Military Laws And Rules And Regulations For The Armies Of The United States.

Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office Washington, May 1st , 1813

Articles of War

An act for establishing rules and articles for the government of the United States.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passing of this act, the following shall be the rules and articles by which the armies of the United States shall be governed.

Art. 2. It is earnestly recommended to all officers and soldiers diligently to attend divine service; and all officers who shall behave indecently, or irreverently at any place of divine worship, shall, if commissioned officers, be brought before a general court martial, there to be publicly and severely reprimanded by the President, if non-commissioned officers or soldiers, every person so offending shall, for his first offence, forfeit one fifth of a dollar, to be deducted out of his next pay; for the second offence he shall not only forfeit a like sum, but be confined twenty-four hours; and for every like offence shall suffer and pay in like manner, which money, so forfeited, shall be applied by the captain or senior officer of the troop or company, to the use of the sick soldiers of the company or troop to which the offender belongs.

Art. 3 Any non commissioned officer or soldier, who shall use any profane oath or execration shall incur the penalties expressed in the foregoing article, and a commissioned officer shall forfeit and pay for each and every such offence one dollar, to be applied as in the preceding article.

Art. 4 Every chaplain commissioned in the army or armies of the United States, who shall absent himself from the duties assigned him (excepting in cases of sickness or leave of absence) shall, on conviction thereof before a court martial, be fined not exceeding one month’s pay, besides the loss of his pay during his absence, or be discharged, as the said court martial shall judge proper.

Art. 5 Any officer or soldier who shall use contemptuous or disrespectful words against the President of the United States, or against the Vice-President thereof, or against the Congress of the United States, or against the chief magistrate or legislation of any of the United States in which he may be quartered, if a commissioned officer, shall be cashiered, or otherwise punished, as a court martial shall direct; if a non-commissioned officer or soldier, he shall cashiered or otherwise punished, as a court martial shall direct; if a non-commissioned officer or soldier, he shall suffer such punishment as shall be inflicted on him by the sentence of a court martial.

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