The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-04-25
The New Military Bill.
A Bill to DO entitled An Act to further pro
for tho p,thlia n.c...a. -

large additional force to meet the advancing
columns Of the enemy now invading our soil.-
Therefore,
SECTION !. The Consrc. of the Confederate
nfdfes ~ America 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 are resi-
dents OF the Confederate Statos, between the ages
OF Is and 10 years at the time the call or calls
may be made, who are not legally exempted from
military service. All of tho persons aforesaid who
are 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
men, unless the war shall have been sooner end
ed Provided, however, That all such companies
squadrons battalions, and regiments, whose term
OF original enlistment was for twelve months
shall have the right, within forty days, on a day
To be fixed by the Commander of the Brigade, to
re-organize said companies, squadrons, battalions,
and regiments by clectng all their officers, which
they had right heretofore TO elect who shall be
commissioned by the President: Provided, further,
That furloughs not exceeding 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
furloughs under the provisions of an Act entitled
"An Act providing for the granting of bounty
officers of the Provisional Army" approved 18th
December, eighteen hundred and sixty.one, said
furloughs to be granted Mt such times and In such
numbers as the Secretary of War may deem most
compatible with the publcinterest; and, Provided,
further, That in lieu of furlough the commuta-
ton value in money of the transportation herein
above granted, shall be paid to each private, rhu.
sieian, or commissioned officer who may elect
to receive 1t, at such times the furloush would
otherwise be granted: Provided, further, That all
persons under tho age of is years or over the age
OF 30 years, who are now enrolled in the military
service of the Confederate States in the regiments
battalions, and companies hereafter to be re-or-
ganizcd, shall be required to remain in their re-
spective companies, battalions, and regiments for
ninety days, unless their places can DO sooner
supplied by other recruits not in the service,
who are between the ages of is and 35 years, and
all laws and parts of laws providing for the re-
enlistment OF volunteers and the organization
thereof into companies, squadrons, battalions, or
regiments, shall be and the same ore hereby 70.
pealed
SEC 2. BE il further enacted, That such com.
panies squadrons, battalions, or regiments organ
lied, or in process of organization by authority
from the Secretary Of War, may be within
thirty days from the passage of this Act, so far
completed us to have the whole number Of men
requisite for organization actually enrolled, not
embracing in said organizations any persons now
in service, shall be mustered into the service of
the Confederate States as part of the land forces
of the same, to be received in that arm of the
service in which they are authorized to organize,
and shall elect their company, battalion and
rcgimental officers
SEC. 3. BE il further enacted, That for the on
rollment of oil persons comprehepded within tho
provisions Of this Act, who arc not already in SER
vice in the armies of the Confederate States, il
shall DO lawful for the President, with the con-
sent of the Governors of the respective States, to-
employ State officers, and on 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 DO
prescribed by him.
SIC. 4. Be il further enacted, That persons en-
titled under the provisions of the preceding Sec
ton, shall be assigned by the Secretary of War;
to the different companies now in service, until
. each company is filed to its maximum number
and the persons so enrolled shall be assigned to
companies from the States from which they re-
spcctively come.
SEC. s. BE il further enacted, That all Seamen
and ordinary Soamcn in the land forces of the
Confederate States, enrolled under the provisions
of this Act, may, on application of the Secretary
of the Navy, be transferred from the land forces
to the naval service.
SEC. o. BE il further enacted, That in all cases
where IL State may not have in the army n mum.
ber Of regiments, battalions, squudrons, or com
panies. sufficient tn absorb tha numhor of personi
subject to military service under this Act belong
ing to such State then the residue or excess there
of shall be kept as n reserve, under such rcgula
tions as may DO established by the Secretary o.
| War, and that at stated periods of not greater
| than three months, Details determined by lot
shall be made from said reserve, so that eacl
company shall. MS nearly as practicable, be KEEP
full. Provided, That the persons held in rcserv,
may remain ut home until called into service b,
the President. Provided, also, That during thc
| stay ut home, they shall not receive pay. Pro
vided, further, That the persons comprehendec
in this Act shall not be subject to the Rules and
Articles of War, until mustered into the actua
service of the Confederate States; except thu
said persons. when enrolled and liable to duty i
| they shall wilf1lly refuse to obey said call eacl
of them shall be held to be deserter, and pun
ishcd rs such, under said Articles. Provided
further, That whenever, in the opinion of tn,
President, the exigcncies of the public servic,
may require it, he shall DO authorized to call int
actual service tho entire reserve, or so much n,
may be necessary, not previously assigned TO diff
ferent companies in service under provision o.
section four of this Act; said reserve shall be or
ganized under such rules rs the Secretary of Wa,
| may adopt: Provided, Tho company, battalion
| and regimental officers shall DO elected by thu
| troops composing the same: Provided, The troop,
raised in any one State shall not be combined il
| rcgimental, battalion, squadron or company or.
ganization with troops raised in any other State.
| SEC. 7. Be IL further enacted, That all soldier,
now serving in the army or mustered in the mill
tary service Of the Confederate States or enrolled
| in said service of the Confederate States, or on
rolled in said service under the authorization,
heretofore issued by the Secretary of War, ant
who are continued in tho service by virtue of THU
| Act. who have not received tho bounty of fifty
dollars allowed by existing laws, shall be entitled
| to receive said bounty.
| Sec. s. BE IL further enacted, That each mar
who may hereafter DO mustered into the service
and who shall arm himself with musket, sho
gun, rifle or carbine, accepted an efficient weap
on, shall be paid the value thereof to be ascertain
| ed by the mastering officer under such regulations
as may BIO prescribed by the Secretary OF War, i
he is willing to sell the same, and if he is not
then he shall be entitled to receive one dollar {
month for the use of said received and approved
| musket rife, shotgun carbine.
SEC. 0. Be Il further enacted, That persons no
Fable for duty may be received as substitutes fol
those who are, under such regulations as may b,
prescribed by the Secretary of War.
SEC. 10. BE Il further enacted, That all vacan
cies shall be filled by the President from the com
pany, battalion, squadron or regiment in whcl
such vacancies shall occur, by promotion accord
ing to seniority, except in cases Of disability o
other incompetsncy. Provided, however, Tha
the President may, when, in his opinion, it ma.
be proper fill such vacancy or vacancies by tn
promotion of any ofhccr or officers, or private o
privales from such company, battalion, squadron
or regiment who shall have been distinguished i
the service by exhibition of valor aud skill, an
that whenever a vacancy shall occur in the loves
grade Of the commissioned officers Of company
said vacancy shall be filled by election: Provided
That all appointments made by the Prcsiden
shall be by and with the advice and consent q
the Senate.
II SEC. II. BE il further enacted That the pro
visions of tho first section of this Act relating I
the election of officers, shall apply to those req