The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-12-27
THE NEW MILITARY LAW.


THE NEW MILITARY LAW.
Il Bill TO organize forces to during the Var.
Sec. l. That FROM and after the passage of this act
all white men, residents of the Confederate States be-
the ages of II snd so, shall be in the military
service of the Confederate States for the
Sec 9. That all the persons aforesaid between the
ages of ls and As; in service shall be retained
during the present with the United States in the
same regiments, battsons 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-
ationsfor the government of the army Providd that
companies from one State, organized against their
consent, expressed at the me with regiments bat
alons 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 raised; and the soldiers fiom one
STATE in companies from another State shall be allow
ed if they desire it, transfer to organizations from
| their own States, in the same arm of the service.
Sec 3. Be it further enacted That 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
missoned officer musician and private who shall then
be in service, in the of his death previous
the period of such payment then the person per.
sous who would be entitled by law to receive the ar
rearages of his pay; bn one shall be entitled to the
bounty herein provided who shall at any time, during
the period of six months after the said first day of
| 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 act by of
having been heretofore discharged from the army,
where disability now exists nor shall those who
have furnished substitutes be any longer exempted by
thereof: Provided, that person, heretofore
exempted account Of religious opinions and who
has paid the tax levied to relieve him fl ON service
shall be required 10 render military service under this
act.
Sec 5. Be it further enacted That all white male
residents of the Confederate States, between the ages
of II and Is and 45 and SO years. shall enroll them
selves at such times and places, and under such regu
latons, as the President may prescribe the time al
lowed not being less than thirty days for those east
and sixty days for those of the Mississippi river
and any person who shall fail to enroll himself,
without reasonable excuse therefor to be judged of
by the President, shall be placed the field
for the war; in the same manner though they were
between the ages of Eighteen and fortyfve Prouided
that the persons mentioned in this section shall con-
sttnte reserve for State defence and detail duty and
shall not be required to perform service out Of the
State in which they reside.
Sec s. That all persons required by the 9Th section
this act to enroll themselves may within thirty days
after the passage thereof of the Mississippi river
and within sixty days if west of said river form them
selves into voluntary organizations of companies, bat
ailonS regiments and elect their officers said
organizations to conform to the existing laws; and,
having organized to tender their services volun
eers during the to the President; and if such
CARNATIONS shall furnish proper muster rolls,
organized, and deposit cop! 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 no be taken
out of it, Those who do not volunteer and organize
shall enroll themselves as before provided and may,
by the President be required to asSembesat conven-
lent places of rendezvous and be formed organized
into companies battalions and regiments, under regu
lations to be prescribed by him; and shall have the
right to elect their company and regmental officers
and all troops organized under this act for State de-
fence shall be entitled while in actual service to the
pay and allowance troops in the field
Sec 7. 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, as if he between the
ages of / 8 and As years.
Sec g. That hereafter the duties of provost and hos
pta guards and clerks, and Of clerks guards agents.
employees aborers in the Commissary and Quarter
masters Departments, in the Ordnance Bureau and
clerks and employees ofnavy agents, as also in the exc
cuton of the enrolment act and all similar duties,
shall be performed by persons who within the ages
of eighteen and years and who by the report
of Board of army surgeons shall be reported
bic perform active service in the field but capable
of performing ofthe above said duties specifying
which, and when those persons shall have been assign
ed those duties far practicable, the President
shall assign detail to their performance such bodies
c. troops or individuals required be enrolled under
the 9Th section of this act may he needed for the
discharge of such duties Providd that persons be-
the ages of II and Is shall be assigned to those
duties Provided furher that nothing attained in this
shall be construed as to prevent the President
from detailing aFtizans 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 Commits sary Assistant Commssary 10th
than those serving with brigades regiments in
the feld) officers in the Ordnance Bureau Navy
Agents. Provost Marshal, officer in the conscrpt
service, who shall hereafter employ retain in his
employment any person in any Of their said depart
bureaus or in any of the duties mentioned in
the 9Th section of this act in violation of the provis
ions hereof shall, conviction thereof by a court
martial military court be cashiered and 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 nders
shall take prompt measures have him tried for 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 TO- BE 1t 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:
l. All who shall be held unfit for military service
under rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of War
.. The FicePresident 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 case may be.