The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17
Highly Important Order for the Con.
sOlidatiOn of Regiments.

sOl108t1On OF Regiments.
The following order is of more interest
to the army and country than any issued
from the Adiutant Generals Office since
the war commenced. Its necessity and its
policy cannot be questioned:
WAR DEPT, ADJuTANT GEN. OFFIcE,(
Washington, April 2, 1868. :
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. Sc.
l. Under the authority contained in Sec
tons 10 and 20 of the act for enrolling and
calling out the National forces, and for
other purposes, approved March 8, 1868,
it is ordered that, for each and every regi-
ment of the volunteer army now reduced,
or that may be reduced hereafter, as set
forth in said sections, consolidation shall
be made in accordance with the following
rules:
INFANTRY.
1. Each regiment will be consolidated
into five or a less number of companies,
and the Colonel, Major and one Assistant
Surgeon mustered out.
CAVALRY
2. Each regiment will be consolidated
into six or less number of companies,
and the Colonel, two Majors and one As
sistant Surgeon mustered out.
ARTILLERY.
3. Each regiment will be consolidated
into six or less number of batteries, and
the Colonel, two Majors and one Assistant
Surgeon mustered out.
4. The companies and batteries formed
by consolidation will be of the maximum
strength, and will be organized as now d.
rected by law and by regulations. The
first letters of the alphabet will be used to
designate the companies.
5. The Company officers, commissioned
and non-commissioned, rendered supernu-
merary, will be mustered out of service at
the date of consolidation All other Off
GERS and nOn-cOmmissiOned officers will be
retained.
6. The officers to be retained will be
selected by the division and corps Com
anders, under the instructions of the
ommanding- General of the army or de-
,artment, from among the most efficient
Ulcers of the respective regiments. At
er the consolidation, as herein directed,
he reduced proportion of officers will be
maintained, and no appointments to va
cancies will b. made except npon notifca-
ton from the Adjutant-G General of the ar
my. To this end commanders of armies
and departments will report weekly to the
Adjutant-Gen the vacancies to be
filled. The said reports will be seperate
for each State, and must embrace the name
Of ho
the vacancy, with date and cause thereof
If an order was issued in the case, it's num-
Der, date and source must be given. Com
missaries and Assistant Commissaries of
Musters will closely observe this para
graph, and make no musters in except of
the proportion herein fixed
The following are the sections referred
to, and under which the foregoing is Or
dered:
SEC. 10. And belt further enacted, That
whenever regiment of volunteers of the
same arm from the same State is reduced
to one half the maximum number pre-
scribed by law, the President may direct
the consolidation of the companies Of such
regiment; Pa'Ooided, That no company
so formed shall exceed the maximum num-
Der prescribed by law. When such con-
solidation is made, the regimental officers
shall be reduced in proportion to the re-
duction in the numbers of companies.
Sec. 20. and be 1t further enacted,
That whenever regiment is reduced be-
low the maximum number allowed by law,
no officers shall be appointed in such regi-
ment beyond those necessary for the com
mand of such reduced number.
By order Of the Secretary of War,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Asst Adjt-General