Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-04-27
NIl,TiRy ACTION OF CONGRGs8.

|
Iate Confederate Congress, to increase the
efficiency Of the army. When the address
was prepared the action Of Congress in con.
nection with the employment Of negroes rs
soldiers had not transpired but all the 9th
err enaotmcnts were briefly considered,
These we're the acts "To authorize the
consolidation of companies, battalions and
regiments" "To improve the efficiency Of
the cavalry service" "ro enroll male ne
groes in the armies of the Confederate
States as laborers, teamsters, pioneers, etc,
and ITO repeal certain exemptions and de-
tails."
The bill to consolidate the different mill
tary organizations Of the army was one of
great Importance, and tie necessity of its
early passage in order to diminish the dali
| " expenses of the service and materially
add to its strength for the Spring campaign,
was zealously urged upon Congress, but
there was so many conflicting views 10 be
discussed, and reconciled as TO the best plan
TO secure the object in view that its passage
was long delayed. 1t provides, that when
ever any companies now in the service,
shall be so reduced as to number less than
thirty two fit for duty, and whenever it
shall appear to the Secretary Of War, or TO
the general commanding the department of
the army in which said companies are scrv.
ing, that they cannot be recruited to that
number in a reasonable time the general
commanding the department, or the army
NAV, under the regulations issued by the
Secretary Of War, proceed to consolidate
them. New companies may be organised
BY the noncommissioncd officers and pri-
Yates of the companies to be consolidated,
if they are from the same State; and the
minimum number Of the companies to be
consolidated, rank and file, is sixty four,
and the maximum one hundred and twenty
FIVE. Companies, if they are from the same
State, may be organized into battalions and
regiments, and the general commanding the
the department, or the army in the field, to
be consolidated, shall recommend from the
officers and men Of the different organiza-
tions TO be consolidated, the officers of the
new organizations who shall take command
subject to the approval of the President by
and with the advice and consent of the Sem
ate. The officers dropped, or not chosen in
the consolidation, shall be Immediately no.
tilted of the fact, and they shall have the
! privilege, within sixty days after the con-
| solidation, of organizing into companies,
|
! among themselves subject to the approval
OF the President, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate; or the officers
dropped, may have the privilege Of joining
whatever company they prefer, whether
with the army with which they serve or not,
and whatever arm of the service they pre-
fer, and shall be entitled to transportation
to the company so chosen
I M, IL L. e a..
cavalry service provides that the govern
nent instead of the soldiers, shall own the
horses in the cavalry arm of the service.
It's conditions are, to-wit the Secretary Of
War, upon the application of any general
commanding an army, may cause the quar-
| termaster of the command to take upon HE
return all the horses ridden by the soldiers
and fit for duty--There shall be a board of
appraisers appointed to fix the value of
each horse, and the soldier shall make his
election to receive the appraised value of
his horse equal in value to his, payable in
! six months; after ratification ola peace
| If any soldiers horse becomes unfit for du-
/ ty, the general commanding the army shall
cause another to be furnished at the ex-
pense of the government, or assign the SOL
der to some company from his State in any
branch of the Service. If the soldier should
loose his horse, or become unfit for duty, if
he can present the certificate of his officers
certifying to his gallantry and promptness
as cavalry soldier the government shall
| furnish another in its stead. Every pre-
caution is used in the act to exact o strict
attention on the part of the soldier to the
care and comfort of his horse, and if the
provisions of the act are promptly enforced
it is believed that it will, greatly tend to
add strength and efficiency to both branch
es Of the service by ridding the cavalry SER
vice Of all soldiers except those whose quail
] ifcations particularly beft then r9r theit
I duties Aad il is believed thg much c7u-
I plsint and many abuses, grCEuc i ON IN
formal impresslnent Of horses, will h- obvi-
ated, by substituting the Governueu, I'D
its agents, in lieu of str&gglers and -
sponsible individuals
/ The Gct 70 enroll male negroes a. labor
ers IN the army o. the Confederate States,
provides that the Secretary Of War and
general commanding the trans slissiszippi
isplrtment may employ ss many male ne
! mes, between the ages of eighteen and
( faslv ytats, as may be necessary 10 work
! lron fortihcstions build aud repair bridges
AZ iOhuti anu lS4ASl IA al 'he uui4te usu-
I ALL assigned to ensineers and pontooners
I aa6 such other dulles as the Secretary of
I vs. nay rresori5e. Tie slaves e employ
( ed 81 ~ receive ratiOas aud clothing to an
amcu7t to be sgreed upon si the time of
I their euplosTnent, under rules 70 be rre-
serihed 8y BE Secrstary Of War and the
pay for thcir services 10 be asseriained ac-
55rdingly III case il shall be found i4lpos-
I sible to8npiey the nunbas of s!sves ueoes-
l sarr e lha altirs eneo,iHd. the rnrlru-