Chap. LXI.—An Act making Provision for and additional Number of general Officers, and for other Purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the The United States of America in Congress assembled,The ten regiments authorized by the act of 11th February 1847, ch. 8, to be organized. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to organize the ten regiments to be raised by virtue of the act of the eleventh of February, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, into brigades and divisions, either by allotting portions of the same to the brigades and divisions of the regular army or volunteer forces in the service of the United States, and, if the efficiency of the service shall require it, to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, such Major-generals number of additional Major-generals and brigadier-generals to be appointed brigadier-generals, not exceeding three, and major-generals, not exceeding two, as the organization of the said forces may require: Provided, That each brigade shall consist of not less than three regiments, and each division of not less than two brigades:Proviso. And provided, further, That the said general officers shall be immediately discharged from the service of the United States at the close of the war with Mexico.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be added to the adjutant-general’s department Three assistant adjutant-generals to be appointedone assistant adjutant-general, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, and two assistant adjutants-general, with the brevet rank, pay, and emoluments of a captain of cavalry, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, in the same manner, and be charged with the same duties, as those authorized by existing laws.
President authorized to accept the services of volunteers now in Mexico, and to organize the same.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and is hereby, authorized to accept the services of such of the volunteers now in Mexico as, in his opinion, the state of the public service may require, and who may, at the termination of the present term, voluntarily engage to serve during the war with Mexico; and to organize the same into companies, battalions, and regiments, agreeably to existing laws, and to commission the officers for the same.
Additional pay and allowances to volunteers who shall reenter the service.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, in addition to the pay and allowances provided for the volunteers now in the service of the United States, under existing laws, each volunteer who shall reenter the service under the provisions of this act, in Mexico, immediately after the close of his present term of service, shall be entitled to a bounty of twelve dollars to be paid as soon as the company shall have been duly mustered and received be [by] the mustering and inspecting officer.
Individual volunteers may be accepted to fill vacancies, &c.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to accept the services of individual volunteers to fill vacancies which may occur by death, discharge, or other cause, in the volunteer regiments or corps now in the service of the United States, or which may be received during the existing war with Mexico.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That all the officers to be appointed in the ten regiments to be raised and organized under the 1847, ch. 8.“Act to raise for a limited Time an additional military Force, and for other Purposes," shall take rank, in case of equal grade, in such mannerHow officers shall take rank as the President of the United States may direct, with regard to priority of appointment.
