and at the same time to give some reward for meritorious conduct, a system of furloughs is hereby instituted in the army. These furloughs will be granted in the first instance at the rate of 2 for every 100 men present for duty. This system will be continued so long as the exigencies of the service will permit, should the effects by not found prejudicial. Commanders of regiments and battalions will forward on each occasion the most urgent and meritorious cases for approval of superior commanders. The time will be regulated according to the following table: Virginia, 15 days; North Carolina, 18 days; South Carolina, 21 days; Georgia and Tennessee, 24 days; Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, 30 days. Furloughs will be granted equally to the soldiers from States and district with which communication is cut off, but in no case will these furloughs carry permission to go within the enemy's lines or pass through them. The time for such cases will be regulated by the number of days allowed for the State in the above list which they intend to visit. The application will in every instance be made out and indorsed after the inclosed form. The men furloughed will be authorized to bring back all stragglers and recruits who may come in their way.

By command of General Lee:

W. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
August 16, 1863.

I am directed by General Lee to say that he desires to allow men to go home on furlough at the rate of 2 to every 100 men present for duty, for the first lot who go. When these return, the rate is to be reduced to 1 for every 100 men present for duty. This explanation is made, as the language in General Orders, Numbers 84, may not be readily understood.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[29.]

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Numbers 85.
August 17, 1863.

In connection with the recent call of the President and paragraph 1, General Orders, Numbers 98, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, current series, requiring all white male residents of the Confederate States between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, not exempted by law and not already in service, to be enrolled, the attention of company commanders in this army is called to paragraph II, General Orders, Numbers 64, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, series of 1862, wherein it ordered that in all cases of substitution, when the substitute becomes liable to conscription, his principal is again liable to service, unless except on other grounds. In all cases when a substitute has been received who was under forty-five years of age on the day of the President's call for men to this age was issued, or has reached the age of eighteen since his reception, the name and residence of the principal will be promptly reported to these headquarters for the information of the proper enrolling officers, that he may be again called into service.

By command of General Lee:

W. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[29.]