The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-05-14
COPY OF WAR TIME NEWS
PAPER TELLS HOW THEY
WERE CONSCRIPTED IN SOS

r They made full use Of the conscrip-
ton idea back in the days of the War
Between the States, when the Con-
federacy was putting forth every eff
| fort to place armies in the field to
y cope with the cver-increasing numbers
Iof the Federals which were gathered
from all corners of the north.
Foes Of the CONSUMPTION plan that is
about to be put into operation in this
country to provide for an adequate
army for our war against Germany
will do well to glance over the pro-
visions of the CONSUMPTION act as pass
ed by the Confederate Congress in
August, 1862.
In copy of "The Daily Rebel" a
newspaper published nj Chattanooga,
Tenn, during the troublous days of
the Sixties, the full text Of the con-
scription law then in force, may be
seen.
J. f. Champan, of this city, better
known as Uncle Bugg," has in his
possession copy of "The Rebel"
containing the text of this much dis
cussed measure and for the informa-
ton of the readers of the Times
Recorder, the more important sec
tons are reproduced herewith
In view of the exigencies of the
country and the absolute necessity of
keeping in the service our gallant
army and of'placing in the field a
large additional force to meet the
advancing columns of the enemy now
invading our soil, therefore,
Section l. The Congress OF the
| Confederate States Of America do
enact That the president be and is
hereby authorized to call out and place
in the military service Of the Confed-
crate States, for three years unless
the war shall have sooner ended, all
white men who are residents Of the
Confederate States, between the ages
of 18 and IS years at the time the call
shall be made, who are not legally ex-
empted from military service. All of
the persons aforesaid who are not now
IN the service of the Confederacy. and
whose term of service will expire be-
tore the end of the war, and shall be
continued in fho
years from the date of their original
enlistment unless the war shall have
been sooner ended; provided. how
ever, that all such battalions or regi-
ments whose mrtes of original enlist
ment were for II months, shall have
the right within 40 days, on day to
be fixed by the commander of the
brigade. to re-organize said compa
MES, battalions and regiments by
electing their officers which they had
a right, therefore, to elect, who shall
be commissioned by the president;
Provided further, that all persons
under the age of 10 years or over the
age Of IS years, who are now enrolled
in the military service of the Confed-
crate States, in the regiments, batta-
lions or companies hereafter to Be or
ganized, shall be required to remain in
their respective companies, battalions
and regiments for 90 days, unless their
places can be supplied by other re-
crults not now in the service, who are
between the ages of Is and IS years,
and all laws providing for the re-en-
listment of volunteers and the organ
ization thereof into companies, squad
rons, battalions or regiments shall be,
and the same are hereby repealed.
BE it further enacted That all
soldiers now serving in the army or
mustered into the military service of
the Confederate States, or enrolled in
said service under the authorizations
heretofore issued by the secretary OF
war, and who are continued in the ser
vice by virtue of this act who have
not received the bounty of $50 allow
ed by the existing laws, shall be en-
titled to receive said bounty
BE it further enacted, That each
man who may hereafter be mustered
into the service and who shall arm
himself with musket. shotgun OF
rifle, accepted as an efficient weapon
shall be paid the value thereof, to be
ascertained by the mastering officer
under such regulations as may be
prescribed by the secretary of war
If he is willing to sell the same, and il
not, then he shall be entitled to re-
ceive one dollar month for the use
OF said received and approved mus
ket, shotgun, rifle or carbine.
u BE it further enacted, That each
company of infantry shall consist OF
IFS rank and file; each company OF
field artillery of $50 rank and file; each
company Of cavalry of so rank and
file.