Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, 
Richmond, April 16, 1863. 
GENERAL ORDERS, \ 
No. 44. J 
The following Acts having been duly approved by the President, are 
published for the information of all concerned: 
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE PUNISHMENT OF SOLDIERS BY WHIPPING. 
“ The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, that 
from and after the passage of this act, it shall not be lawful for any court 
martial or military court to cause any soldier in the service of the Con- 
federate States to be punished by whipping, or the infliction of stripes 
upon his person; and that all laws and customs contravening the pro- 
visions of this act, be-and the same are hereby repealed. 
“ Sec. 2. That article twenty of the Articles of War be so amended as 
to read as follows: ‘ All officers aud soldiers who have received pay, or 
have been duly enlisted in the service of the Confederate States, and shall 
be convicted of having deserted the same, shall suffer death or confine- 
ment in a penitentiary, with or without hard labor, for a period not less 
than one year or more than five, or such other punishment, not inconsis- 
tent with the provisions of this act, as the court martial or military court 
may determine.’ ” [Approved April LI, 1863.] 
an ACT TO EXEMPT CONTRACTORS FOR CARRYING THE MAILS OF THE 
CONFEDERATE STATES AND THE. DRIVERS OF POST COACHES AND 
HACKS FROM MILITARY SERVICE. 
“The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the 
contractors for carrying the Mmls of the Confederate States shall be ex- 
empt from the performance of military duty in the armies of the- Don- 
federate States, from and after the passage of this act, during the time 
they are such contractors; provided, that no more than one contractoi 
shall be exempt on any one route, and that no more than one member of 
any firm of contractors shall be exempt, and no contractor on any route 
of less than ten miles in length, and on which the mail is earned on 
horse, shall be exempt under this act; and if any one or more members 
of any such firm be exempt, from age or other cause, from the performance 
of military duty, the other member or members of such firm shall not be 2 
exempt by this act on account of being mail contractors: and provided 
further, that no person to whom a contract for carrying the mails may be 
transferred, with the consent of ftie post office department, after the pas- 
sage of this act, shall be exempt from military service on that account. 
“ Sec. 2. That the drivers of post coaches and hacks for carrying the 
mails, on all routes where the weight of the mails requires that they 
should be carried in coaches or hacks, shall be exempt from military ser- 
vice in the armies of the Confederate States, from and after the passage 
of this act, so Ipng as they continue to be employed as such driverst 
provided the contractor by whom any such driver is employed shall take 
and subscribe an oath, to be furnished to the enrolling officer, that the 
weight of the mails on his route requires the use of coaches or hacks for 
their conveyance, and that he has not a greater number of drivers em- 
ployed in his service than are indispensable to enable him to fulfill Ms 
contract for carrying the mails; and that he will not, while a Contractor, 
employ a greater number of drivers than may be indispensably necessary 
for that purpose; and that he will give notice to officer when 
any such driver teases to be in his employment.” [Approved April 14, 
1863.] 
order. 
Adjutant arid Inspector General. 
S. COOPER,