General Orders, No. 10., October 10, 1863.

General Orders, No. 10.

1. The State troops under the command of Major General Howell Cobb will hereafter be known and designated as the Georgia State guard.

2. The troops not yet called put are urged to complete their regimental organizations as required by General Orders No. 7, current series, from these headquarters. As soon as a regiment is organized the fact will be reported to these headquarters. The field officers of regiments organized prior to the 1st November next will be elected by the men; after that date the companies not attached to regiments or battalions will be organized into regiments by order, and the field officers appointed by the president of the Confederate States. In cases of organized battalions, companies will be added to complete the regiment, and the additional field officers appointed by the president.

3. The commanding general desires all regiments, as soon as formed, to report to these headquarters whether or not they are willing, without reference to territorial limits, to defend their State wherever assailed or threatened. With the enemy in overwhelming numbers upon our borders, and just driven by our gallant army from the soil of our own State, he feels that the appeal will not be made in vain to Georgians to come forward and follow the patriotic example of their brethren now in the field, who have declared their willingness to waive all territorial claims, and go wherever the interest and safety of the State require them to go. He confidently trusts that none will be found willing to swell the ranks of the “solitary exception” who failed to respond to the call made upon those now in the field.

4. Conscript officers claiming persons in the ranks of the Georgia State guard as liable to conscription will present their claims to the commanding officer of the regiment, battalion, or company when unattached, whose duty it is to examine and decide the question of such liability, which can be reviewed, if necessary, at these headquarters, and finally by the department at Richmond. Conscript officers can reach the men in the ranks only through their commanding officer. Commissioned officers in service are not subject to conscription.

By command of Major General Howell Cobb: