[Hou^E Bii^, No. 1:6] 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES— November 8, I.M64.— Read 
 first and second tiuic^, and referred to the Committee on Military 
 Affiirs. 
 
 [By Mr. Milks ] 
 
 A. i3TLL 
 
 To be entitled An Act to authorize the consolidation of companies, 
 battalions and regiments. 
 
 1 The Congress of the Gmfederaie States of America do mad. That 
 
 2 whenever any companies, battalions or regiments in service shall 
 
 3 have been so far reduced in numbers as to make it necessary, in the 
 
 4 opinion of the general commanding the department, or the separate 
 
 5 army in the field, in which such companies, battalions or regiments 
 
 6 arc serving, to consolidate them, the said general, w itli the appro- 
 
 7 val of the Secretary of W.ir, is hereby authorised to consolidate 
 
 8 them, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of War 
 
 9 may prescribe : Proi-tHrd. That no su^h coi.solidation shall be 
 U) made until it shall <-Ie;irl^ appear to the satisfartion of the Sec- 
 
 11 retary of War that such companies, baitalions and regiments 
 
 12 cannot be sufiicier.tly recruited within a reasonable time by the 
 
 13 assignment of con&cripts or otherwise ; A»il pmrUM. further, 
 
 14 That only troop-* from the same State shall be consolidated to- 
 
 15 gethcr. 
 
2 
 
 1 Sec. 2. Be itfurthtr enacted. That whenever the consolidation 
 
 2 of coiupanies, battalions ami logiinonis sliall have been dcter- 
 
 5 mined upon, in accordance with the prov i-ions of the preceding 
 4 Hcctiou, the general comuiainling the 'I pmi lujciit, or the separate 
 o arm}' in which such reduced organi/.atit'ns are serving, shall cause 
 
 6 boards of examination to be held in the ?:iiue manner as they are 
 
 7 noAV held, for examining into the litnci-t; of officers for promotion, 
 
 8 which hoards shall proceed to cu(juire i:itu the relative qualifica- 
 
 9 tions, claims and fitness of all the otKcern of the several organi- 
 
 10 zations which it is proposed to conr.ulidure together, and shall se- 
 
 11 lect such officers for the command of the new organizations, re- 
 
 12 suiting from the consolidation of the old, as may seem to tliera 
 
 13 most fit for such cjommands, which officeis shall forthwith assume 
 
 14 the respective commands to which they may be assigned by the 
 
 15 general commanding the department or separate army to Vt'hich 
 
 16 they belong, subject to the subsequent approval of the President : 
 
 17 Proiid(d, That the relative rank of the officers so assigned shall 
 
 18 not be disturbed : And provided fmiher, That the officers of the 
 
 19 old organizations, over and above the number requisite for the 
 
 20 new, shall be entitled to retain their rank and commissions, if 
 
 21 pronounced worthy and coiupetoat by the examining board-* 
 
 22 above provided, (said julgments to be ojiproved by the gcMieral 
 
 23 aurd Secretary of ^ar), and may bo assigned to such appropriate 
 
 24 duties as the Seferetary of War iz.av prescribe. 
 
 ram