Chapter IV.- An Act increasing the pay of the noncommissioned officers, musicians, privates, and others of the Army, and for other purposes. December 12, 1812

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the thirty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and twelve, the monthly pay of the non-commissioned officers, musicians, privates, drivers, bombardiers, matrosses, sappers, miners, artificers, saddlers, farriers, and blacksmiths, who have enlisted or shall hereafter enlist in the service of the United States, shall, during the continuance of the war between the United States of America and their territories, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof, be as follows, to wit: To each sergeant major and quartermaster sergeant, twelve dollars; to each sergeant and principal musician, eleven dollars; to each corporal, ten dollars; to each musician, nine dollars; to each private, driver, bombardier, matross, sapper, and miner, eight dollars; to each artificer, saddler, farrier, and blacksmith, not attached to the quartermaster general's and ordnance department, thirteen dollars.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That during the continuance of the war with Great Britain, no non-commissioned officer, musician, private, driver, bombardier, matross, sapper, miner, artificer, saddler, farrier or blacksmith, enlisted in the service of the United States, during his continuance in service shall be arrested, or subject to arrest, or to be taken in execution for any debt contracted before or after enlistment.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That every non-commissioned officer, musician, and private, who shall, after the promulgation of this act be recruited in the regular army of the United States, may, at his option, to be made at the time of enlistment, engage to serve during the present war with Great Britain, instead of the term of five years; and shall, in case he makes such option, be entitled to the same bounty in money and land, and to all other allowances, and be subject to the same rules and regulations, as if he had enlisted for the term of five years.

APPROVED, December 12, 1812.

By James Madison

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