at the date of the act of gallantry for which the certificate is granted. This extra pay is two dollars per month while the soldier remains continuously in service.-[G. D. 28, 1880.]

251. Certificates of merit will not be granted to persons not in the military service of the United States at the date of application for them.-[G. O. 28, 1878.]

252. Should a soldier die before receiving a certificate conferred upon him, it will be deposited in the office of the Second Auditor of the Treasury for the benefit of his heirs.-[G. O. 28, 1878.]

253. In case the soldier is discharged before the certificate is issued, it will be retained in the office of the Adjutant General until called for, when proof of the identity of the applicant will be re quired.-G. O. 28, 1878.]

ARTICLE XXVI

CHAPLAINS.

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ARTICLE XXVII.

ORDNANCE SERGEANTS-COMMISSARY SERGEANTS.

258. Ordnance and Commissary Sergeants are selected by the Secretary of War from the Sergeants of the line of the Army.[Regs. 1863, ¶ 131; R. S., §§ 1110, 1142.]

259. Ordnance Sergeants are appointed from Sergeants who have faithfully served eight years in the line, four of which shall have been in the grade of non-commissioned officers.-[R. S., § 1110.]

260. Commissary Sergeants are appointed from Sergeants who have faithfully served five years in the line, three of which shall have been in the grade of non-commissioned officers.-[R. S., § 1142.]

261. Sergeants receiving these appointments are dropped from the rolls of the regiment or company in which they have been serving.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 133.]

262. Captains will report to their Colonels such Sergeants as, by their conduct and service, merit appointments as Ordnance or Commissary Sergeants, setting forth the description and length of service of the Sergeant; the portion of his service he was a noncommissioned officer; his general character as to fidelity and sobriety; his qualifications as a clerk, and his fitness for the duties of the position for which he is recommended.—[ Regs. 1863, ¶ 132; G. 0. 38, 1873.]

263. When a company is detached from the headquarters of the regiment, these reports will pass to regimental headquarters through the commanding officer of the post or detachment, and will be

accompanied by his opinion as to the fitness of the candidate for the position sought.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 133; G. O. 38, 1873.]

264. Commanding officers of regiments will forward these reports to the Adjutant General, to be laid before the Secretary of War, with an application in the following form:

To the ADJUTANT GENERAL:

HEADQUARTERS, &C.

SIR: I forward for consideration of the proper authority an application for the appointment of Ordnance (or Commissary) Sergeant.

Inclosed here with you will receive the report of

the officer commanding the company in which the Sergeant has been serving, to which I add the following remarks:

[Regs. 1863, ¶ 132; G. O. 38, 1873.]

Commanding-Regiment.

265. From the nature of the duties assigned to these Sergeants it is evident that their judicious selection is of no small importance to the interests of the service. While the law contemplates in the appointment of Ordnance and Commissary Sergeants the better preservation of public property at the several posts, there is also a further consideration-that of offering a reward to faithful and well-tried Sergeants, and thus giving encouragement to deserving soldiers to hope for substantial promotion. Colonels and Captains cannot, therefore, be too particular in investigating the characters of the candidates, and in giving their testimony as to their merits. -[Regs. 1863, ¶ 136; G. Õ. 38, 1873.]

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268. At the expiration of his term of service, an Ordnance or

a Commissary Sergeant may be re-enlisted, provided he shall have conducted himself in a becoming manner, and performed his duties to the satisfaction of the commanding officer. If, however, the commanding officer shall not think it proper to make the re-enlistment, he will communicate to the Adjutant General his reasons therefor in time to receive the decision of the War Department before the Sergeant can lawfully claim to re-enlist.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 135; G. O. 38, 1873.]

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278. When Commissary Sergeants fail to properly perform their duties, their discharge will be recommended.—[G. O. 31, 1878.]

ARTICLE XXVIII.

HOSPITAL STEWARDS.

279. There shall be one Hospital Steward for each military post, and the Secretary of War may appoint from the enlisted men of the Army, or cause to be enlisted, as many Hospital Stewards as the service may require. They shall be graded as 1st, 2d, and 3d class, and shall be permanently attached to the Medical Corps, under such regulations as the Secretary of War may prescribe.-[R. S., §§ 1179, 1180, 1181.]

280. The senior Medical officer of a hospital requiring a Steward may recommend a competent non-commissioned officer or soldier to be appointed, which recommendation the commanding officer shall forward to the Adjutant General of the Army, with his remarks thereon, and with the remarks of the Company Commander. And, as the object of these more permanent appointments is to procure the services of a more competent body of Hospital Stewards, no soldier nor citizen must henceforward be recommended for appointment who is not known to be temperate, honest, and in every way reliable, as well as sufficiently intelligent, and skilled in pharmacy, for the proper discharge of the responsible duties likely to bo devolved upon him.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1324.]

281. Applications and testimonials of persons desirous of enlisting as Hospital Stewards may be addressed to the Surgeon General.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1325.]

282. When necessary, and on the recommendation of the Medical officer, the commanding officer shall detail a soldier to act as Steward. A soldier so detailed, and serving with a command of more than four companies, will be mustered as a Hospital Steward of the second class. When serving with a command of four, or a less number of companies, he will be mustered as a Hospital Steward of the third class. When no competent enlisted man can be obtained, the Medical officer shall report the fact to the Medical Director. [R. S., § 1181; Regs. 1863, ¶ 1325, and note.]

283. The commanding officer may re-enlist a Hospital Steward

at the expiration of his term of service, on the recommendation of the Medical officer.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1326.]

284. When a Hospital Steward is discharged, by expiration of service or other cause, a special report of the fact will be made to the Surgeon General by the Medical officer in charge, who will also state the character, efficiency, and capacity of the Steward as far as his knowledge extends.-[Regs. Med. Dept., ¶ 88.]

285. Hospital Stewards, whenever stationed in places whence no post return is made to the Adjutant General's Office, or when on furlough, will, at the end of every month, report themselves by letter to the Adjutant General and Surgeon General, as well as to the Medical Director of the military department in which they may be serving; to each of whom they will also report each new assignment to duty, or change of station ordered in their case, noting carefully the number, date, and source of the order directing the same; they will likewise report monthly when on furlough, to the Medical officer in charge of the hospital to which they are attached.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1327.]

286. The accounts of pay, clothing, &c., of Hospital Stewards must be kept by the Medical officers under whose immediate direction they are serving, who shall be responsible for certified statements of such accounts and correct descriptive lists of such Stewards, to accompany them in case of transfer, and for the accuracy of their final statements and certificates of discharge when they are discharged from service.-[Regs. 1863, ¶ 1328.]

ARTICLE XXIX.

VETERINARY SURGEONS OF CAVALRY REGIMENTS.

287. Appointments as Veterinary Surgeons will be confined to the graduates of established and reputable veterinary schools or colleges. They will be appointed by the Secretary of War, in numbers not to exceed the legal establishment, and only on recommendation from the commanding officer of the regiment, supported by the requisite proofs of learning and skill, and by approval of intermediate commanders.-[G. O. 36, 1879.]

288. The visits of inspection and instruction by the Veterinary Surgeons will be made under the direction of the Commanding Generals of Departments and Divisions.-[G. O. 36, 1879.]

289. A Veterinary Surgeon is, from time to time, to visit all the companies of the regiment to which he belongs; to instruct the Farriers and enlisted men in the proper and humane care of the horse, in order to the prevention and treatment of diseases; especially to teach the anatomy and pathology of the foot. He should illustrate his instructions by dissections and specimens, to show the nature and uses of all parts of the horse's foot, and he should also teach the principles and practice of horseshoeing.-[G. O. 36, 1379.]

290. Veterinary Surgeons are to have free access to the stables, and their suggestions for the care and treatment of horses must be enforced by the authority of the commanding officer.-[G. O. 104, 1868.]

291. Veterinary Surgeons and Farriers should be encouraged to make and preserve collections of specimens obtained from post mortem examinations, illustrating the anatomy and pathology of the horse, in order to popularize and disseminate a knowledge of those important subjects in the Army.-[G. O. 36, 1879.]

292. In order to encourage thoroughness and system in the study and treatment of the diseases of the horse, as well as to furnish information regarding the management of the Veterinary Department of the Army, a monthly report of sick and wounded for each company and battery, similar to that adopted by the Medical Department, should be forwarded by Veterinary Surgeons and company Farriers, through the company and post commanders, to the Quartermaster General.-[G. O. 36, 1879.]

ARTICLE XXX.

PURCHASE AND CARE OF PUBLIC ANIMALS.

293. The following specifications will govern in purchasing horses and mules for the military service:-[G. O. 17, 1876.] Cavalry Horses.-To be geldings, of hardy colors, sound in all particulars, in good condition, well broken to the saddle, from fifteen to sixteen hands high, not less than five nor more than nine years old, and suitable in every respect for Cavalry service.

Whenever it becomes necessary to purchase the half-breed horses of California or Southern Texas, the standard of height may be reduced to not less than fourteen and a half hands.

Artillery Horses.-To be geldings, of hardy colors, sound in all particulars, in good condition, square trotters, well broken to harness, from fifteen to sixteen hands high, not less than five nor more than nine years old, and suitable in every respect for Artillery service.

Mules.—To be strong, stout, compact animals, sound in all particulars, in good condition, well broken to harness, not under fourteen hands high, not less than four nor more than nine years old, and suitable in every respect for the transportation service of the Army.

When work-horses are to be purchased, they should be sound in all particulars, fifteen and one-half hands high and upwards, strong built, well broken to work in harness, not less than four nor more than nine years old.

For pack purposes, the standard of height may be reduced to thirteen and a half hands, if the animal be in other respects suitable. The pack mule need not necessarily be broken to harness.