GENERAL ORDERS 
No. 48. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE, 
Washington, July 31, 1861. 
I...The following act of Congress is published for the information 
of the army: 
AN ACT to increase the present military establishment of the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall 
be added to the regular army as now authorized by law nine regi- 
ments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and one regiment of 
artillery; each regiment of infantry to consist of not less than two 
nor more than three battalions, as the exigencies of the public ser- 
vice may, in the opinion of the President of the United States, 
demand ; each battalion to consist of eight companies; each com- 
pany to consist of one captain, one first and one second lieutenant, 
one first sergeant, four sergeants, eight corporals, two musicians, and 
as many privates, not exceeding eighty-two, as the President of the 
United States may, according to the requirements of military ser- 
vice, direct. The regiment of cavalry hereby authorized shall 
consist of not more than three battalions of not more than two 
squadrons each ; and each squadron shall consist of two companies, 
each company to be composed of one captain, one first and one second 
lieutenant, one first sergeant, one quartermaster sergeant, four ser- 
geants, eight corporals, two musicians, two farriers, one saddler, one 
wagoner, and as many privates, not exceeding seventy-two, as the 
President of the United States may, according to the requirements 
of the military service, direct. The regiment of artillery hereby 
authorized shall consist of not more than twelve batteries ; and 
each battery shall consist of one captain, one first and one 
second lieutenant, one first sergeant, one quartermaster sergeant, 
four sergeants, eight corporals, two musicians, two artificers, one 
wagoner, and as many privates, not exceeding one hundred and 
twenty-two, as the President of the United States may, according 
to the requirements of the military service, direct. And there may 
be added to the aforesaid battery organization, at the discretion of 
the President, having due regard to the public necessities and 
means, one first and one second lieutenant, two sergeants, and four 
corporals. 2 
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the field and staff com- 
missioned and non commissioned officers of the regiments herein- 
before authorized, shall be as follows : To each regiment of infantry, 
one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one regimental adjutant, one 
regimental quartermaster and commissary, one drum major, or 
leader of the band, and two principal musicians, and to each bat- 
talion of infantry, one major, one battalion adjutant, one battalion 
quartermaster and commissary, one sergeant major, one quarter- 
master sergeant, one commissary sergeant, and one hospital steward: 
the regimental and battalion adjutants, and quartermasters and 
commissaries, to be taken from the lieutenants of the regiments 
and battalions respectively : To the regiment of cavalry, one colonel, 
one lieutenant colonel, one regimental adjutant, one regimental 
quartermaster and commissary, and two chief buglers; and to each 
battalion of cavalry, one major, one battalion adjutant, one battalion 
quartermaster and commissary, one sergeant major, one quarter- 
master sergeant, one commissary sergeant, one hospital steward, 
one saddler sergeant, and one veterinary sergeant-; the regimental 
adjutant and the regimental and battalion quartermasters and com- 
missaries to be taken from the lieutenants of the regiments and 
battalions respectively : To the regiment of artillery, one colonel, 
one lieutenant colonel, one major to every four batteries, one adju- 
tant, one regimental quartermaster and commissary, to be taken 
from the lieutenants of the regiment, one sergeant major, one 
quartermaster sergeant, one commissary sergeant, two principal 
musicians, and one hospital steward—and the bands of the regular 
regiments shall consist of not more than twenty-four musicians for 
each regiment of infantry and artillery, and sixteen musicians for 
each regiment of mounted troops. 
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be added to 
the army of the United States the following general officers, namely: 
Four' major generals, with three aides-de-camp each, to be taken 
from captains or lieutenants of the army, and six brigadier generals, 
with two aides-de-camp each, to be taken from the lieutenants of 
the army. 
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the officers and enlisted 
men raised in pursuance of the foregoing sections shall receive the 
same pay, emoluments, and allowances, and be on the same foot 
ing, in every respect, with those of corresponding grades and corps 3 
now in the regular service. The regimental bands will be paid as 
follows: one-fourth of each, the pay and allowances of sergeants 
of engineer soldiers ; one fourth, those of corporals of engineer 
soldiers; and one-half those of engineer soldiers of the first class. 
The drum major, or leader of the band, the pay and emoluments of 
a second lieutenant of infantry. The saddler sergeants, veterinary 
sergeants, company quartermaster sergeants, and drum majors, will 
receive the pay and allowances of sergeants of cavalry. The bat- 
talion adjutant and battalion quartermasters and commissaries will 
receive the emoluments now provided by law for regimental adju- 
tants. 
Sec. 5. And be it farther enacted. That the term of enlistments 
made and to be made in the years eighteen hundred and sixty-one 
and eighteen hundred and sixty-two, in the regular army, including 
the force authorized by this act, shall be for the period of three 
years, and those to be made after January one, eighteen hundred 
and sixty-three, shall be for the term of five years, as at present 
authorized, and that the men enlisted in the regular forces, after 
the first day of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, shall be enti- 
tled to the same bounties, in every respect, as those allowed or to 
be allowed to the men of the volunteer forces. 
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the increase of the mili- 
tary establishment created or authorized by this act is declared to 
be for service during the existing insurrection and rebellion, and 
within oneyear after the constitutional authority of the Government 
of the United States shall be re-established and organized resistance 
to such authority shall no longer exist, the military establishment 
may be reduced to a number not exceeding twenty-five thousand 
men, unless otherwise ordered by Congress. 
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the President of the 
United States shall cause regiments, battalions, and companies to 
be disbanded, and officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, 
and privates to be discharged, so as to reduce the military estab- 
lishment as is provided by the preceding section: Provided, That 
all of the officers of the regular army who have been, or may be, 
detached or assigned to duty for service in any other regiment or 
corps shall resume their positions in the regular army, and shall be 
entitled to the same rank, promotion, and emoluments as if they 
had continued to serve in their own regiments or corps. 4 
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That the enlistments for the 
regiments authorized by this act shall be in charge of the officers 
detailed for that purpose who are appointed to said regiments from 
civil life; and that in the mean time the officers appointed to the 
same from the regular army, shall be detailed by the commanding 
general to such service in the volunteer regiments now in the field, 
as will, in his judgment, give them the greatest military instruction 
and efficiency ; and that the commanding general may, in his dis- 
cretion. employ said officers with any part of the regular forces now 
in the field until the regiments authorized by this act shall have been 
fully recruited, and detail any of the officers now in the regular 
army to service with the volunteer regiments now in the field, or 
which may hereafter be called out, with such rank as may be offered 
them in said volunteer regiments, for the purpose of imparting to 
them military instruction and efficiency. 
Approved July 29, 1861. 
If...Officers of the Old Army who have been appointed in the 
additional regiments, above provided for,—a list of whom has been 
published in General Orders No. 33, current series, from this 
office—will report forthwith their acceptance of said appointments 
or be considered as having declined them. 
By order: 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official: 
Assistant Adjutant General.