Year: 1863

ADJUTANT u ENERAL's OFFICE, y


Washington, Aprh 2S, 1868. J
TVyIIE organization of an Invalid Corps is hereby
Il authorized.


This Corps shall consist of Companies and if it
shall hereafter be thought best of Battaions.


The Companies shall be made up from the follow
ing sources, viz:


First. BY taking those officers and enlisted men
ofcommands now in the field (whether actually pres
ent or temporarily absentl who from wounds receiv-
ed in action disease contracted in the line of duty
unfit for field service, but still capable of eff
fective garrison duty such other light duty may
be required of an Invalid Corps. Regimental Com
manders shall at once make out, from information
received from their Medical and Company Officers,
and from their own knowledge, rolls according to
the Form fnrnished) of the names of all the officers
and enlisted men under their commands who fulfill
the following conditions, viz:


/. That they unfit for active field service on ac-
duty; this fact being certified by Medical Officer in
the service, after personal examination.


q That they are fit for garrison duty this fact be-
ing likewise certified by the Medical Officer above,
after personal examination


8. That they are in the opinion of their Command
ing Officers, meritorious and deserving.


These rolls shall be certified by the Examining
Surgeon and Regimental Commander and transmit
ted, through the regular channels of military
respondence, TO the Provost Marshal General of the
United States.


The Regimental Commander shall enter in the col
umn OF remarks, opposite each officers name on the
roll, statement as TO the general character of the
officer for intelligence industry sobriety and atten
ton to duty and all intermediate Commanders shall
endorse thereon such facts they NAV possess in
the case, or If they have none, they shall state how
far they willing to endorse the opinion of the Of
fcer or officers making the recommendation. SINH
lar rolls shall be forwarded from time to time when
the number of men fulfilling the conditions
enumerated or the exigencies of the service may
render it expedient.


Second. BY taking those officers and enlisted men
still in service and borne the rolls, but who
absent from duty in Hospitals Conv alesccnt Camps
o are otherwise under the control of Medical OIL
GERS In these cases the Medical Officer in attend
shall prepare the rolls according to Form,
tering the names of officers and men from the
n.rf
with the certificate of the Surgeon. duly signed, to
the proper Regimental Commander. who will forward
them, as heretofore specified, subject to the same
conditions and requirements If, in any case the
Regmenta Commander shall think officer unfit,
In point OF character to continue in the service of
the Invalid Corps though disabled and certified by
the Surgeon. he will state his objection in the coll
umn of remarks and note the exception before sign
ing the certificate If any officer or enlisted man
now in the service but absent and beyond the reach
of a Medical Officer in charge of a Hospital Con-
vacscent Camp, desires to enter this Corps, he will
take the course indicated below for those who have
been honorably discharged the service


Third. By accepting those officers and enlisted
men who have been honorably discharged account
of wounds or disease contracted in the line of duty
and who desire to re-enter the service In the case
of an officer, application for appointment must be
made to the Provost Marshal General of the United
States through the officer detailed Acting Assist
ant Provost Marshal General of the State No appli-
cation of this kind will be considered unless the fol-
lowing conditions are completely fulfilled


l. That the applicant produce the certificate of the
Surgeon of the Board of Enrolment for the District
in which he resides that he is unfit for active field
duty on account of wounds disease and is not
liable TO draft. but is fit for garrison duty.


2 That he furnish evidence of honorable discharge
on account of wounds or disability contracted in the
line of duty.


g. That he produce recommendations from the
Regimental. Brigade and Division Commanders un-
der whom he formerly served, that he is worthy of
being thus provided for and capable of returning ad-
equate service to the Government. In it shall
be mpracticable to get this last evidence, he may
having established the first two points above satisfy
the Board of Enrolment that he is deserving, and
present its certificate of the fact This evidence must
all be obtained by the applicant, and must be tran'-
mitted with his application for appointment.


If there be no Acting Assistant Provost Marshal
General for the State the application may be for
warded through the Adjufant General of the State,
who is desired to endorse thereon such facts in the
military history of the applicant as he may know,
afforded by his records, and forward the same
to the Provost Marshal General of the United States
Enlisted men, honorably discharged account of
disability desiring to reenst in this Corps will pre-
sent themselves to the Board of Enrolment for the
District in which they reside for examination by the
Surgeon thereof who shall examine them and report
the result to the Board of Enrolment.


The Board shall then consider each case and If the
applicant is found to fulfill the conditions specified
below, the Board shall give him a certificate to that
effect, viz


l. That he is unfit for service in the field


2. That he is fit for garrison duty.


3. That he is meritorous and deserving.


4. That he was honorably discharged from the SER
vice


The Provost Marshal for the District shall then
send the application, with this certificate of the
Board to the Acting Assistant Provost Marshal Gen
eral of the State who shall procure such evidence
service and character the records CT the Company
10 which he belonged, file at the Headquarters of
the State, may show, and if satisfied that il is


orious case and that the man is deserving, he will
enlist him in accordance with such special rules as
the Provost Marshal General may establish.


Medical Inspectors, Surgeons in charge of Hospi-
tails, Military Commanders, and all others having
authority to discharge under existing laws and reg
ulatons are forbidden to grant discharges to any
men ander their control who may be fit for service in
the Invalid Corps.


The Provost Marshal General is charged with the
execution of this order, and the troops organized
under it will be under the control of his Bureau.
By ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
f.. ID. TOWNSEND,
my14 1md&w4S Assistant Adjutdnt General.