Year: 1861

PROVISIONAL ARMY OF TENNESSEE,


MEMPHIS, May 29, 1861.


By the law passed at the late session Of the legis
lature of Tennessee volunteer forces Oh tne state
forming its Provisional Army, are allowed 70 vote
upon action taken by the Legislature for "Sepdrd-
ton of the State efrom the former Government OF
the United States and for Representation IN, ana
union with the Confederate States Of America. Inc
law provides that the vote shall be taken on ine o
day of June next and that il shall be taken al any
..Teq1lar precinct, for holding elections.


Such being the right of those who have taken up
arms to defend the State against invasion no matter
where they are for the time being) the MsJorener-
al commanding the Provisional Army Of Tennessee,
in order that the wishes of the patriotic citizen
soldiers may be made known through the ballot
box orders and directs the commanding officers at
each and every fort, garrison and eneampment and
of each corps when in trGnstG on duty TO cause the
vote of the troops under his command to be taken
for against separation, and for or against rep
resentation,n ss prescribed by said law.


And in order that said vote may be taken without
confusion disorder, the captains or other officers
in command of companies are directed to have pre-
yIous to the day of election two full rolls OF his
company made out, and on the day of the election,
to take command Of his company march it to the
place of voting to have two copies of said roll
handed to the judges of the election that the clerk
or judges may call over the names OF the volunteers
record the votes as given, and that the two lists of
the voting thus prepared be retained by the clerk
as the vote of such eompsny, and 80 certified The
Maior-General further directs that throughout the
State the commanding officers of each regiment and
company makes it his special duty to see that the
volunteers all have an opportunity OF voting, and
that if by the reason of the large number OF troops
at any one precinct the entire vote in his opinion
cannot be taken during the day of voting at the pal
lot>bOx prescribed by the civil authorities IN that
case the senior officer of the forces present shall
open poll expressly for the vote Of the volunteer
forces shall appoins two judges and one clerk, who
shall be sworn to make and certify perfect and
true record of the vote taken as Is required to
be done by the judges and clerks appointed under


the laws of the State in cive, and that said judges
and clerks certify the same and make due and
proper return thereof to the proper officers as re-
duired by the laws of the State


IL ia furtber made the duty of the commanding
officer of forces whose duty at forts and posts VIII
not allow their command to leave their posts OF
duty and go to civil precincts, to take the vote IN
like manner as prescribed above and certify the
same and the reason why the vote was not taken al
any legal prescinct but in all cases where the vol
unteer forces can with safety to the public service
be marched to a regular prescinct, they shall De 50
marched and have the vote taken as prescribed Dy
| law the captains keeping their companies formed
and in order and the vote Is taken, snail
march his company of from the Presclnct so as NOT
20 ebstruct the approach.


further ordered that when so formed to march
to the polls unless where the public safety may re-
asire the forces to have their arms, the companies
| viii not bear arms while so voting


The importance of the vote thus ordered 70 De
taken on the future political status Of the State and
the risht and justice of the voice of the brave vol
unteers being heard uDonth great issues lnToF-
ing all that people hold dear, induces the Major
General Commanding to be thus solicitOus in giving
them an opportunity of casting their votes into the
great Dor Of eiuI liberty where the ballot is the con
trolling element Of political power. He trusts that


in the exercise of this franchise the volunteer SOL
ders will conduct themselves with decorum and be
| coming propriety; and that where the soldier and
the citizen interinge their votes to the same box


proper respect will be shows to the rights OF the
CITIZEN, and that no wrong will De done or allowed
him.


By order of MAJ. Gen. PILLOW,
Commanding the Army Of Tennessee.
PoIIOK B. LEE Asst. Adj. Gen.