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Chapter XI.- An Act authorizing the President of the United States to raise certain companies of Rangers for the protection of the frontier of the United States. January 2, 1812

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States, whenever he shall have satisfactory evidence of the actual or threatened invasion of any state or territory of the United States, by any Indian tribe or tribes, be, and he is hereby authorized to raise, either by the acceptance of volunteers or enlistment for one year, unless sooner discharged, as many companies as he may deem necessary, not exceeding six, who shall serve on foot or be mounted, as the service in his opinion may require, shall act on the frontier as rangers, be armed, equipped and organized in such manner, and be under such regulations and restrictions, as the nature of the service, in his opinion, may make necessary.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That each of the said companies Of rangers shall consist of one captain, one first, one second lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, and sixty privates.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That when the said rangers arm and equip themselves and provide their own horses, they shall be allowed each one dollar per day, and without a horse seventy-five cents per day, as fill compensation for their services, rations or forage, as the case may be. The commissioned officers shall receive the same pay and rations as officers of the same grade in the army of the United States.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, raised pursuant to this act, shall be entitled to the like compensation in case of disability, by wounds and otherwise, incurred in the service, as officers, non-commissioned officers and privates in the present military establishment, and with them shall be subject to the rules and articles of war, which have been established or may hereafter by law be established; and the provisions of the act, entituled "An act fixing the military peace establishment of the United States," so far as they may be applicable, shall be extended to all persons, matters and things within the intent and meaning of this act, in the same manner as if they were inserted at large in the same. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the passage thereof, and continue in force for one year, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress.

SEC. 5, And be it further enacted, That in the recess of the Senate, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to appoint all the officers proper to be appointed under this act; which appointments shall be submitted to the Senate at their next session for their advice and consent.

APPROVED, January 2, 1812.

By James Madison

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Source of Information

Library of Congress