The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-10
THE NEW HOME GUARD LAW.
an act to Increase the. Efficiency Of The Home
Guard OrqanizatiOn.

Guard Organization.
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 fol
Home Defence shall be called into service beyond the
limits Of their respective counties, the Governor may
two or more companies to be consolidated into
company to make not less than sixty
men, rank and file, to each company said company sc
consolidated sha II elect from the Captains commanding
the companies so consolidated Captain to command
such consolidated company and from the first Leuten
ants Second Lieutenants and Junior Second Leuten-
of such companies officer of each of said ranks
10 be assigned to dnty with such consolidated com
pany such of the officers of companies so consolidated
may not be elected for service with such cOnsolida-
ted company shall be required to perform service as
commissioned officers priraes IN the consCli-
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 battalons or
regiments of the Home Guards when called into service
beyond their respective battalons regmental limits
when called into service within such limits in con-
necon with other portions of such force, to be con-
sodated: said baftalions when so consolidated be
composed of not less than three companies, and said
regiments when consolidated TO be composed of
more than ten companies. The Governor may assign
the command of such consolidated battalion regi
ment any officer officers from the battalion rcgi-
ments so consolidated
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the Governor
in his discretion in constituting the consoida ed
companies contemplated by the first section hereof,
take the fourth third, half of
present organized with due proportion of
lis officers of which constitute such ed
company and such Of the officers of companies
present organized, may be placed with fractions OF
their companies, to form consolidated company,-as
may not be elected to command such consolidated
company shall be required in such consolida-
ted company non-commssioned officers privates,
and while so serving their commissions shall be
pended. The Governor shall have power discrm.
mate favor of farmers and mechanics when he calls
out 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 or Home Guards, Of officer
who absconds to the enemy.
SEC. A. Be it further enacted That all Quartermas-
tiers and Comnnssaries of regiments or battaions of
Home Guards as at present organized that may not be
assigned to duty by the Governor with consolidated
battalion regiment, shall be required to
non-commissioned officers or prvates, in some one
company of their present command and while so
ing their commissions shall be suspended
Sec s. 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-
gressional District in this State, whose business it
shall be to examine all persons claiming exemption
from Home Guard duty account of physic dis
ability that these examinations shall be made such
time and under such rules and regulations may be
established by the Surgeon Genera and that the mem
bers of said Boards shall receive the same pay aud
allowances while on duty az the Confederate Conscrpt
Boards.
SEC. G. Be il further enacted, That when such
panes, battnons regiments, have been consolidated
as herein provided for, they shall continue in such
their behalf.
SEC T. Be it further enacted, That the second Sec
ton of san act in relation to the Militia and Guard
for Home Defence" ratified the 7th day of July 1868,
be- and the same is hereby amended, by striking out
the word these in the ninth line Of said section, and
inserting the word the; that the third section of ian
act in relation to the Militia and Guard for Home De-
fence ratified the l4th day of December 1869, be, and
the is hereby amended by inserting between the
words regular and "millers the words 'and public"
and by inserting between the words "mers" and
"blacksmhs" the word sand ;" and that the proyiso at
the end of said Sd section be and the is hereby
repealed; That in addition to the exemptions specified
in the aforesaid there shall be exempt from Home
Guard duty all county trustees, regular and public
tanners baters and shoemakers skilled in their respec
tive calings and who employed in the prior
to the first day of January, A d., 1863 and have
timed to be so employed since that time.
Prorsded tanners shall sell onehrd of their leather
to INDECENT soldiers wives and widows for their
use schedule prices
Provided that no provision of this AZ shall be so
trued exempt from military service any per-
son mentioned herein, III of actual scrve insur
rec0n invasion of the county in which he resides
by Federal forces, except the persons and classes
toned in I'd section of act in relation to the Militia
ard Guard for Home Defence, ratified the 9TH Of July,
1853.
SEC 8 Be it further enacted That this act shall be
in force from and after its ratification.
Read three times and ratified in General Assembly
this Esd day Of December A. D., 1864.
The following are the sections of former laws to
which the above law refers;
SEC 2. Be it further enacted That it shall be the
duty OF the Governor to be enrolled guard
for home defence all white male persons already
enrolled in the service of the Confederate States be-
tween the ages of eghtee and fifty years, resident in
this State including fore gners naturalized, who
have been 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
Government of the State Ministers of the Gospel
of the several denominations of the State charged with
Governor for special reasons, may deem proper sub
jecfs of exemption.-Law Of July, 1863
Sec. g. Be it further enacted That in addition TO the
exemptions contained in the act to which this is
amen dment, there shall he exempt County commits
soners appointed under entitled IAN for the
relief of wives and families of soldiers in the army"
regular millers blacksmiths who have established
shops, necessary operatives in rctorcs and oundries
the Attorney General Solicitors of the several circuits
and counties, physicians of FIVE years practice con-
tractors with the State Confederate government one
editor each newspaper and the compostors
academies; Provided that this exemption shall only
apply to the drills specified in this bill and to
vice when the Guard for Home Defence is called into
the fed.--Laa0 of Dee, 1863.
The proviso in the above section is repealed. The
persons mentioned are subject to Home Guard duty
only when the county in which they reside invaded
or in OF Instruction in the county.
Southern Express Company.