United States Statutes at Large/Volume 12/37th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 40
Chap. ⅩⅬ.—An Act to make an additional Article of War.
Additional Article of War.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter the following shall be promulgated as an additional article of war for the government of the army of the United States, and shall be obeyed and observed as such:
Military or naval officers not to return escaped fugitives from service.Article —. All officers or persons in the military or naval service of the United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces under fugitives from their respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor, who may have escaped from any persons to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, and any officer who shall be found Penalty.guilty by a court-martial of violating this article shall be dismissed from the service.
When Act to take effect.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from and after its passage.
Approved, March 13, 1862.