Commanders of regiments, batteries, and cavalry companies, will cause the roll of each company to be called immediately upon arriving at the place of encampment, and all absentees without such excuses as are herein admitted, will be severely punished. As the provision herein contained are ample for the protection of all persons necessarily absenting themselves, no excuses for straggling or absence other than those herein allowed will be received. The discharge of firearms in this command will only be allowed when the perfɔrmance of duty requires it, and when necessary for the purpose of cleaning the piece. For this purpose the discharge will take place by permission of the commander of a division or separate brigade, at such time and place as he may appoint. Of such intended discharge he will give the necessary notice, to prevent alarm. The firing will invariably be under the direction of a commissioned officer, who will be held strictly responsible that such measures are taken as to prevent the possibility of accident. All enlisted men found discharging firearms, except as herein provided, shall be arrested by the provost guard, or by any commissioned officer, sent to the provost guard of the division, and severely punished by the division commander; and shall moreover be held responsible for any accident that may result from their carelessness. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BANKS: RICHARD B. IRWIN, Assistant Adjutant General. OFFICIAL: Aide-de-Camp. GENERAL ORDERS No. 31. HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF. 19TH ARMY CORPS, Opelousas, April 23, 1863. The fortunes of war have placed in the hands of the Commanding General. military order, dated at Headquarters of the Forces south of Red river, New Iberia, January 27, 1863, in which, in conformity to the act of the rebel Legislature of Louisiana, authorizing the Government of the State to press into its service slaves and other property for the defense of the State, and in pursuance of the powers delegated by the insurgent Government to the officer commanding the district of Western Louisiana, the Sheriffs of the several parishes are directed to forward, with the shortest possible delay, to the Headquarters named, a statement and description of all able-bodied male slaves, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, in the several parishes designated, the names of their owners, and the localities where they reside. It is apparent that the purpose of this order is to effect a general conscription of slaves as a part of the Rebel military power against the Government of the United States. Notice is hereby given by the Commanding General of the Department of the Gulf, representing the Government of the United States, that Sheriffs or other persons who comply with this order, will be held and treated as enemies of the Government, and subjected to all the consequences of armed resistance to its authority. Negroes who desire to escape the intended conscription in the rebel army,-whether free or slave,-will follow the flag of the Government, now and for ever THE FLAG OF UNION AND LIBERTY! BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BANKS: RICHARD B. IRWIN, Assistant Adjutant General OFFICIAL: Aide-de-Camp. GENERAL ORDERS HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, 19TH ARMY CORPS, No. 32. Opelousas, April 24, 1863. In compliance with General Orders No. 82, of the 1st instant, from the War Department, Adjutant General's Office, ordering a general muster of all troops in the service of the United States, wheresoever they may be, to be made on the 10th of April, or as soon thereafter as practicable, it is hereby ordered that said muster be made throughout this Department on the 30th instant, being the next regular muster day, and that one additional copy of the muster rolls for that day be immediately forwarded direct to the Adjutant General of the Army, for use by the Provost Marshal General in making drafts to fill up the regiments and batteries to the proper complement. Commanders of Divisions and Brigades will see that their commands are mustered as above required, that special care is taken in preparing these rolls, and that they are promptly forwarded. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BANKS: OFFICIAL: RICHARD B. IRWIN, Aide-de-Camp. Assistant Adjutant General. |