The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-04-19
THE NEW MILITARY LAW.

THE NEW MILITARY LAW
Il Bali to organize forces to during the Var.
SEC. l. That from and after the passage of this
all white men, residents of the Confederate States, be-
the ages of II snd 3d. shall be in the military
service of the Confederate States for the
Sec 2. That all the persons aforesaid, between the
ages of Is and As, 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
laons for the government of the army: ProUaded that
companies from State, organized against their
consent expressed at the time, with regiments or bat
taons from another State shall have fhe privilege of
being transferred organizations of troops, in the
of the service, from the States in which said
companies raised and the soldiers from
State in companies from another State shall be allow
ed, if they desire it, transfer TO organizations from
their States, in the 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 a six per cent. Government
bond which the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby
authorized to ISSUE shall be paid to every
missioned officer, musician and private who shall then
be in service in the of his death previous
the period of such payment then to the person per-
sons who would be entitled by law to receive the
of his pay but shall be entitled to the
bounty herein provided, who shall any time, during
the period Of six months next after the said first day of
April, be absent from his command without leave.
Sec 4. Be it further enacted, That person shall
be relieved from the operation of this act by of
having been heretofore discharged from the army,
where no disability exists; shall those who
have furnished substitutes be any longer exempted by
thereof: IroUi0$d 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
Sec :. Be it further enacted, That all white male
residents of the Confederate States between the ages
of II and IS and As and so years shall enroll them
selves such times and places and under such regu
lations, the President may prescribe the time al
hfD thon hJrty DAVIS tl.nSn
and sixty days for those west of the Mississippi river,
and any person who shall fail 50 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 manner though they
between the ages of eighteen and fortyfve: Prorded,
that the persons mentioned in this section shall con-
sttne reserve for State defence and detail duty and
shall not be required to perform service out Of the
State in which they reside.
Sec g. That all persons required by the 9Th section
of this act to enroll themselves wihn 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
talons, regiments, and elect their officers said
organizations to conform to the existing laws; and,
having organized to tender their services as voiun
teers during the to the PRESIDENT and if such or
CARNATIONS shall furnish proper muster rolls as now
organized, and deposit copy thereof with the 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 volunteer and organize,
shall enroll themselves before provded and may,
by the President, be required to assemble at conven
lent places of rendezvous and be formed organized
into companies battalions and regiments, under-regn
Iations 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
same pay and allowance troops in the field
Sec T. 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 ne were between the
ages of 8 and 45 years
Sec s. That hereafter the duties of and hos
pta 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 exc
cution of the enrolment act and all similar duties,
shall be performed by persons who within the ages
OF eighteen and oryve years. and who by the report
OF Board Of army surgeons shall be reported as ma
bic to perform active service in the field, but capable
Of performing ofthe above said duties specifying
which, and when those persons shall have been gn
ed to those duties as far practicable the President
shall assign detail to their performance such bodies
o troops individuals required to be enrolled under
the 5th section of this act may be needed for the
discharge OF such duties ProUided that persons be-
the ages of II and Is shall he assigned those
duties Provided, further that nothing contained in this
shall be construed to prevent the President
from detailing artIans, mechanics persons of scien
tifc skill, to perform Indispensable duties in the de-
parments or bureaus herein mentioned.
Sec 9. That any Quartermaster Assistant Quar-
termaster, Commissary or Assistant-Commssary 10th
than those serving with brigades or regiments in
the field or officers in the Ordnance Bureau or 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 shall be
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 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 10 Be ii further enacted That all laws granting
exemptions from military service be, and the
hereby repealed and hereafter snail 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 FcePresident 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
States, may certify be necessary for the
proper administration of the Confederate or State
Governments, AS the case may be.