Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1863-02-26
Two Important Military Bills---Na-
tional Forces to be Organized
w aSHINGTON. Feb. 9.

~. u.
Senator Wilson reported from the
Committee on Military Affairs, to-day,
one Of the most important bills ever con
sidered in Congress. After setting forth
in a preamble, the objects of the war
and the necessity Of a military force to
attain them, it enacts that every able
bodied male citizen of the United States,
between eighteen and forty-fve, shall
constitute part of the national forces,
and shall be liable to perform military
service when called on by the President
A long list follows of the classes Of
persons exempt from this requirement,
including in addition to ordinary exempts
those who are the sole support of in6rm,
aged or helpless, only brother Of yor 2
orphan children, and like cases, as under
the French conscription law.
The third section divides the national
forces not now in service into two classes,
viz:
First, Those between eighteen and thir-
ty, and the unmarried above thatage.
Second. All others. The second class
not to be called into service till the first
is exhausted.
For the convenience OF enrolment and
the apprehension Of deserters, the United
States is divided into districts answering
to Congressional districts in States and
Territories, the President to designate
the districts where the State may have
neglected to do so.
Provosts MarshaIs are to be appointed
for each district with the rank of Cap
tain of cavalry, subject to the orders of
the Provost Marshal General \ Board
Of Enrolment for each district, consist
inc Of the Provost Marshal and two
others. one of whom is to be a surgeon,
is to divide it into sub-districts Of con-
ycnicntsize, to appoint enrolling officers
for each before March 10th, who shall
by April report all persons so enrolled,
10 be subject to q call for two years,
after July IS, to serve during three
wears or the war, and to be Gu the same
footing with volunteers for the same
period.
When it shall be necessary to call out
the national forces, the President is to
assign to each district the number re-
qured, who, with sixty O. per cent. ad-
ditional, shall thereupon be drafted
The President is TO assign drafted men
to such corps, regiments, &c, as the ex-
ieencies Of the service may require.
The bill goes at length into the details
touching the duties and penalties con
nected with enrolment and desertion.
Another important billintroduced by
Sumner to-day provides for the enroll
ment Of able bodied blacks between
eighteen and forty FIVE WHO have beer
freed by act Of Congress or proclama
zion Of the President, or by the com
manding officer of the department with
N which they shall be found.
They are to be organized, armed,
equipped and mustered into the service
for the war, their pay to be seven dol
lars per month; li"h W w P"i"
end Of each month, and half at the end
Of the term Of service.
Pr;vates are also to be entitled on then
discharge to ten acres Of confscated land
and commissioned officers to twenty-five
acres such land to be occupied as home
stead by the receiver and his family
Another section authorizes voluntary
enlistment of free blacks between the ages
of eighteen and thirty five, on the same
pay as white volunteers. The aggregate
enrolled under thatactnot to exceed3 o.
600. 4 bill will shortly be introduced IN
the House empowering the President
Secretary of War and Surgeon General,
to establish homes for indigent and DIS
abled soldiers at some central locality