The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-03-07
THE NEW MILITARY LAW.

THE NEW MILITARY LAW.
Il BiHto organize forces 10 during the War.
Sec. l. That from and after the passage Of this act
all white residents of the Confederate States be-
the ages of II sud So shall be in the military
service of the Confederate States for the war.
Sec ,. That all the persons aforesaid between the
ages of l9 and As. in service, shall be retained
rdurng the present with the United States in the
same regiments battalions and companies to which
they belong the passage of this act, with the same
organization and officers, unless regularly transferred
or discharged, in accordance with the laws and regu-
atons for the government of the army Prorided that
companies from one State, organized against their
consent, expressed at the time with regiments OF bat
aons from another State shall have the privilege of
being transferred to organizations of troops, In the
of the service from the States in which SAID
companies were raised and the soldiers flom one
State, in companies from another State, shall be allow
ed if they desire it, transfer to organizations from
their own States, in the same rm of the service
Sec g. Be it further enacted That the expiration
of six months from the first day Of April next bounty
of 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 then to the person per-
sons who would be entitled by law to the ar
rearages of his pay bnt 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 nor shall those who
have furnished substitutes be any longer exempted by
thereof: Irovided that person, heretofore
exempted account Of religious opinions and who
has paid the levied to relieve him fl ON service
shall be required render military service under this
act.
Sec S. Be it further enacted, That all white male
residents of the Confederate States, between the ages
of II and ls and As and years, shall enroll them
selves at such times and places and under such reg
lations the President may prescribe the time al
lowed not being less than thirty days for those east
and sixty days for those 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 though they were
between the ages Of eighteen and fortyfve ProUided
that the persons mentioned in this section shall
stne reserve for State defence and detail duty, and
shall not be required to perform service out OF the
State in which they reside. s.
Sec s. That all persons required by the 5th section
ofthi act to enroll themselves, may within thirty days
after the passage thereof of the Mississippi river
and Wshn sixty days, if 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 volun
teers during the to the President; and if such
CARNATIONS shall furnish proper muster rolls,
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 to be taken
out OF It, Those who do not volunteer and organize,
shall enroll themselves betore'provided and may,
by the President, be required assemble conven-
lent places of rendezvous and be formed organized
into companies, battalions and regiments, under regu
lations to be prescribed by him; and shall have the
right to elect their company and regmenal 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 now in the field.
Sec l. 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 be placed in
vice in the field for the war; if he between the
ages Of l8 and Is years
Sec s. That hereafter the duties of provost and hos
ptal guards aud clerks and of clerks guards agents
employees laborers in the Commissary and Quarter
masters Departments, in the Ordnance Bureau, and
clerks and employees ofnavv agents. also in the exc
cuion 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
OF Board of army surgeons shall be reported
BILE to perform active service in the field, but capable
Of performing of the above said duties specying
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 or individuals required be enrolled under
the 5th section of this act may DE needed the
discharge of such duties Provided that persons 6e
tween the ages of II and Is shall be assigned those
duties: Prorided further that thing contained in this
act shall be SO construed to prevent the President
from detailing artzans mechanics persons of scien
tfc Skill to perform Indispensable duties in the de-
partments or bureaus herein mentioned.
Sec 9. That any Quartermaster or Assistant Quar-
Commissary, or ASST tant-C ommssary 10Th
er than those serving with brigades Regiments in
the feld,) officers in the Ordnance Bureau Navy
Agents, or Provost Marshall officer in the crip
service, who shall hereafter employ retain in his
employment any person in any of their said depart
mcnts or bureaus or in of the duties mentioned
the Sth section of this act, in violation of the provis-
ions hereof, SHALL conviction thereof by a court
martial or military court be cashiered and it shall be
the duty ofany department district commander up
proof by the oath of any credible person. that any
such officer has violated this provision, Immediately
to relieve such officer from duty and said commanders
shall take prompt measures have him tried for such
offence: and any commander aforesaid failing to
perform the duties enjoined by this section shall uEon
being duly convicted thereof be discharged from the
service.
IN REGARD TO EXEMPTIONS.
Sec 10. Be it further enacted That all laws GRANTING
from military service be- and the same
hereby repealed and hereafter shall be exempted
except the following:
!. All who shall be held unfit for military service
under rules to be prescribed by the Secretary 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
respective States, may certify be necessary for the
proper administration of the Confederate or State
fha he