Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, 
GENERAL ORDERS, ( 
No. 148. 5 
Richmond, Nov. 18, 1863. 
I. The quarterly returns of arms, accoutrements and equipments in 
the hands of troops, required by paragraph 1348 of the Army Regula- 
tions, have heretofore been furnished in a very few cases only by com- 
manding officers of regiments and battalions. These returns are deemed 
essential, and will hereafter be promptly rendered. 
11. It is hereby made the duty of Generals commanding brigades to 
see that these returns are made on the Ist of January, April, July and 
October of each year, and forwarded, through the regular channels, to 
the Chief of Ordnance at Richmond, within twenty days after these dates 
respectively. 
111. Should any officer fail to render the return required on the Ist of 
Jauuary next, within twenty days thereafter, the Brigadier General com- 
manding the brigade to which the officer is attached, will cause charges 
for “disobedience of orders,” or of “neglect of duty,” as the case may 
require, to be made and forwarded, without delay, to the General com- 
manding, for his action. The same action will be taken on every subse- 
quent omission to render such returns. 
IY. Brigade and district ordnance officers will give every assistance to 
colonels of regiments and officers commanding battalions, in the prepara- 
tion of the “ returns,” according to the form prescribed; and they will 
also see that arms and accoutrements lost by the men are duly charged 
against them on the muster rolls of their respective companies. 
V. The chief ordnance officer of every army and department will 
promptly report to the Chief of the Ordnance Bureau every officer in the 
command to which he is attached, who tails to the “returns” 
herein required. 
order. 
Adjutant and Inspector General, 
S. COOPER,