Increase of ordnance department. Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That the President of the of the United States be, and is hereby, authorized to add to the ordnance department, whenever he shall deem it expedient to increase the same, two captains and six first lieutenants, who shall be entitled to receive the same pay and allowances as officers of those grades, respectively, now belonging to that department, to be disbanded at the close of the war.
Brevets to non-commissioned officers.Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That when any non-commissioned officer shall distinguish himself, or may have distinguished himself, in the service, the President of the United States shall be, and is hereby, authorized, on the recommendation of the commanding officer of the regiment to which such non-commissioned officer belongs, to attach him by brevet of the lowest grade of rank, with the usual pay and emoluments of such grade, to any corps of the army:
Proviso. Provided, That there shall not be more than one so attached to any one company at the same time; and when any private soldier shall so distinguish himself the President may in like manner grant him a certificate of merit, which shall entitle him to additional pay at the rate of two dollars per month.
Two companies to be added to each of regiments of artillery. Sec. 18. And be it further enacted, That there shall be added to each of the regiments of artillery two companies, to be organized in the same manner, and who shall receive the like pay and allowances in every respect as authorized by existing laws; and in addition to 1821, ch. 13. the four companies authorized by the act of March second, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, to be equipped as light artillery, Additional companies of light artillery.the President is hereby empowered, when he shall deem it necessary, to designate four other companies, one in each regiment, to be organized and equipped as light artillery; and each regiment of artillery shall be allowed two principal musicians with the rates of pay provided by law for the principal musicians in the regiments of infantry.
Pay of light artillery. Sec. 19. And be it further enacted, That the officers and men of the light artillery, when serving as such and mounted, shall receive the same pay and allowances as provided by law for the dragoons.
Allowance of additional rations for the adjutant-general and the quartermaster-general.Sec. 20. And be it further enacted, That the provisions of the sixth section of the act entitled "An Act respecting the Organization of the Army," &c, approved August twenty-third, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, which allow additional rations to certain1842, ch 186.officers of the army, be, and the same are hereby, so extended as to embrace the quartermaster-general and adjutant-general of the army from the date of the act.
Deficient regiments to be consolidated, and supernumerary officers discharged Sec. 21. And be it further enacted, That, for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary expenses in the military establishment including volunteers, the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized, in case of failure in filling the rank and file of any regiment or regiments, to consolidate such deficient regiment or regiments, and discharge all supernumerary officers; Proviso.Provided, That officers so discharged shall be allowed, in addition to the mileage already authorized by law, three months’ pay to each.
When the officers and forces authorized by this act shall be discharged Sec. 22. And be it further enacted, That all the officers appointed, and the additional force authorized to be raised under this act, shall be discharged at the close of the war with Mexico, except the officers of the ordnance authorized by the sixteenth section, and the two companies to each regiment of artillery authorized by the eighteenth section of this act.
Approved, March 3, 1847.
