Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 14.djvu/362

 332 THIRTY-—NINTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 299. 1866. July 28, 1866. CHAP. CCXCIX.—An Act to increase and fix the Lhlitary Peace Establishment or Sec1867’cb_159_ the United States. P°"· P· *3* Be it enacted ly the Senate and Abuse of Representatives of the United Military peace States of America in Congress assembled, That the military peace estab-
 * gt;2;Sl;’i?‘$:‘g£’ lishment of the United States shall hereafter consist of five regiments of

° artillery, ten regiments of cavalry, forty-five regiments of infhntry, the professors and corps of cadets of the United States Military Academy, and such other forces as shall be provided for by this act, to be known as the Army of the United States. Artiuery. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the five regiments of artillery provided for by this act shall consist of the five regiments now organized; and the first, second, third, and fourth regiments of artillery shall have the same organization as is now prescribed by law for the fifth regiment of artillery; but the regimental adjutants, quartermasters, and commissaries shall hereafter be extra, Iieuteuants selected from the first or second lieutenants of the regiment. Cavalry. Sec. 3. And be icfurther enacted, That to the six regiments of cavalry now in service there shall be added four regiments, two of which shall be composed of colored men, having the same organization as is now pr0· vided by law for cavalry regiments, with the addition of one veterinary surgeon to each regiment, whose compensation shall be one hundred d0l· lars per month; but the grade 0F company commissary sergeant of cavalry is hereby abolished. The original vacancies in the grade of first and second lieutenant shall be filled by selection from among the officers and soldiers of volunteer cavalry, and two thirds of the original vacancies in each of the grades above that of first lieutenant shall be filled by selections from among the officers of volunteer cavalry, and one third from officers of the regular army, all of whom shall have served two years in the field during the war, and have been distinguished for capacity and good conduct; any portion of the cavalry force may be armed and drilled as infantry or dismouuted cavalry at the discretion of the President, and each cavalry regiment shall hereafter have but one hospital steward, and the regimental adjutants, quartermasters, and commissaries shall hereafter be extra lieutenants selected from the first or second Iieutenauts of the regiment. i Infantry. Sec. 4. And, be it further enacted, That the forty-five regiments of infantry provided for by this act shall consist of the first ten regiments, of ten companies each, now in service; of twenty-seven regiments, of ten companies each, to be formed by adding two companies to each battalion of the remaining nine regiments; and of eight new regiments, of ten companies each, four regiments of which shall be composed of colored men and four regiments of ten companies each to be raised and officered as hereinafter provided for, to be called the veteran reserve corps; and all the original vacancies in the grades of first and second lieutenant shall be filled by selection from among the officers and soldiers of volunteers, and one half the original vacancies in each of the grades above that of first lieutenant, shall be filled by selection from among the officers of volunteers, and the remainder from ofiieers of the regular army, all of whom shall have served two years during the war, and have been distinguished for capacity and good conduct in the field. The veteran reserve corps shall be 0iHcered by appointments from any officers and soldiers of volunteers or of the regular army who have been wounded in the line of their duty while serving in the army of the United States in the late war, and who may yet be competent for garrison or other duty, to which that corps has heretofore been assigned. Appointments Sec. 5. And be it fur!/zer enacted, That the appointments to be made [mm V°I“'g°°*’ from among volunteer officers and soldiers under the provisions of this act Sgggigagow shall be distributed among the States, Territories, and District of Columdistributed. bia, in proportion to the number of troops furnished by them respectively