General orders. No. 104

GENERAL ORDERS, j

No. 104. )

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

Adjutant General’:! Office,

Washington, December 3, 18G1.

The attention of officers of the Array is invited to the following, in
addition to the orders of the Secretary of War embraced in the regu¬
lations for the Recruiting Service :

I. -The large number of enlisted men, discharged on “Certificates
of Disability,” has attracted the notice of the General-in-chief, and, as
it is an especial duty to render the rank and file of the Array as
effective as possible, the attention of Superintendents and other officers
concerned, either with the enlistment of men, or their discharge on
account of disability, is directed to the judicious discharge of their
r. spective duties.

Evidence is abundant, as attested by the records of the Adjutant
General’s Office, that many men have been enlisted who were “unfit
for service” prior to or at date of enlistment. It should be borne in
mind that the law provides for the enlistment of “ effective able-
bodied” men ; and if any officer shall enlist any person contrary to
the true intent and meaning of the law it is further provided that
for every offence “he shall forfeit and pay the amount of the bounty
and clothing which the person so recruited may have received from
the public, to be deducted out of the pay and emoluments of such
officer.” With this object in view, paragraphs 980 and 981, Revised
Regulations, must be strictly complied with.

A sense of duty to the public, will cause an enforcement of the
laws and regulations governing the service, and these must be the
guidance of the officers obtaining recruits. Officers cannot be too
circumspect in the discharge of their duties, and they are called upon
to comply strictly with all regulations applicable to the subject.

II ..As to minors, every precaution should be taken to prevent their
enlistment, except as provided by the regulations. A true record of
the age is of great value. In a majority of cases the recruiting officer
may be justified in recording the age as stated by the person offering
to enlist ; yet many cases occur in which he should rely more upon

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liis own judgment, and lesson the recmit’s affirmation, in ascertaining
his probable, if not his actual age. In every doubtful case, therefore,
as to minority, or ever age, of the man, it becomes the duty of the
officer to judge for himself, to a certain extent, and not in any case to
accept a recruit who, under anxiety to enlist, manifestly misstates
his age.

III. .It will be observed the regulations, at this time, contain no
direct prohibition to enlist married men. In the regimental service
this must be governed by the want of laundresses for companies ; and
in the general service by the Superintendents.

IV. .It is enjoined on all Superintendents and other officers, com¬
missioned and non-commissioned, to conduct the service with diligence,
unceasing personal attention, and economy.

By command of Major Ginkral McClellan :

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant General.

Official :

Assistant Adjutant General.