Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 3.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Our State is invaded, and Charleston is threatened, by land and by sea, with large forces. I, therefore, in conformity with an act passed the 7th inst., entitled “An Act to annul and suspend certain portions of the Militia and Patrol Laws of this State,” do hereby issue this, my proclamation, calling for twelve thousand volunteers, to be furnished for a term of service not less than twelve months, unless sooner discharged. These troops will be received and mustered in according to orders, below issued, by the Adjutant and Inspector-General.

Unless this call is promptly responded to, a draft will be executed according to the provisions of said Act. For further particulars, special reference is hereby made to the order of the Adjutant and Inspector-General.

In accordance with the proclamation of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, and under the provisions of the Act of the General Assembly, entitled “An Act to suspend and amend certain portions of the Militia and Patrol Laws of this State,” it is hereby ordered:

1. That ten companies of Infantry and two companies of Cavalry be raised and organized forthwith, from the First, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Brigades of South Carolina Militia respectively, in accordance with the ninth section of said act.

2. Brigadier-General De Saussure, commanding Fourth Brigade S. C. M., is directed to proceed at once to take, or cause to be taken, a complete and accurate census of his command, in accordance with provisions of the ninth section of the above Act of the General Assembly, and make the returns thereof to this office.

3. The Generals commanding the Seventh and Eighth Brigades of S. C. M., are directed to make out and return to this office returns of the same character.

4. That Generals of Divisions and Brigades and Commanders of Regiments are charged with the prompt extension and faithful execution of the above provisions of said act and of this order.

5. That the number of volunteers or drafted men required from each company (beat or volunteer) be apportioned by the commanding officers of regiments, under the direction of Generals of Brigades, and when any company (beat or volunteer) fails to furnish its required quota, then the commanding officer of the regiment will at once order and execute a draft for such quota, in accordance with the form provided in the one hundred and forty-sixth section of A. A. of 1841.

6. The regiments of infantry will consist of ten companies, at least sixty-eight men in the aggregate, and the companies of cavalry of at least seventy-two each, aggregate, to serve for a period of not less than twelve (12) months.

7. Elections will be ordered for company officers by the commanding officers of the regiments, as soon as the requisite number of men have volunteered, or been drafted, and the rolls of the companies and certificates of election will be forthwith forwarded to this office.

8. Upon the reception of the rolls of companies and certificates of election of company officers, orders will be issued for the rendezvousing of said company in camp, and company officers will take rank from the reception of their companies in this office.

9. Tenders of volunteer companies made from and after this date, should be made to and transmitted to this office, by the commanding officer of the militia regiments, from which such companies are raised, who will keep a copy of such rolls to perfect his census returns of their respective regiments.

10. All volunteer companies not having the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, required by law, except those in actual service, or already ordered into actual service, are herewith ordered to be dissolved, and their arms, accoutrements, and equipments returned forthwith to the arsenals at Charleston or Columbia.

11. The census returns required by the act will be accurately made out and returned in a proper form to this office without delay.

12. Officers charged with duties under this [461] order are required to execute them promptly and efficiently without further notice, upon the pain of being visited with the extreme penalties of the law.

By command of the Governor.