Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 1.djvu/680



. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized, in the event of a declaration of war against the United States, or of actual invasion of their territory, by a foreign power, or of imminent danger of such invasion discovered in his opinion to exist, before the next session of Congress, to cause to be enlisted, and to call into actual service, a number of troops, not exceeding ten thousand non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, to be enlisted for a term not exceeding three years: each of whom shall be entitled to receive a bounty of ten dollars, one half on enlisting, and the other half on joining the corps to which he may belong.

. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby authorized to organize, with a suitable number of major-generals, and conformably to the military establishment of the United States, the said troops into corps of artillery, cavalry and infantry, as the exigencies of the service may require; and in the recess of the Senate, alone to appoint the commissioned officers. The appointment of the field officers to be submitted to the advice and consent of the Senate, at their next subsequent meetings. The commissioned and non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, raised in pursuance of this act, shall be subject to the rules and articles of war, and regulations for the government of the army, and be entitled to the same pay, clothing, rations, forage and all other emoluments, bounty excepted, and in case of wounds or disability received in service, to the same compensation as the troops of the United States are by law entitled.

. And be it further enacted, That in addition to the aforesaid number of troops, the President is hereby empowered, at any time within three years after the passing of this act, if in his opinion the public interest shall require, to accept of any company or companies of volunteers, either of artillery, cavalry or infantry, who may associate and offer themselves for the service, who shall be armed, clothed and equipped at their own expense, and whose commissioned officers the President is hereby authorized to appoint; who shall be liable to be called upon to do military duty at any time the President shall judge proper, within two years after he shall accept the same; and when called into actual service, and while remaining in the same, shall be under the same rules and regulations, and shall be entitled to the same pay, rations, forage and emoluments of every kind, excepting bounty and clothing, as the other troops to be raised by this act.

. And be it further enacted, That in case any such volunteer, while in actual service, and in the line of his duty, sustains any damage, by injury done to his horse, arms or equipage, or by loss of the same, without any fault or negligence on his part, a reasonable sum, to be ascertained in such manner as the President shall direct, shall be allowed for each and every such damage or loss.

. And be it further enacted, That whenever the President shall deem it expedient, he is hereby empowered to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a commander of the army which may be raised by virtue of this act, and who being commissioned as lieutenant-general may be authorized to command the armies of the United States, and shall be entitled to the following pay and emoluments, viz.: two hundred and fifty dollars monthly pay, fifty dollars monthly allowance for forage, when the same shall not be provided by the United States, and forty rations per day, or money in lieu thereof at the current price, who shall have authority to appoint, from time to time, such