The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-24
THE NEW HOME GUARD LAW.
An Act to Increase the Efficiency Of the Home
Guard Organization.

Gndrd Orgdnlzdtl0n
Sec. l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the
State of North Carolina and it is hereby enacted by the
authority OF the same That whenever the Guard fer
Home Defence shall be called into service beyond the
limits Of their respective counties, the Governor
two or more companies to be consolidated into
one company as to make not less than sixty four
men, rank and file, TO each company said company so
consolidated shall elect from the Captains commando
/ the companies consolidated Captain to command
such consolidated company, and from the first Lieuen
ants, Second LieuteRants and Junior Second Lieuen-
ants of such companies officer of each OF said ranks,
TO be assigned to dnty with such consolidated COM
pany, such of the officers companies consolidated
may not be elected for service with such consoda-
ted company, shall be required to perform service
non commissioned officers or privaes in the consoli-
dated company formed of their original companies, and
while serving their commissions shall be suspended.
| Sec. 2. Be it further enacted That the Governor
may in like cause two or more battalions or
regiments of the Home Guards when called into service
beyond their respective batalions regimental limits,
when called into service within such limits in
nection with other portions of such force, be
solidaed: said baalions when consolidated to be
composed of not less than three companies and said
regiments wheneo consolidated be composed of not
more than ten companies. The Governor may assign
the command of such consolidated battalion regi-
ment officer officers from the battalion regi
ments consolidated
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the Governor
may in his discretion in constituting the consolidated
companies contemplated by the first section hereof
take the fourth, third, onehalf of any
panT at present organized with due proportion of
its officers, Of which to constitute such consolidated
company, and such Of the officers of companies at
present organized, may be placed with fractions of
their companies, to form a consolidated company,-as
may not be elected to command such consolidated
company, shall be required to serve in such consoda
ted company non-commissioned officers privaes,
and while serving their commissions shall be
pended. The Governor shall have power to discrim.
natc in favor of farmers and mechanics, when he calls
cut less number than the whole of company, also
declare the office of officer who is declared
by medical board permanently disabled for field duty
either in the militia Home Guards, of officer
who abscondS to the enemy.
SEC. 4. Be if further enacted That all Quartermas-
ters and Commlssarles Of regiments battaons of
Home Guards at present organized, that may be
assigned to duty by the Governor with consolidated
battalion regiment, shall be required to
commissioned officers privates, in
ing their commissions shall be suspended.
SEC 5. Be it further enacted, That the Surgeon
General by and with the advice and consent Of the
Governor shall appoint Medical Board for each Con
gressioual District in this State whose business it
shall be to examine all persons claiming exemption
from Home Guard duty account of physical dis
ability, that these examinations shall be made at such
time and under such rules and regulations may be
established by the Surgeon General and that the mem
bers of said Boards shall receive the same pay and
allowances while duty the Confederate Conscript
Boards.
Sec 6. Be ii further enacted, That when such
panes, baalons regiments have been consolidated
herein provided for, they shall continue in such
organizations until further provisions shall be made IN
their behalf.
SEC T. Be it further enacted, That the second sec
ton of 'an act in relation to the Militia and Guard
for Homo Defencc ratified the 7h day of July 1863,
be, and the is hereby amended by striking out
the word these in the ninth line of said section, and
inserting the word "he;" that the third section of 'an
act in relation to the Militia and Guard for Home De-
ence ratified the 18th day of December 1862 be, and
the is hereby amended, by inserting between the
words regular and 'millers the words ''and public
and by inserting between the words "millers" and
"bIacksmhs the word ''and, and that the proViso at
the end Of said Sd section be and the is hereby
repealed; That in addition to the exemptions specified
in he there shall Home
Guard duty all county trustees, regular and public
tanners, haters and shoemakers skilled in their respec
tive callings and who employed in the same prior
the first day of January, a. D., 1868, and have con-
inued to be so employed since that time.
Prov9ed tanners shall sell one-third of their leather
to INDECENT soldiers wives and widows for their
use schedule prices.
Tropdcd, that no provision of this act shall be
trued exempt from military service any per
mentioned herein, in of actual servile nsur
rectiCn or invasion Of the county in which he resides,
by Federal forces except the persons and classes
toned in ID section of act in relation to the Militia
and Guard for Home Defence ratified the 1th Of July,
1868.
SEC. s. Be it further enacted, That this shall be
in force from and after its ratification
Read three times and ratified in General Assembly
this 23d day Of December A. D., 1864.
The following are the sections of former laws te
which the above law refers
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted That it shall be the
duty of the Governor to be enrolled guard
enrolled in the service of the Confederate States be-
tween the ages of eighteen and fifty years, resident in
this State, including foreigners not naturazed, who
have residents in the State for thirty days before
such enrolment, excepting persons filing the Offices
of Governor, judges of the Supreme and Superior
Courts OF Law and Equity the members of the General
Assembly and the officers of the several Departments
the Government the State Ministers of the Gospel
of several denominations of the State charged with
the duties churches and such other persons the
Governor, for special may deem proper sub
iects of exempton.-LGw Of July, 1868.
Sec Be it further enacted That in addition to the
exemptions contained in the act to which this is an
amendment, there shall be exempt County commits
sioners appointed under entitled can act for the
relief of wives and families of soldiers in the army
REGULAR milIers, bIacksmiths who have established
shops necessary operatives in factories and toundres,
the Attorney Genera Solicitors of the several circuits
and counties physicians of FIVE years practice,
tractors with the State Confederate government one
editor each newspaper and the necessary comosltos
mail carriers professors in colleges and teache5S IN
academies; Ir0eided that this exemption shall only
apply the drills specified in this bill AID not to ser
vice when the Guard for Home Defence is called into
the ield.--LdGo Of Dee 1868.
The proriso in the sbove section is repealed The
persons mentioned subject Home Guard daty
only when the county in which they reside is invaded
or in case of nsurrection in the county.