every portion OF territory
belonging to each State, and to secure the puo'
lie tranquility and independence against threat
cned assault, the President be and he IS hereoy
authorized to employ the militia, military ana
naval forces of the Confederate States OF Anne.
RIGA, and to ask for and accept the services OF
any number of volunteers, not eNceedl''e one
hundred thousand, who may otfer their serVi-
ces, either as cavalry, mounted rlilemen, artii-
lery or infantry, in such proportion OF these
several arms as he may deem expedlent, 10
serve for twelve months after they shall oe
mustered into service, unless sooner DISCHARGED
SEC. Q. And be il further enacted, hat INC
militia, when called into service by virtue Oh
this act or any other act, il, in the OPINION o.
tie President, the public interest requires, may
be compelled to serve for q term not exceeding
six months after they shall be mustered INTO
service, unless sooner discharged. :,
See. 8. And be it further enacted, Iha1 sa'a
volunteers shall furnish their own CLONES, anu,
if mounted men, their own horses ana MORSE
equipments; and when mustered lnto serVice,
shall be armed by the States from when tne!Y
come, ~ b. the Confederate States OF 'i"he'l-
ca. :,
SIC 1. And be i! !irthcv enacted, tfat salo
volunteers shall. wher called into Sclusi ser,
10 the rules AID s arFYIeiEg1 II W St;S:e nao u :1s;eaS Of
clothing, every non.com.nissioneu officer and
private in any company shai! be cnu;ec, when
called into actual ssr"ic", in money 10 L sum
equal to the cost of clothing Of q non.commis-
stoned officer or private in the regular army Of
'The Confederate States of America"
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the
said volunteers so offering their services, may
be accepted by the President in companies,
squadrons, battalions, and regiments, whose
officers shall be appointed in the manner pro-
scribcd bv Law in the several States to which
they shall respectively belong; but when IN
spected, mustered and received into the service
of the Confederate States, said troops shall be
regarded in all respects rs q part OF the army
Of said Confederate States according to the
terms of their respective cnlistments.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted. That the
President is hereby authorized to organize
companies so rendering their services, into bat
talions or squadrons; battalions or squadrous
into regiments; regiments into brigades, and
bricades into divisions, whenever, in his judg.
ment, such organizations may be expedient-
and whenever brigades or divisions shall be
organized, the President shall appoint the com.
handing officers for such brigades and divi.
sions, subject to the confirmation Of Congress;
who shall hold their offices only while such
brieades and divisions are in service; and the
President shall, if necessary, apportlon the
staff and general officers among the respective
States from which the volunteers shall! tender
their services, as he may deem proper.
SEC. T. And be it further enacted, That,
whenever the militia or volunteers are called
and received into the service of the Contede-
rate States, under the provisions OF this act.
they shall have the same organization ana
shall have the same pay and allowances as
may be provided for the regular army, and
all mounted non. commissioned offices, prlvates,
musicians and artificers, shall be allowed 10
cents per day for use and risk Of their horses
and if any mounted volunteer shall not keep
himself provided with serviceable horse. such
volunteer shall serve on fout. For horses killed
in action, volunteers shall be allowed compen.
sation according to their appraised value at
the date Of master into service.
SEC. s. And be it further enacted, That the
field and staff officers Of separate battalion of
volunteers, shall be one Lieutenant, one Ser
1890. NTo;or o,o 0,,ortoru,1etor Snrppant and
a Chief Bugler, or principal musician, accord
ding to corps, and that each company shall be
,at:lca to an additional I'd Lieutenant, and
,!:at the President r,.y limit the privates in
any volunteer co'npany, according to ms
discretion, Ut irvgc sixty-four to one hundred.
Sr.. @. And be y E.rthar anLctc6, That when
;vluatcerS or ;aiAiis are called Int. .L----i---
OF tie Confederate States in such numbers
that The officers Of the Quartermaster, Com
~,ai-sar7, and Medical Departments, which may
be authorized by law for the regular service,
are not sufficient to provide for the supplying,
quar,ering, transporting, and furnishing them
with the requisite medical attendance, 1t shall
be lawful for the President to appoint, with the
advice and consent IF the Congress, as many,
additional officers Of said departments as the
service may require, not exceeding one Com.
l~nissary and one Quarternaster for each bri-
eade. with the rank Of Major, and one Assist,
ant Quartermaster with the rank OF Captain,
one Assistant Comrnisssry with the rank of
Captain, one Surgeon ard one Assistant Sur.
Ceon for each regiment; and said Quarter
masters and Conlmissaries, Assistant Quarter
masterrnastcrs and Comnissaries, to give
bonds, with good s~ureties, for the faithful per
fornancc Of their duties, the said officers to be
allowed the same pay and emoluments as Shall
be allowed to officers Of the same grade in the
regular service, and to be subject to the rules
and articles of war, and to continue in service
only so long as their services may be required
in connection with the militia or volunteers.
Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That
the President DO and he is hereby authorized
to purchase or charter, arm, equip and man
such merchant vessels and steamships or
boats as may be found fit Or easily convert
ed into armed vessels, and i'll such number
as he may deem necessary for the protection
of the scaboard and the general defence Of the
country.
(Signed,) HOWELL CoBB,
President Of the Congress.
Approved March &, 1851.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.