The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-26
THE NEW MILITARY LAW.


THE NEW MILITARY LAW
Il BMto organize forces to serre during the Var
Sec. l. That from and after the passage of this act
all white men, residents of the Confederate States, be-
tween the ages of snd So shall be in the military
service of the Confederate States for the war.
Sec 2. That all the persons aforesaid, between the
ages of Is and 49, in service, shall be retained
during the present war with the United States in the
same regiments, battalions and companies to which
they belong at the passage of this act with the same
organization and officers unless regularly transferred
discharged in accordance with the laws and regu-
la ions for the government Of the army Prouded that
companies from State, organized against their
consent, expressed at the time, with giments bat
talons from another State, shall have the privilege of
being transferred to organizations of troops, in the
same Of the service, from the States in which said
companies we're raised and the soldiers fom
State, in companies from another State shall be allow
ed, if they desire it, transfer to organizations from
their States ;nthe same of the service.
Sec g.. 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-
missoned officer, musician and private who shall then
be in service in the event of his death previous to
the period of such payment hento the person or per-
who would be entitled by law to receive the ar
rearages of his pay bnt shall be entitled to the
bounty herein provided who shall at any time, during
the period of six months next after the said first day of
April, be absent from his command without leave.
be relieved from the operation of this act by reason of
having been heretofore discharged from the army,
where disability now.aexiss; shall those who
have furnished substitutes be any longer exempted by
thereof: Prorided, that person, heretofore
exempted account of religious opinions and who
has paid the tax levied to relieve.hn fl ON service
shall be required 20 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
I,1,no
latons, the President may prescribe, the time al
lowed not being less than thirty days for those cast
and sixty days for those west 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 in service in the field
for the war; in the same manner as though they were
between the ages Of eighteen and fortyfve Prorided
that the persons mentioned in this section shall con-
stitnte reserve for State def ence 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 bv the 9Th section
of this act to 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
talions, regiments, and elect their officers said
organizations to conform to the existing laws; and
having organized, to tender their services volun
teers during the to the President; and if such
CARNATIONS shall furnish proper muster rolls, now
organized, and deposit copy thereof with the OIL
ing officer of their distriC. which shall be equivalent
to enrolment they may be accepted as minute men
for service in such State, but in event to be taken
it, Those who do not volunteer and organize
shall enroll themselves before provided and may,
by the President be required to assemble at conyen-
lent places of rendezvous, and be formed organized
into companies, batalions and regiments under regu
LAT ions to be prescribed by him. and shall have the
right to elect their company and regimen tai officers
and all troops organized under this act for State de-
fence shall be entitled while in actual service, to the
same pay and allowance AS troops now 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 efficient 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 As years.
Sec s. That hereafter the duties of provost and hos
pita 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, also in the
cuton Of the enrolment act and all similar duties,
shall be performed by persons who within the ages
of eighteen and forty years, and who by the report
ola Board of army surgeons shall be reported as
bic to perform ace service in the field, but capable
of performing Of the above said duties specifying
which, and when those persons shall have been assign
ed to those duties far practicable the President
shall assign or detail to their performance such bodies
O. troops individuals required to be enrolled under
the 9TH section of this act may be neededfor the
discharge of such duties Prorided, that persons De
tween the ages of and Is shall be assigned to those
duties: Provided furer that nothing contained in this
shall be so construed as to prevent the President
from detailing arzans, mechanics persons of scien
tic skill, to perform indispensable duties in the de-
partments or bureaus herein mentioned.
Sec Q. That any Quartermaster Assistant Quar-
Commissafy, Assistant Comissary 10Th
err than those serving with brigades or regiments in
the feld) officers in the Ordnance Bureau, or Navy
Agents, or Provost Marshall officer in the conscrpt
service, who shall hereafter employ retain in his
any person in any ofhcir, said depart
ments or bureaus, or in any of the duties mentioned in
The 9Th section of this act, in violation of the provs
ions hereof, shall, conviction thereof by court
martial military court be cashiered and shall be
he duty ofany department or 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 for such
offence and any commander aforesaid failing to
perform the duties enoined by this section SHALL upon
,eing 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
hereby repealed and hereafter none shall be exempted
Except the follcwing
L. All who shall be held unfit for military service
nder rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of War
q The Fice-President of the Confederate States the
members and officers Of Congress and of the several
State Legislatures, and such other Confederate and l.
tae officers as the President, the Governor of the
especve States may certify to be necessary for the
roper administration of the Confederate or State
Governments, as the case may be.