The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-10
THE NEW MILITARY LAW.


A Bill to organize forces to serre during the War
SEC. l. That from and after the passage OF this act
all white men, residents of the Confederate States, be-
tween the ages of II snd 80, shall be in the military
service of the Confederate States for the
Sec 2. That all the persons aforesaid, between the
ages of l8 and 40 in service, shall be retained
during the present with the United States, in the
same regiments, battalions and companies to which
they belong at the passage of this act with the
organization and officers unless regularly transferred
discharged in accordance with the laws and regu-
atiOns for the government Of the ProUidd that
companies from one State organized against their
consent, expressed at the time with regiments bat
talions from another State shall have the privilege of
being transferred to organizations Of troops in the
Of the service from the States in which said
| companies were raised; and the soldiers ION one
State in companies from another State, shall be allow
ed IT they desire it, transfer to organizations from
| their own States, in the same arm of the service
Sec 3. Be it further enacted, That at the expiration
of six months from the first day Of April next bounty
of one hundred dollars in six per cent Government
bond, which the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby
authorized to issue, shall be paid to every nen-com
mssioned officer musician and private who Shall then
be in service, in the event of his death previous to
the period Of such payment then the person per.
sons who would be entitled by law to receive the
rearages OF his pay; bnt no shall be entitled to the
bounty herein provided who shall any time during
the period of six months next after the said first day
|, April be absent from his command without leave.
Sec 4. Be it further enacted, That no person shall
be relieved from the operation of this by of
having been heretofore discharged from the army
where no disability now exists; nor shall those who
have furnished substitutes be any longer exempted by
thereof: Prdvded, that no person. heretofore
exempted account of religious Opinions and who
has paid the tax levied to relieve him ION service
shall be required render military service under this
See s. Be it further enacted That all white male
residents of the Confederate States between the ages
of II and 8 and As and years. shall enroll them
selves at such times and places and under such regu
latons, the President may prescribe the time al
lowed not being less than thirty days for those east
and sixty days for those west of the Mississippi river
and any person who shall fail so to enroll himself,
without reasonable excuse therefor to be judged of
by the President shall be placed in service in the field
for the war; in the as though they
between the ages of eighteen and fortyhve PrOOaded
that the persons mentioned in this section shall con-
stnte for State defence and detail duty, and
shall not be required to perform service out OF the
State in which they reside.
Sec 6. That all persons required by the 9TH section
of this act enroll themselves may within thirty days
after the passage thereof, east of the Mississippi river
and within sixty days if west of said river form them
selves into voluntary organizations Of companies, bat
taions, regiments, and elect their officers said
organizations to conform to the existing laws; and,
having organized, to tender their services as voun-
teers during the to the President; and if such
CARNATIONS shall furnish proper muster rolls, as now
organized and deposit copy thereof with the en-, oil
ing officer of their district which shall be equivalent
to enrolment they may be accepted as minute men
for service in such State, but in event to be taken
out OF IT. Those who do not so volunteer and organize
shall enroll themselves before provided and may,
by the President be required to assemble at conven-
lent places of rendezvous, and be formed organized
into companies, baalions and regiments, under regu
ations to be prescribed by him. and shall have the
right to elect their company and regimenta officers
and all troops organized under this for State de-
fence shall be entitled while in actual service, to the
same pay and allowance troops in the field.
See I. That any person who shall fail to attend at
the place of rendezvous required by the authority
OF the President, without sufficient excuse, to be
judged Of by him. shall be Liable to be placed in
vice in the field for the war; if he between the
ages of Is and 45 years.
Sec s. That hereafter the duties of provost and hos
pita guards and clerks and of clerks guards agents
employees laborers in the Commissary and Quarter
masters Departments, in the Ordnance Bureau, and
clerks and employees ofnavy agents, also in the
cnon of the enrolment act, and all similar duties,
shall be performed by persons who within the ages
OF eighteen and tortyhve years and who by the report
OF Board of army surgeons shall be reported
bic to perform active service in the field but capable
of performing ofhe above said duties specifying
Whlc and when those pers shah have been assign
ed to those duties far practicable the President
shall assign detail to their performance such bodies
o. troops or individuals required be enrolled under
the 9th section of this act, may be needed for the
discharge of such duties ProUix, that persons be-
the ages of II and Is shall be assigned to those
duties ProUided ftrher that nothing contained in this
act shall be so construed to prevent the President
trom detailing artzans, mechanics persons of scien
tifc SKILL to perform indispensable duties in the de-
partments or bureaus herein mentioned.
Sec 9. That any Quartermaster or Assistant Quar-
termaser, Commissary or Assistant Commssary 10Th
er than those serving with brigades or regiments in
the feid) or officers in the Ordnance Bureau Navy
Agents. Provost Marshal, officer in the conscript
service who shall hereafter employ retain in his
employment any person in ANY of their said depart
mens or bureaus or in any of the duties mentioned in
the 8th section OF this act in violation of the provis
ions hereof, shall, conviction thereof by a court
martial military court be cashiered and it shall be
the duty ofany department district commander up
proof by the oath of any credible person. that any
such officer has violated this provision, Immediately
relieve such officer from duty and said commanders
shall take prompt measures to have him tried fol such
offence: and any commander aforesaid failing to
perform the duties enjoned by this section, SHALL upon
being duly convicted thereof be discharged from the
service.
IN REGARD TO EXEMPTIONS.
Sec 10 Be it further enacted That all laws granting
exemptions from military service be, and the same are
hereby repealed and hereafter shall be exempted
except the following:
/. All who shall be held unfit for military service
under rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of War
2 The VicePresident of the Confederate States the
members and officers of Congress and of the several
State Legislatures and such other Confederate and
State officers the President the Governor of the
respective States. may certify be necessary for the
proper administration of the Confederate or State
Governments, as the may be.