The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-17
THE NEW MILITARY LAW


THE NEW MILITARY LAW
Il Bill to organize forces to during tie War:
l. SEC l. That from and after the passage of this act
all white men, residents of the Confederate States, be-
tween the ages of IT snd So shall be in the military
service of the Confederate States for thewar.
Sec 2. That all the persons aforesaid between the
ages of Is and is. in service, shl be retained
during the present with the United States, in the
same regiments, battaons and companies to which
they belong at the passage Of this ac, with the same
organization and officers unless regularly transferred
or discharged in accordance with tie laws and regu
lations for the Of the army Prouded that
companies from one State organized against their
consent expressed at the time, with regiments or bat
taons from another State shall have the privilege of
being transferred to organizations OF troops, In the
same Of the service from tie States IN which said
companies were raised and the soldiers ION one
State in companies from anoter State shall be allow
ed, if they desire it, transfer to organizations from
their own States, in the same arm of the service.
Sec g. Be it further eed, That at the expiration
of months from the rsgday Of April next, bounty
of hundred dollars in six per cent. Government
bond which the Secretfy of the Treasury is hereby
authorized to issue, sbclfbe paid to every nen-com
missioned officer musician and private who shall then
be service in the event of his death previous to
the period of such payment then to the person
sons who would be entitled by law to receive the
rearage of his pay bntno one shall be entitled to the
bounty herein proyid.a 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.
4. L
be relieved from the operation of this by of
having been heretofore discharged from the army,
where disability now exists; nor shall those who
have furnished subs be any longer exempted by
reason thereof Praded, that person, heretofore
exempted on accoupt of religious opinions and who
has paid the tax Evied to relieve him fl ON service
shall be required toender military service under this
act.
Sec 5. Be it fut finer enacted, That all white male
residents of the Cfederate States between the ages
of II and Is aadl5 and so years. shall enroll them
III
latons the President may prescribe, the time al
lowed beingkss than thirty days for those east,
and sixty days for those west of the Mississippi river
and any person who shall fail to enroll himself,
without reasonable therefor, be judged of
by the Presden shall be placed in service in the field
for the war, in he same manner though they
between the ags of eighteen and forty Provided
that the person mentioned in this section shall
stute reserr for State defence and detail duty, and
shall not be equred to perform service out OF the
State in which they reside.
Sec g. Tha all persons required by the 9Th section
of this act tonroll themselves may within thirty days
after the passage thereof of the Mississippi river,
and within Sixty days if of said river form them.
selves into pituitary of companies bat
taons, rgmens, and elect their own officers said
organizations to conform to the existing laws; and,
having eganZed to tender their services vOlun
teers during the to the President and if such
CARNATIONS shall furnish proper muster rolls, as now
organic and deposit copy thereof with the OIL
ing ocerof their district, which shall be equivalent
to enrol1rent they may be accepted as minute men
for serrt in such State, but in to be taken
of it Those who do volunteer and organize,
shall enrd themselves before proyided and may,
by the Resident, be required to assemble at conven
lent plaS of rendezvous and be formed organized
into COMPANIES, battaons and regiments, under regu
lationsb be prescribed by him; and shall have the
right elect their company and al officers
and all troops organized under this fon State de-
fences sail be entitled, while in actual service, the
| same ply and allowance as troops now in the field.
See. That any person who shall fail to attend at
the place of rendezvous required by the authority
of TIE President, without sufficient excuse, to be
Judge by him, shall be liable be placed in
vceiG the field for the war; if he between the
ages Of Is and As years.
SCI 8. That hereafter the duties of provost and hos
pa guards and clerks and of clerks guards, agents,
employees laborers in the Commissary and Quarter
masers Departments, in the Ordnance Bureau, and
cleHs and employees ofnavy agents, also in the
cutDn of the enrolment act and all similar duties,
shall be performed by persons who within the ages
odghteen and forty five years. and who by the report
efa Board of army surgeons shall be reported
bh perform active service in the field, but capable
operforming ofthe above said duties, specifying
vhch and when those persons shall have been assign
those duties far practicable the President
shall assign detail their performance such bodies
%: troops individuals required to be enrolled under
the 5h section of this act, may be needed for the
discharge of such duties Provided, that persons De-
tween the ages of II and s shall be assigned those
duties Provided further that nothing contained in this
act shall be construed to prevent the President
from detailing artzans mechanics persons Of scen
tfc skill, perform ndis pensabe duties in the de-
bureaus herein mentioned
Sec 9. That any Quartermaster or Assstant-Quar
termaster, Commissary Assstan Commissary 10Th
er 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
mens 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 cashered and it shall be
the duty ofany department or district commander up
proof by the oath of any credible person, that
such officer has violated this provision, Immediately
relieve such officer from duty and said commanders
shall take prompt have him tried for such
offence: and any commander as aforesaid failing to
perform the duties eujoined by this section
being duly convicted thereof be discharged from the
service. IS
IN REGARD TO EXEMPTIONS.
Sec o. Be it further enacted That all laws granting
exemptions from military service be- same are
hereby repealed and hereafter shall be exempted
exccpfths following
l. All who shall be held unfit for military service
under rules to be prescribed by the Secretary War
q The Vice President or the Confederate States the
members and officers of Congress and of the several
State Legislatures and such other Confederate and
State officers as 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.