BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
A PROCLAMATION.
To enable the people of Virginia to contribute a proper share of their militia strength for the exigencies of the public defence without too great a sacrifice of industrial interest, it is proposed to mobilize the militia by accepting from the mass volunteers for twelve months from each county and city equal to ten per cent of its entire white population as ascertained by the census of 1860.
As part of this ten per cent., a credit will be given to each county and city for the number of volunteers already contributed and now in the field.
It is to be distinctly understood that this arrangement is adopted in order, if practicable to avoid the inconvenience of a levy of the militia in mass. It is hoped that the people of the whole state will promptly avail themselves of the alternative thus offered.
Commandants of regiments within that portion of the State from which the Militia have been called by the Proclamations of July 13th and 16th, will observe that it is not intended hereby to interfere with or suspend the levy therein required, except where a county or city shall entitle itself to exemption, by contributing the number of volunteers required. In the meantime every facility will be given for the formation of Volunteer Companies, and when the complement of any county or city is completed, the residue of the population subject to military duty will remain enrolled for home defense and police.
The requirements of the proclamation of July 13th, as to arms and ammunition, will apply equally to the Volunteers hereby provided for.
The places of rendezvous within the district embraced by the Proclamation of July 13, will be the same as therein provided except as follows:
Rockbridge, Augusta and Bath counties will rendezvous at Staunton; and Highland county at Monterey.
Volunteers from other parts of the State will rendezvous as required by Proclamation of May 30, 1861.
All companies hereafter formed will be of Infantry, unless otherwise specially ordered.
Company officers will be elected by the companies, and field officers appointed by the Governor as has been done in the regiments heretofore formed.
Given under my hand as Governor and under the seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this 19th day of July, 1861, in the eighty-sixth year of the Commonwealth.
JOHN LETCHER.
Sources
Richmond Dispatch (Richmond, VA) 22 July 1861.
Staunton Spectator and General Advertiser (Staunton, VA) 20 August 1861.
Spirit of '61 