\I. The following act of Congress, with regulations of the Secretary of War thereupon, are published for the information of the Army:

AN ACT to authorize and provide for the organization of the Maryland Line.

SECTION. 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all native or adopted citizens of the State of Maryland who have heretofore volunteered, are now in, or many hereafter volunteer in the service of the Confederate States, may, at their option, be organized and enrolled into companies, squadrons, battalions, and regiments, and with the First Maryland Regiment, and several companies now in service, into one or more brigades, to be known as the Maryland Line; said organization to be in accordance with existing laws.

Approved February 15, 1862.

II. In accordance with the requirements of above act all Marylanders now in service in the military organizations other than that of the First Maryland Regiment, will, upon application (proper evidence setting forth the fact that they are native or adopted Marylanders being furnished), be transferred to the First Maryland Regiment; or, where the numbers are sufficient, may be organized into companies, squadrons, battalions, or regiments, which, with the First Maryland Regiment, will be formed into brigades to be known as the Maryland Line.

III. Colonel George H. Steuart, now commanding the First Maryland Regiment, is assigned to this duty of organization, re-enlisting for his own regiment, and reorganizing from the material obtained by enlistments and transfers, in accordance with the following law, having command of the whole.

By order of the Secretary of War:

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.