The Virginia Volunteers and the Government bounty.
A correspondent, writing from the camp of the 17th regiment Virginia volunteers, asks the following questions: ‘"If a volunteer re-enlists for the war under the late bill passed by the Legislature, is he entitled to the county and furlough provided for by the act of the Confederate Congress?
Is a refugee from
Maryland liable to militia draft?"’
The Executive of
Virginia, with a view to a thorough understanding of the subject involved, addressed the following interrogatories to the
Secretary of War a day or two since:
Will volunteers now in service, who shall re-enlist for three years or the war into the service of
Virginia, to be transferred to the Confederate Government, be entitled to a county of fifty dollars each?
Will the Virginia volunteers re-enlisting under the late act of Assembly for three years--to be credited by the term already served at date of re-enlistment — be entitled to the same bounty?
Will volunteers for three years or the war, who have not heretofore served, be entitled to the same bounty?
Secretary Benjamin replies:
‘"Your three questions are answered affirmatively.
Each soldier furnished by
Virginia for the war, in response to the call made by the
President, will receive a bounty of fifty dollars when the regiment or company is mustered into the
Confederate service, and will be allowed transportation from home to the place of rendezvous."’
This is the most comprehensive answer we are able to give to the first interrogatory of our correspondent.
With regard to the second, we can only reply that the bill calls for the drafting of all
citizens of
Virginia, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, including refugees from districts occupied by the enemy.
It says nothing about refugees from other States, who have not been here long enough to become citizens.
