Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-03-26
OFFICIAL.
laws OF THE UNITED STATES,
Passed at the Third Session Of the 37h Congress.
[PUBLIo-No. SAL

AN ACT for enrolling and calling out the national
forces, and for other purposes.
WHEREAS. there now exists in the United States an
iusurrecticn and rebellion against the authority
thcraof and it is under the constitution OF the
Tn;tad States the duty of che government 20
snnnrsss insurrection and rebellion, to guarantee
IN zach state republican form of government,
and to preserve the public tranquiIIityi and
whereas, for these high purposes, military force
is indispensable, to raise and support which all
persons ought willingly to contribute; and where
&c no service can be more praise worthy aud hon
orable than that which is rendered for the main
tenance of the Constitution ana Union, and The
consequent preservation OF tree government:
Therefore
Re- 1T enacted bg the Senate and House Of Repre-
,entatiUes of the U,sated States Of ADsrjcG IN Con-
gress assembled That all eble-bodied male citizens
of the United states, and persons Of foreign birth
who have declared oath their intentions to be-
bone citizens under and in pursuance OF the laws
thereof, between the ages oil twenty and forty five
wears. except as hereinafter excepted, are hereby
declared to conntitute the national forces, and
shall be liable to perform military duty in the
vice of the United States, when called out by the
President for that purpose.
Sec. 2. Ind be dfurt}aer enacted That the fol-
lowing persons be and they hereby exec ted
and exempt from the provisions of act, and
shall not be liable to military duty uuder same,
to-wit: Such rejected physically men
tally unfit for the service; also, first, the Wee
President of the United States, the judges of the
various courts of the United States, the heads OF
the various executive departments OF the Govern
ment, and the Governors OF the several states
Second the only son liable to military duty of
widow dependant upon his labor Tor support. Third
the only son of aged or inirm parent parents de-
pendant upon his labor for support. Fourth, where
there are two or more sons OF aged intfm pa
rents subject to draft, the father, or if he De dead
the mother may elect which son shall be exempt.
Fifth the only brother of children not twelve
old, having neither father mother dependant
upon his labor for support. Sixth the father OF
mothe less children under twelve years of age, de-
pendant upon his labor for support. Seventh,
where there father and sons in the same
household, and two OF them in the military SER
vice of the United States n-commissi on ed Off
cere musicians privates the residue of such fam
lily and household not exceeding two shall be ex-
empt. And no persons but such herein eX-
cepted shall be exempt: PrOUlded, hOlUeUer, That
no person who has been convicted of any felony
shall be enrolled or permitted to in SAID
forces.
Sec. g. and be it further enacted, That the ma
tional forces of the United States not now in the
military SERVICE enrolled under this act shall be
divided into two classes: the first of which shall
comprise all persons subject to do military duty
between the ages of twenty and thirty-fiv years,
and all unmarried persons subject to do military
duty above the age OF thirty live and under the
age of forty-fve the second class shall comprise
all other persons subject to do military duty; and
they shall not, in any district, be called into the
service OF the United States until those of the first
class shall have been called.
Sec. 4. And be ii further enacted, That for
greater convenience in enrolling, calling out, and
organizing the national forces and Tor the arrest
OF deserters and spies of the enemy, the United
States shall be divided into districts, which the
District of Columbia shall constitute one, each
Territory of the United States shall constitute one
more, the President shall direct, and each
essional district OF the respective States as
fived by law of the State next preceding the en-
rolment, shall constitute one ; PrOUGdeG, That in
States which have not by their laws been divided
uto two congressional districts, the fresi-
dent of the United states shall divide the same
into many enrolment districts he may deem
fit and convenient.
Sec. 5. Ind be it FURTHER esacted, That for
each of said districts there shall be appointed by
the President provost marshal, with the rank
pay and emoluments of captain of cavalry, Or an
officer of said rank shall be detailed by the Pres
dent, who shall be under the direction subject
to the orders of provost marshal general, ap-
pointed detailed by the President OF the United
States, whose office shall be at the seat of govern
ment, forming separate bureau of the War De-
partment and whose rank, pay, and emoluments
shall be those of a colonel of cavalry.
Sec. g. A7ed be ii further enacted. That it shall
be the duty Of the provost marshal general, with
the approval OF the Secretary OF War, to make
rules and regulations for the government of his
subordnates to furnish them with the names and
residences of all deserters from the army or any
the land forces in the service the United States
including the militia, when reported to him by the
commanding officers to communicate them all
orders OF the President in reference calling out
the national forces to furnish proper blanks and
instructions for enrolling and drafting file and
preserve copies of all enrolment lists to REQUIRE
stated reports of all proceedings the part OF his
suoordlnates; to auat all accounts connected
with the service under his direction and To per-
form such other duties as the President may pre-
scribe in carrying out the provisions of this act.
Sec 7. And be at further enacted That it shall be
the duty of the provost marshals arrest all DESERT
ersWhether reg ulars, volunteers mlitamen, per-
called into the service under or any other
act of Congress, wherever they may be found, and
to send the IN to the nearest military commander or
military post to detect, seize and conne spies of
the enemy, who shall, without unreasonable delay,
be delivered to the custody of the general COM
manding the department in which they may be ar
rested, to be tried soon the exigences of the
service permit to obey all lawful orders and regu-
lations of the provost marshal general and such as
may be prescribed by law, concerning the enroll
ment and calling into service of the national for
ces.
Sec. 8. and be At further enacted, That in each
Of said districts there shall be beard of roment
ts be composed of the provost marshal. as presi-
don't and two other persons, to be appointed by the
President of the United States, one OF whom Shall
be a licensed and practicing physician and
geon.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the said board to divide district
into sub-districts OF convenient size if they shall
deem it necessary, not exceeding two, without the
direction of the Secretary of War, and to appoint,
before the tenth day of March nexG, and in
each alternate year thereafter, an enrolling officer
for each subdistrict, and to furnish him with prop
sr blanks and instructions; and he shall immedi-
atey proceed to enroll all persons subject to mill
tary duty, noting their respective places of resi-
dence, ages the first day of July following, and
their occupation, and shall, before the first
day of April report the the board of enrol
meut, TO be consolidated into list, copy of
which shall be transmitted to the provost marshal
general on before the first day of Nav succeed
ing the enrolment: PrOUided, aeUerthsIesS, That
if, from any cause, the duties prescribed by this
section cannot be performed within the time spe-
Gifted then the same shall be performed as soon
thereafter as practicable.
Sec. 10. And be 1T further enacted, That the en-
rolment of each cass shall be made separately, and
shall only embrace those whose ages shall be on
the first day OF July thereafter between twenty and
forty live years.
Sec II. And be it further enacted, That all per-
sons thus enrolled shall be subject, for two years
after the first day of July succeeding the enroll
ment, to be called into the military service of the
United States, and to continue in service during
the present rebellion, not, however, exceeding the
term of three years; and when called into service
shall be placed the footing, in all respects,
as volunteers for three years, during the war,
including advance pay and bounty as now provided
by law
Sec. u. And be 1T further enacted, That when
ever it may be necessary to call out the national
forces for military service, the President is hereby
authoriz ed to assign each district the number of
to be furnished by said district; and thereupon
the enrolling board shall, under the direction OF
the Preside Mt, make draft of the required number,
and fifty per cent. in addition, and shall make an
exact and complete roll of the names of the per-
drawn, and of the order in which they were
drawn, that the first drawn may stand hrst upon
the said roll, and the second may stand second ana
N on And the person so drawn shall be notified
of the same within ten days thereafter, oy written
or printed notice, to be served personally or by
leaving CODY at the last place of residence requr-
ing them to appear at designated rendezvous TO
report for duty. In assigning to the olstrcts the
number Of men to be furnished 1herelrom, the
President shall take into consideration the number
of vount ers and militia furnished by anu from the
several States in which said districts are situated,
and the period of their service since the commence
uent of the present rebellion, and shall so make
said assignment as to equalize the numbers among
Tho districts of the several States considering and
Allowing for the numbers already furnished as
Aforesaid and the time of their service.
Sec IS. And be 1t Further enacted, That any
person drafted and notified to appear aforesaid,
NAV on or before the day fixed for his appearance,
furnish an acceptable substitute to take his place
In the draft: or he may pay to such person as the