Adjutant and Ixsprctou Gkneual’s Office, 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
GENERAL ORDERS, \ 
No. 34. 5 
liichmond, May 3, 1802. 
I. The following Act of Congress, ami accompanying Regulations, 
are published for the information of all concerned: 
An Act to organize Battalions of Shauf Shooters. 
Sec. 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the So* 
cretary of War may cause to be organized a battalion of Sharp Shooters for each 
brigade, consisting of not less than three nor more than six companies, to be com* 
posed of men selected from the brigade or otherwise, and armed with long rangu 
muskets or rifles; said companies to bo organized, and the commissioned officers 
therefor appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of tha 
Senate. Such battalions shall constitute parts of .the brigades to which they be- 
long, and shall have such field and staff officers as are authorized by law for similar 
battalions, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate. 
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That for the purpose of arming said battalions, tha 
long range muskets and rifles in the hands of the troops, may be taken for that pur- 
pose: provided the government has not at its command a sufficient number of ap- 
proved long range rifles or muskets wherewith to arm said corps. [ Approved 
April 21, 1«62 ] 
11. Generals commanding military departments may cause to be or- 
ganized 'within their commands, battalions of Sharp Shooters, as pro- 
tided in this act, in such numbers as they may deem necessary, not 
exceeding one such battalion for each brigade, and will report to the 
department the organization of such corps, recommending for appoint- 
ment the commissioned officers allowed by law. 
111. In organizing such battalions, Generals commanding may causa 
such details or transfers to be made as will not reduce any company or 
corps below the minimum numbers required by law, taking the men for 
each such battalion, so far as possible, from the particular brigade of 
which it is to form part. 
IV. Requisitions will be made upon the Ordnance Department for Mia 
srms for such battalions; and until the said requisitions can bo filled. 2 
the Generals commanding may cause such exchanges and transfers of 
long range muskets and rifles to he made as may bo necessary to arm 
the said battalias, returning, surplus arms, when such requisitions aro 
filled, to the Ordnance Department. . . 
:Vi Supplementary to General Order No. 30, section VI. 
The commissions of the staff officers of reorganized regipienfs ani? 
battalions of twelve months’ volunteers are not affected by such reorgani- 
sation, except that of the Adjutant, whoso' commission expires with that 
of the commanding officer, if the .Said offi'eef he hot re-elected. 
command of the Secretary of Tvar. 
Adjutant and Inspector General,* 
S. COOPER,