[House Bill No. 319.] 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jan. 3, 1865.— Read first 
 and second times ; continuing special order after last special orders ; 
 to be printed. 
 
 [By Mr. Miles, Military Committee.] 
 
 A BILL 
 
 More effectually to prevent nnd punish Absenteeism and Desertion in the 
 
 Army. 
 
 1 Se(.'tion' 1 . The Congress of the Confederate States of Ame- 
 
 2 ric.'i do <'nact, That every General commanding a department or 
 
 3 separati' army in the field, is hereby required to drop from the 
 
 4 rolls any officer absent, without authority, for a longer period 
 •5 thnii thirty days. 
 
 1 Sec. 'J. Ho it further enacted, That any regimental officer, 
 
 '2 Nvho, in the opinion of the General commanding the department 
 
 5 or separate army to which he belongs, shall willfully or care- 
 
 4 lessly neglect the comfort and care of his men, or exhibit an 
 
 5 undue laxity of discipline, shall be punished by suspending him 
 
 from his rank and from all pay and allowances for such time, 
 7 not to exceed three months, as the General commanding the de- 
 5? paitMient or army may prescribe. 
 
 1 Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That any commissioned officer 
 '2 of the army, who shall knowingly recruit or receive into his 
 
2 
 
 3 command any private belonging to another command, or shall, 
 
 4 after being informed of the fact, neglect to return such private 
 
 5 to his command, or to deliver him up to the proper authorities 
 
 6 charged with the arrest of deserters, within the state where such 
 
 7 officer may be, shall be dropped from the rolls by the President, 
 
 8 upon satisfactory proof that the offence specified in this section 
 
 9 has been committed by him. 
 
 1 Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That any officer, uon-commis- 
 
 2 sioned officer or private, who shall desert from the atmy, shall, 
 
 3 in addition to the penalties now provided by law, have his name 
 
 4 recorded in the Adjutant General's office, upon a separate and 
 
 5 distinct roll to be kept for the purpose, copies of which shall 
 
 6 be sent, every three months, to the Governors of the respective 
 
 7 States and all Generals in command of separate departments or 
 
 8 armies in the field.