The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-04-22
THE NEW ARMY BILL.

THE NEW ARMY BILL
This important measure has passed both houses
of Congress For the information OF our readers
large majority of whom are interested IN its pro-
visions, we append copy of the bill, as follows;
Bill to be entitled "An Act to further pro-
ride for the Public Defence"
In view of the exigencies of the country, and
the absolute necessity of keeping in the service our
gallant army, and of placing in the field large
additional force to meet the advancing columns OF
the enemy now invading our SOIL Therefore
SECTION l. The Congress of the Confederate
States do enact: That the President be and he
is hereby, authorized to call out and place in the
military service Of the Confederate States, for
three years. unless the war shall have been sooner
ended, all white men who residents of the Con-
federate States, between the ages of eighteen and
thirty FIVE wears at the time the call or calls may
be made who are not legally exempted from mill
tary service All of the persons aforesaid who
are not now in the armies of the Confederacy, and
whose term of service will expire before the end
of the war; shall be continued in the service for
three years FROM the date of their original enlist
ment unless the war shall have been sooner ended:
Provided, however, That all such companies, bat
talions aud regiments, whose term of original en-
listment was for twelve months, shall have the
right, within forty days, q day to be fixed by
the commander of the brigade to reorganize said
companies, bataliOns, and reg iments, by electing
all their officers, which they had right heretofore
to elect, who shall be commissioned by the Pre-
sident: Provided further, That furloughs not
ceeding sixty days, with transportation home and
back shall be granted to all those retained in the
service by the provisions of this act beyond the
period of their original enlistment, and who have
not heretofore received furlonghs under the pro-
visions of an act entitled "An act providing for
the granting of bounty and furloughs to privates
and non-commissioned officers in the Provis-
ionai Army" approved 1lth December, eigh-
teen hundred and sixty-one, said furloughs to
be granted at such times, and in such numbers, as
the Secretary of War may deem most compatible
with the public interest; and Provided, further,
That in lieu of a furlough the Communication value
in money of the transportation hereinabove gran
ted shall be paid to each private musician, or non
commissioned officer who may elect to receive 1t
OF such time as the furlough would otherwise be
granted: Provided, further, That all persons un-
der the age Of eighteen years, over the age of
thirty five wears, who enrolled in the MILL
tary service of the Confederate States, in the regl-
ments, battaons and companies hereafter to lie
recognized, shall be required to remain in their
respective companies, battalions and regiments for
80 days. unless their places can be sooner supplied
by other recruits not now In the service, who be-
tween the ages of eighteen and thirty five years.
and all laws and parts of laws providing for the
re-enlistment of volunteers, and the organization
thereof into companies, squadrons, battaions, or
regiments shall be, and the hereby,
pealed.
SEC. 2. Be it further enacted That such
companies, squadrons, battalions, regiments
Organized or in process of organization by au-
thority from the Secretary of War, may be
within thirty days from the passage of this act
SO far completed as to have the whole number
of men requisite for organization actually enrolled,
not embracing in said organizations any persons
in service, shall be mustered into the service
of the Confederate States part of the land forces
of the same, to be received in that of the
vice in which they authorized to organize, and
shall elect their company, battalion, and regiment
al officers
SEC 3 Be it further enacted, That for the en-
rollment of all persons comprehended within the
provisions of this act, who not already in SER
vice in the armies of the Confederate States, it
shall be lawful for the President, with the consent
of the Governors of the respective States, to en-
ploy State officers, and, failure to obtain such
consent, he shall employ Confederate officers,
charged with the duty of making such enrolment
in accordance with rules and regulations to be
prescribed by him.
Sec. /. Be it further enacted That persons en-
rolled under the provisions of the preceding Sec
ton, shall be ASST gned by the Secretary Of War to
the different companies now in service until each
company is filled to its maximum number, aud the
persons enrolled shall be assigned to companies
from the States from which they respectively come.
SEC 5. Be it further enacted, That all seamen
and ordinary in the land forces of the Con-
federate States, enrolled under the provisions of
this act, may, application of the Secretary OF
the Navy, be transferred from the land forces to the
naval service.
SEC. 6. BE it further enacted That in all cases
where State may not have in the army number
of regiments battalions, squadrons, or companies,
sufficient to absorb the number of persons subject
TO military service under this act, belonging to
such State that the residue excess thereof shall
be kept as reserve, under such regulations as
may be established by the Secretary of War; and
that at stated periods of not greater than three
months, details, determined by lot, shall be made
from said reserve, that each company shall as
nearly as practicable, be kept full Provided,
That the persons held in reserve may remain at
home until called into service by the President
Provided, also that during their stay home they
shall not receive pay Provided, further, that the
persons cOmprehended in this act shall not be sub
ect to the rules and articles of until mustered
into the actual service of the Confederate States
except that said persons when enrolled are liable
to duty if they shall willfuy refuse to obey said
call, each Of them shall be held to be deserter,
& punished such under said articles Provided,
that whenever in the opinion of the President the
exigencies OF the public service may require it, he
shall be authorized to call into actual service the
entire reserve, or SO much as may be necessary
moi H. L.