GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 61. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General's Office, 
Washington, June 7, 1862. 
The great number of officers absent from their regiments without 
sufficient cause is a serious evil, which calls for immediate correction. 
By paragraph 177, General Regulations, the power of commanding 
officers to grant leaves of absence is limited to a “time of peace.” In 
time of war leaves of absence will only be granted by the Secretary of 
War, except when the certificate of a medical officer shall show, beyond 
doubt, that a change of location “ is necessary to save life, or prevent 
permanent disability.” (Paragraph 186, General Regulations.) In such 
case, the Commander of an Army, a Department, or District, may 
grant not exceeding twenty days. At the expiration of that time, if 
the officer he not able to travel, he must make application to the Adjutant 
General of the Army for an extension, accompanied by the certificate 
of a medical officer of the army, in the usual form, and that he is not 
able to travel. If it be not practicable to procure such a certificate, in 
consequence of there being no army physician in the place where the 
officer resides, the certificate of a citizen physician, attested by a civil 
magistrate, may be substituted. 
All officers of the Regulars and Volunteers, except those on parole,, 
now absent from duty with leave, will be considered “absent without, 
leave,” (paragraph 11326, General Regulations,) unless they are found 
at their posts within fifteen days from the date of this order, or are 
authorized by orders from the Adjutant General to be absent, which 
orders will in all cases be based on a certificate as above described, and 
must be exhibited to the paymaster before payment is made them. 
All invalid and wounded officers who are able to travel, although 
their disability may not have been removed, (paragraph 187, General 
Regulations,) will repair, without delay—those from the East to 
Annapolis, to report to the General Commanding the Camp of Instruc- 
tion; those from the West to report to the commanding officer of Camp 
Chase, Ohio. At those points they will remain until able to proceed to 
their regiments, or until an examining board may decide adversely on 
their ability to return to duty within a reasonable time, and orders may 
be given by the President for their discharge. 2 
Their Excellencies the Governors of States are requested to make 
known this order, and to contribute to its-execution, as maybe in their 
power. Mustering and Recruiting Officers arc directed to do the same. 
Extra copies of the order will be furnished them for distribution. 
Failure to comply with the above regulations will be reported to the 
Adjutant General by Regimental Commanders. 
By order of the Secretary of War : 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official: 
Assistant Adjutant General.