.... through the commanding officer of the military post, garrison or encampment, at which the officer, making the return, is stationed. The commanding officers of companies shall be responsible for the correctness of their respective returns. Regulations respecting salutes. The national salute shall be conformable to the number of states recognized by congress, now eigh teen. A national salute shall be fired on a visit to the post from the President of the United States, on his landing and leaving, and to no other person. Fifteen guns shall be fired on a visit from the vicepresident, the governor of a state, (not a territory,) the secretary of war, secretary of the navy, a committee of congress, or a major general of the army on their landing; and thirteen guns may be fired to a general officer when inspecting the posts of his district; no other rank in the army shall be entitled to a salute. Previous notice must be given to the commanding officer of the post for the salute to be fired. No salutes shall be fired to foreign ships or vessels of war but in return, and in every case their salute shall be returned gun for gun, notice being given. No salutes shall be fired to public armed vessels of the United States under the rate of a frigate, and then only in return, the same number of guns, notice being given. Each military post on the sea board will fire, at sun rise, on the morning of the fourth of July, a salute of thirteen guns, emblematical of the thirteen states, which were declared independent; and at one o'clock of the same day, a national salute will be fired from all the military posts and forts in the United States. Salutes from the forts at the several posts and in the harbors shall, as a general rule, be from six to twelve pounders, and of no higher caliber. A gun, not exceeding a six pounder, may be fired at day light, each morning, at the following posts, viz. .... Fort Preble, Portland; Fort Constitution, Portsmouth, New-Hampshire; Fort Independence, Boston harbor; Fort Wolcott, Rhode-Island; Fort Columbus, New-York; Fort Mifflin, Delaware; Fort M'Henry, Baltimore; Fort Nelson, Norfolk; Fort Johnson, South-Carolina; and Fort St. Charles, NewOrleans. Rules adopted by the President of the United States, respecting promotions in the army. Promotions in the army of the United States shall hereafter be made agreeably to the regulations in force previous to those of the 3d of September, 1799, which were promulgated in general orders, dated 9th of that month. Promotions to the rank of captain shall be made regimentally; and to the rank of colonel, in the lines of artillery and infantry, respectively; the three different establishments being kept distinct. The officer next in rank will, on the happening of a vacancy, be considered, in ordinary cases, as the proper person to fill the same; but this rule may be subject to exceptions in extraordinary cases. The above rules for promotions in the infantry and artillery, are applicable to the cavalry and riflemen. No officer will consider himself as filling a vacan cy, until he receives notice thereof through the department of war. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, May 4, 1812. Regulation of the duties of the general staff. THE duties of the general staff are distributed a mong the inspector general, the adjutant general, the quarter master general, the superior officer of artille ry, the superior officer of engineers, and the superior surgeon of the army. .. It will be the duty of the inspector general to orga nize the army; to superintend and enforce discipline; to visit and inspect camps, cantonments, quarters, prisons, places of arms, and hospitals; to make stated and unexpected inspections of troops, arms, equipage, clothing, ammunition, and horses; to make in spection returns, and confidential reports relative to the state and discipline of the army; to designate men and horses unfit for service, or the fatigues of war, that the former may be discharged, or sent to garrisons, and the latter sold; to examine the books of the quarter masters, pay masters, and companies, and ascertain the balances; to receive inspection returns and confidential reports; and to prescribe forms of returns exhibiting all the wants of the army. It will be the duty of the adjutant general to form all orders given by the commanding general in a perspicuous manner; to forward them with despatch; to publish the decisions on the sentences of general courts martial; to make out all details for the distribution of service, equally, between the different corps of the army; to receive the daily and monthly returns, and lay abstracts before the commanding general; to draw up instructions; to furnish watchwords; to give form to the correspondence with the secretary of war, generals, and staff officers; to receive all applications for furloughs, and other particular requests; to correspond with relations of soldiers; to preserve orders, instructions, printed documents, and letters; to make the monthly return of the army; and to prescribe forms of the returns exhibiting the strength of corps. It will be the duty of the quarter master general to purchase military stores, camp equipage, and other articles requisite for the troops, when thereto directed by the secretary at war; to procure and provide means of transport for the army, its stores, artillery, and camp equipage; to ensure a supply of provistons, and a regular distribution thereof to the troops i .... to provide artificers and laborers for the public works; to direct marches, and the laying out of encampments; to regulate foraging; to procure intelligence, and make secret disbursements to spies and guides; to license and regulate suttlers at head quarters; to make all disbursements for the public service; and when the army goes into quarters, he distributes them, so that every officer may be convenient to his command, and that the highest rank may have the choice of quarters. The superior officer of artillery will be charged with whatsoever relates to the artillery, the park, laboratory, tools, and ammunition. The superior officer of engineers will be charged with the department of topography; to draw plans of all kinds; to trace routes; to direct the formation of roads and bridges; to direct the erection of fortifications and public works; to keep a roll of the laborers employed; to superintend the trenches at sieges; to select the posts which are to cover and protect the camp; and to make such professional reports and estimates as may be required by the commanding general. The superior surgeon of the army is charged with what relates to the preservation of its health; to ensure the necessary supply of medicines and instruments; to establish stationary and moveable hospitals; and to have all things necessary for the wounded in complete readiness. It will be the duty of each principal officer of the staff, to accompany the commanding general in his reconnoitering excursions, circuits, and reviews; and in action, he shall be attended by the inspector general, adjutant general, and quartermaster general, who shall execute such orders as may be given to them. By command of the Secretary of War, ALEX. MACOMB, Acting Adjutant General, E MILITARY LAWS. An ACT fixing the Military Peace Establishment of the United States. Sec. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the military peace establishment of the United Sates, from and after the first of June next, shall be composed of one regiment of artillerists and two regiments of infantry, with such officers, military agents, and engineers, as are hereinafter mentioned. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the regiment of artillerists shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, four majors, one adjutant, and twenty com. panies, each company to consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, two cadets, four sergeants, four corporals, four musicians, eight artificers and fifty-six privates; to be formed into five battal ions: Provided always, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to retain, with their present grade, as many of the first lieutenants, now in service, as shall amount to the whole number of lieutenants required; but that in proportion as vacancies happen therein, new appointments be made to the grade of second lieutenants until their number amount to twenty; and each regiment of infantry shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one major, one adjutant, one sergeant major, two teachers of music, and ten companies; each company to consist of one captain, one first and one second lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, four musicians, and sixty-four privates. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be one brigadier general, with one aid de camp, who shall be taken from the captains or subalterns of the line; one adjutant and inspector of the army, to be taken from the line of field officers; one pay master of the army, seven pay masters and two assistants, to be attached to such districts as the President of the United States shall direct, to be taken from the line of com |