of their respective districts, if competent persons of eligibility
were available. They were required to take and subscribe
to the iron-clad oath of July 2, 1862, a copy of which was
to be transmitted to headquarters and kept on file in the
office of the acting assistant adjutant general. Careful lists
of all registered voters who did not vote were to be kept and
forwarded to headquarters. None but registered voters were
allowed to challenge the right of others to vote. Sheriffs
were to be held responsible for preservation of order, and were
directed to appoint a sufficient number of deputies for each
precinct. As additional safeguards for insuring peace, each
judge, registrar, and clerk was empowered to make arrests;
and all public bar-rooms, and other places at which intoxicat-
ing liquors were sold, were ordered to be closed on election
days. The carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons in
the vicinity of the polls was strictly prohibited. Registra-
tion judges and clerks were forbidden to stand as candidates
for any office, and all army officers and bureau agents were
prohibited from electioneering, speaking, or endeavoring to
influence voters, although they might instruct freedmen in
regard to their rights as electors. The commanding general
announced that he would exercise to the fullest extent the
powers vested in him to secure a fair election, and he warned
all persons against attempts to abridge the right of electors
by contracts. ¹ On the following day, he announced, by gen-
eral order, the names of the registrars for the several coun-
ties. ² An active army officer or an ex-Union soldier was
placed on each registration board. The other two members
were usually native Republicans, although occasionally a
Democrat was appointed. Appointees were directed to re-
port at once their acceptance, and to subscribe to and forward
to headquarters a copy of the test oath.

A week later, the commanding general issued another order
detailing ten army officers to serve as inspectors of election,
one for each of the ten districts into which the state was
divided. ³ It was made their duty to visit the boards of regis-
tration in their respective districts, and ascertain by close
inquiry and examination whether the registrars fully under-
stood their duties, and to furnish them such information and
instruction as might appear to be necessary. They were
required to make detailed reports to headquarters of the

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