The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-09
Passed ut the Fogrth Session Of the First Con-
.yrcss file Confederate States-1S63, 1864.
An Act to provide an Invalid Corps.


The Congress of the Confederate States of America
DO enact, That all officers commissioned officers
mucisons privates and seamen who have who
rhall become disabled by wounds, other injuries
ceyed, disease contracted in Tic service of the Con-
ederate States and in the line Of duty, shall be ret
ed discharged from their respective positions as
hereinafter provided. But the rank, pay and en,olu
mens of such officers, and the and emoluments Of
snch commissioned officers, mucisians, prvates
and seamen shall continue the end of the war,
long they shall continue retired discha ged
Sec 2. That all persons claiming the benefits Of this
act shall present themselves for examination to of
the medical examining boards established by law
Upon the certificate of such board that such perma
nent disability exists, such persons shall be retired
discharged aforesaid.
Sec 8. That all persons retired discharged as
aforesaid shall periodically, and at least in six
months present themselves to of said boards for
further examination, under regulations be prescribe
ed by the Secretary of War, the result of which
ration shall be reported by such board to the said Sec
rotary. And if any such person shall fail to report
hmSefto such board, whenever he shall be required
do, he shall be dropped from said retired dis
charged list and become liable conscription under
the terms of the law, unless such failure shall be
ed by physical disability
Sec 4. That the Secretary of War may ess;gu such
officers and order the detail of such non-commisson-
ed officers, musicians, pryates and seamen, for such
duty they shall be qualified perform. If any such
non-eommissoned officers, musicians, privtcs and
shall be relieved from disability, they shall be
stored to duty in their respective commands.
Sec 8. That the Secretary of War shall make all
needul rules and regulations for the action of the
ical boards aforesaid.
Sec 6. That vacancies caused by the retirement of
officers under this act shall be filed as in case of the
death or resignation of such officers.
Sec 8. This act shall be in force from it's passage
Approved February II, 1864
An Act to authorize the promotion Of officers non
commissioned officers and priyates for distinguished
skill or yalor.
The Congress ofthe Confederate States of America
do enact That the President is hereby authorized up
on the recommendation of the general commanding a
department or separate army in the field, to fill any
vacancy in the commissioned officers of regiment
battalion by the promotion to the by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate of any officer,
non-commssioned Eoffcer1 or private who may have
distinguished himself By exhibiting peculiar valor
ekill the battle field: Provided, That the officer
non-commissioned officer or private sarecommended
an6 nominated for promotion, shall belong to the regi-
ment or battalion in which the vacancy may oc-
CURED.
Sec 2. All acts and parts Of in conflict With the
above provisions are hereby repealed.
Approved February II, 1864.
An act to increase the efficiency of the army by the
employment of Free Negroes and slaves in certain
capacities
Whereas the efficiency of the army is greatly diminish
ed by the withdrawal from the ranks of able bodied
soldiers to act as teamsters and in various other
-pacites in which free negroes and slaves might be
adrantageously employees Therefore
The Congress of the Confederate States of America
do enact That all male free negroes and other
tee under the treaty with Paris OF eighteen hundred
and nineteen, resident in the Confederate States be-
tween the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be
held liable to perform such duties with the army
connection with military defences of the country,
the way of work upon Notifications in Government
works for the production preparation of material of
or in the military hospitals, thc Secretary of
War or the commanding general of the -Mississ-
ipp department may from time to time, prescribe; and
while engaged in the performance of such duties shall
receive ratous and clothing and compensation at the
rate ofeleven dollars month, under such rules and
regulations the said Secretary may establish: Pro-
sided, That the Secretary of War the commanding
general of the transMissssippi department. with the
approval of the President may exempt from the one
ra'ons OF this act such free negroes the interests
the country may require should be exempted or such
be may think proper to exempt, grounds of ius
tice, eqaity or necessity.
Sec. 2. That the Secretary of War il herel,v mn
thorized to employ for duties similar to those nAica
led in the preceding section of this act many male
slaves not to exceed twenty thousand as in his
judgment, the wants of the service may require fur
nlshing Them, while employed with proper ratious
and clothing under rules and regulations to be
iished by him. and paying the owners of said slaves
snch wages as may be agreed upon with said
for their use and service and in the event of the loss
ii any slaves while SO employed, by the act of the
cd by the eemy, by disease contracted while in any
service required of said slaves then The of
same shall be entitled receive the full valne f sncb
slaves, to be ascetaned by agreement by apprase
nient under the law regulating impress sne1t TO he
paid under such rules and regulations the
of War may establish.
Sec 3. That when the Secretary of War shall be nm
able to procure the service of slaves in any military
department in sufficient numbers for the necessities of
the department, upon the terms and conditions set
forth in the preceding section then be is hereby
thorized to impress the services of many male slaves
not to exceed twenty thousand, as may BIO required
the first section of this act according to laws regula