GENERAL ORDERS, \         WAR DEPARTMENT,
                   \              Adjutant General's Office,
     No. 126.      ^                  Washington, September 6,1862.

  I..The following is the organization  of Regiments and Companies
of the Volunteer Army of the United States :

           1. Regiment of  Infantry—Ten Companies.

1 Colonel.                       1 Chaplain.
1 Lieutenant Colonel.            1 Sergeant Major.
1 Major.                        1 Regimental  Quartermaster  Ser-
1 Adjutant (an extra Lieut.)          geant.
1 Quartermaster (an extra Lieut.) 1 Regimental  Commissary  Ser-
1 Surgeon.                          geant.
2 Assistant Surgeons.            1 Hospital Steward.

                       Company of Infantry.

1 Captain.                      4 Sergeants.
1 First Lieutenant.              8 Corporals.
1 Second Lieutenant.            2 Musicians.
 I First Sergeant.                1 Wagoner.
                     i  i ^ 64 Privates—minimum.
                         c 82 Privates—maximum.

     2. Regiment OF  Cavalry— Twelve Companies or Troops.

 1 Colonel.                      1 Regimental  Commissary  (an
 1 Lieutenant Colonel.                extra Lieut.)
 3 Majors.                        1  Chaplain.
 1 Surgeon.                      1  Sergeant Major.
 1 Assistant Surgeon.             1  Quartermaster Sergeant.
 1 Regimental Adjutant (an extra  1  Commissary Sergeant.
     L;eut.)                      2 Hospital Stewards.
 1  Regimental Quartermaster (an  1  Saddler Sergeant.
     extra Lieut.)                 1  Chief Farrier or Blacksmith. 
2
Company or Troop of Cavalry.
Captain.
First Lieutenant.
Second  Lieutenant.
1 First Sergeant.
Quartermaster Sergeant.
Commissary Sergeant.
                                 8  Corporals.
                                 2  Teamsters.
                                 2  Farriers or Blacksmiths.
                                 1  Saddler.
                                 I  Wagoner, and
                               78 Privates.
5 Sergeants.
  There being no bands now allowed, the  chief trumpeter authorized
by law will not be mustered into service.  If any have been so mus-
tered, they will, upon receipt of this order, be mustered out.
  The law does  not authorize musicians  for  companies.  To remedy
this defect, two musicians may be  enlisted for each company.   They
icill be rated and paid as privates.
          3. Regiment of Artillery—Twelve Batteries.
1 Colonel.
1 Lieutenant Colonel.
1 Major for every four batteries.
1 Adjutant (not an extra Lieu-
    tenant.)
1 Quartermaster (not  an extra
    Lieutenant.)
1 Chaplain.
1 Sergeant Major.
1 Quartermaster Sergeant.
1 Commissary Sergeant.
1 Hospital Steward.
                       Beittery of Artillery.
1 Captain.                      8 Corporals.
1 First Lieutenant.              2 Musicians.
1 Second  Lieutenant.            2 Artificers.
1 First Sergeant.                1 Wagoner, and
1 Quartermaster Sergeant.      122 Privates.
4 Sergeants.
  To the  above organization of  a battery, one First and one Second
Lieutenant, two Sergeants  and four Corporals may be added, at  the
President's discretion.
  The field officers, chaplain, and regimental staff—commissioned and
non-commissioned—will not  be  mustered, or received,  into service,
without special authority from the  War Department.   As a  general
rule, Artillery will be called for, and received, by batteries, thus render-
ing the field and staff unnecessary. 
3
   II..Chaplains must meet the requirements of section 8 of the act of
 July 17, 18(52, as follows:
   "No person shall be appointed a chaplain in the United States
 Army who is  not a regularly  ordained  minister of  some religious
 denomination, and who does not present testimonials of his present
 good standing as such minister, with a recommendation for his appoint-
 ment as an Army chaplain from  some authorized ecclesiastical body,
 or not less than five accredited ministers  belonging  to said religious
 denomination."
   After Chaplains are appointed, under section 9 of the act of July
 22,  1861, they must be mustered  into service by an officer of the
 regular Army, and thereafter borne on the field  and  staff roll of the
 regiment.
   Mustering  officers, before  mustering Chaplains into service, will
 require from them a copy of the proceedings on which the appointment
 is based.  The said copy, if found conformable to the requirements of
 the law, will be endorsed by the mustering officer, and by him forwarded
 to the Adjutant General's office, for file with the muster-in roll.
   III..The foregoing organization must  be strietly adhered to by all
 concerned.  Commanding Officers of Departments, Armies, and Army
 Corps, will, without delay, direct an  inspection  to be made of  their
 commands, to ascertain if the regiments, and units thereof, conform to
 this organization, and all deviation from it will be promptly corrected.
 Supernumerary officers, if any, will be mustered out of service  from
 the date of receipt of this order.   Reports of the inspection will be
 forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army.
   No commissioned officer or enlisted man, of any grade, in excess of
 the legal organization, will be recognized.  And any commander who
 may acknowledge, or receive, as in service, any such officer or enlisted
 man, will be brought  to trial for  neglect of duty  and  disobedience  of
 orders.  No person acting  in the capacity of a  supernumerary  will,
 under any circumstances, be  permitted to receive  pay and allowances
 from the  government; and Paymasters, making payment to such
 supernumeraries, will be held individually accountable for amounts so
paid.
  By order of the  Secretary of War :
                                        L. THOMAS,
   Official :                                    Adjutant General.
Assistant Adjutant General.