Chap. 501.—An ACT to establish a battalion of naval militia, to be known as the
naval battalion of Virginia volunteers.

Approved March 1, 184.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That in ad-
dition to the companies, batteries and troops of militia provided for
in chapter twenty-one, code of Virginia, there shall be allowed a
battalion of naval militia, to consist of not more than four compa-
nies, and to be known as the naval battalion of Virginia volunteers,
which shall be attached to and constitute part of the volunteer mi-
litia force of the state.

2. The officers of the said battalion shall be one commander, who
shalle ommand the same; one Jieutenant-commander, to act ag
executive officer, and one lieutenant, to act as navigator. The com-
manding officer of each company shall be a lieutenant, and, in addi.
tion thereto, for each company there shall be one lieutenant, junio
grade, two ensigns, and not less than forty nor more than sixty
members, including petty officers. The petty officers of each com.
pany shall be two boatswains’ mates, two gunners’ mates, two quar.
termasters and two coxswains.

3. The staff officers of the battalion shall be an adjutant, one ord.
nance officer, one paymaster and one surgeon.

4. A company of naval militia may be formed in the same man
ner as is provided for the formation of a company of Virginia vol.
unteers, The naval battalion shall be constituted as soon as tw
companies are completely organized.
5. The commander, lieutenant-commander and lieutenant to act
as navigator shall be elected by the commissioned officers of the bat-
talion. Lieutenants, lieutenants, junior grade, and ensigns shall be
elected by the ballots of the members of their respective companies:
provided that in all such elections a majority of the ballots of the
qualified voters shall be requisite to an election. The staff officers
of the naval battalion shall be appointed by the commander, and
the petty officers of the companies by the respective lieutenants
thereof.

6. The organization of the naval battalion and its system of dis-
cipline and exercise shall conform, as nearly as may be, to that of
the navy of the United States. It shall be governed by the laws and
regulations as now provided for governing the Virginia volunteers,
as far as the same may be applieable; and the governor, as com-
mander-in-chief, shall have power to alter, divide, annex, consolidate
or disband the said battalion whenever, in his judgment, the effi-
ciency of the state forces will thereby be increased; and he shall
have power to make such rules and regulations as may be deemed
proper for the use, government and instruction of the said battalion.
Such rules and regulations shall conform to the provisions of this
act, and, as nearly as practicable, to those governing the United
States navy.

7. The uniform of the naval battalion and the insignia and desig-
nation of grade and rank shall be such as the commander-in-chief
may direct.

8. The relative rank of officers in the naval battalion and in the
Virginia volunteers is as follows: Commander to correspond with
lieutenant-colonel; lieutenant-commander with major; lieutenant
with captain; lieutenant, junior grade, with first lieutenant; and en-
sign with second lieutenant. The relative position of enlisted men
shall be that of privates in the Virginia volunteers; the relative po-
sition of petty officers shall be fixed by the commander-in-chief.

9. The governor is authorized to make the necessary arrangements
for carrying the provisions of this act into effect as soon as the gov-
ernment of the United States is ready to supply arms and equip-
ments and necessary material and opportunities for naval instruc-
tion and drill; and the governor is further authorized to apply to
the president of the United States, or to the secretary of the navy of
the United States, for the detail of commissioned and petty officers
of the navy to act as inspectors and instructors in the art of naval
warfare. The duty of the naval battalion may be performed afloat
in the vessels of the United States.

10. This act shall be in force from its passage.