Charles Clark to W. H. McCardle, January 25, 1864

ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE, No. 7. Macon, January 25, 1864.

I. As many mounted volunteers (not liable to conscription in the Confederate service) as may offer will be received and mustered into the State service, to serve during the war, unless sooner discharged by the Governor. All able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen and sixty years will be accepted. They will be received by companies. Full companies will consist of not less than seventy-seven men, officers included. Each company will have one captain and three lieutenants, to be elected by the men.

I. I. The companies will be organized into battalions and regiments, as may be hereafter ordered. Each regiment will have one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, and one major, to be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the company officers. Battalions of not less than five companies will be entitled to one major, and those of six or more companies to one lieutenant-colonel, and one major should the latter be deemed necessary; these officers to be appointed in the same manner as the field officers of regiments. Regiments, battalions, and companies will be subject to reorganization or consolidation.

III. All commissions will be held during the pleasure of the Governor, and will be revoked by him when he deems that the interest of the service requires it. Vacancies will be filled by promotion, appointment, or election, as the Governor may in each case determine.

I. V. When full companies cannot be conveniently formed a less number will be received as follows: Twenty or more men, with one lieutenant, one sergeant, and one corporal; forty men or more, with two lieutenants, two sergeants, and two corporals. These fractions will be combined into companies as may be hereafter ordered, and until such combination be made the lieutenants will hold the rank of junior second where the fraction has but one, and of second and junior second lieutenants where there are two.

V. All men hereafter mustered into the State service will be allowed to remain at home until ordered to active duty, and when so ordered they will be entitled to receive a bounty of $50 (having previously been inspected), and thereafter they will receive the same pay and allowances as the like troops in the Confederate service.

V. I. The officers and men will furnish their own horses, which in all cases will be appraised and regularly mustered. The same compensation for the use and risk of horses and pay for them when killed will be made as is allowed in the Confederate armies.

VII. All pay and allowances to officers and men will cease while they are absent from duty, whether with or without leave, unless on leave upon a surgeon’s certificate of absolute disability.

VIII. The power to remove all officers is retained by the Governor to enable him to hold them to a rigid accountability for the order, discipline, and good conduct of their men.

I. X. The Regulations for the Army and the Rules and Articles of War established by the Confederate Government have been adopted by the Legislature of Mississippi for the government of the State forces. They will be rigidly enforced against all delinquents.

X. All companies accepted and mustered into service will, until ordered to the field, be assembied at least once a week for company drill.

X. I. The Confederate Government has agreed to furnish all the arms required, and they will be placed in the hands of the troops as rapidly as they can be assembled.

XII. From the number of companies already offered it is believed that a sufficient number of volunteers will be raised to aid the Confederate Government in effectually protecting the State, and thus obviate the necessity of a draft from the militia.

XIII. Any gentleman desiring to enter the State service is authorized to raise a company, under the restrictions and in compliance with the terms of this order.

By order of Charles Clark, Governor and commander-in-chief: