The
Senate yesterday, was opened with prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Leyburne, of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported back, with the recommendation that it pass, the
House bill to provide for the establishment of an Invalid Corps.
Mr. Sparrow from the same, reported back, with the recommendation that it be concurred in, the
House joint resolution of thanks to
Major General Patrick R. Cleburne, and the officers and men under his command, for their gallant defence of Ringold Gap, on the 27th of last November.
The resolution was considered and unanimously concurred in.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same, reported back, with the request to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject, resolutions of Company B, 20th Georgia Battalion.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same, reported back, with the recommendation that it do not pass,
House bill to amend the act entitled "an act to put an end to the exemption from military service of those who have heretofore furnished substitutes." Approved January 5th, 1864.
Mr. Semmes, from the Finance Committee, reported back with amendments, with the recommendation that it be passed, the
House bill to make additional appropriations for the support of the
Government for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1864. The bill and amendments were ordered to be printed.
On motion of
Mr. Sparrow, the bill to provide and organize a
general staff for armies in the field, to serve during the war, was taken up, considered, and after amendment, passed and sent to the
House.
The bill authorizes a commanding general to assign to duty as chief of staff one of the
general officers of his command, who shall, under his direction, be charged with the general administration of their respective armies; one of his brigadier general under his command as inspector general and one as chief quartermaster; that he may assign to duty as chief commissary one officer below the rank of brigadier general and one as chief of ordnance; it also allows the commanding general a medical director, with the pay and allowances of a brigadier general, and five aids de-camp, one with the rank, pay, and allowance of colonel of cavalry, one of lieutenant colonel, one of major, one of captain, and one of first lieutenant.
The second section allows to a lieutenant-general one
assistant adjutant general, one
assistant inspector general, and one
chief quartermaster, with the rank, pay and allowances of a colonel of cavalry; a chief commissary and a chief of ordnance, with the rank, &c, of major of cavalry, and also one surgeon, with the pay and allowances of a major of cavalry; and four aids de camp--one with the rank, &c., of a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry, one of major, one of captain, and one of first lieutenant.
Section third allows to a major general commanding a division one
assistant adjutant general, one
assistant inspector-general and one
chief quartermaster, with the rank, &c., of a lieutenant colonel of cavalry; one
chief commissary and one
chief of ordnance, with the rank, &c., of major of cavalry; a surgeon, with the pay, &c., of major of cavalry, and three
aide-de-camp, with the rank, &c.--one of a major, one of a captain, and one of a first lieutenant of cavalry.
Section fourth allows a brigadier general commanding a brigade one
assistant adjutant-general and one
inspector general, with the rank, &c., of major of cavalry, one surgeon, with the pay, &c., of major of cavalry, and two aids-de camp, one with the rank, &c., of a captain of cavalry, and one with the rank, &c., of a first lieutenant of cavalry.
The following bill creating the office of Ensign in the army, was taken up and passed:
‘
The
Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there shall be appointed by the
President to each regiment of infantry in the army of the
Confederate States an officer to be known as
Ensign, with the rank, pay, and allowances of a 1st
Lieutenant, whose duty it shall be to take the colors of the regiment without the right to commend in the field.
’
The bill to provide compensation for officers heretofore performing staff duty under orders of their
Commanding General, was taken up and passed.
On motion of
Mr. Clay, the Senate resolved into secret session.
The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Duncan.
There was no business of an important character transacted.
Joint resolutions were offered and adopted tendering the thanks of Congress to
Gen. Rodes' Division,
Brig. Gen. Rimsuer and his command, and to certain
Florida troops, for their past gallantry, and their promptness in re-enlisting for the war.
Mr. Foster, of
Alabama, introduced two balls, one to exempt certain persons from the tax in kind, which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, and one to increase the pay of non commissioned officers and privates, which was referred to the Military Committee.
On motion of
Mr. Pugh, of
Alabama, the
House went into secret session.
