"'The State of Louisiana.
[Seal of the State.]
"'By Thomas Overton Moore, Governor of the State of Louisiana, and commander-in-chief of the militia thereof.
"'In the name and by the authority of the State of Louisiana: Know ye that ——- ——, having been duly and legally elected captain of the "Native Guards" (colored,) 1st division of the Militia of Louisiana, to serve for the term of the war,
"'I do hereby appoint and commission him captain as aforesaid, to take rank as such, from the 2d day of May, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.
"'He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of his office by doing and performing all manner of things thereto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all officers, non-commissioned officers and privates under his command, to be obedient to his orders as captain; and he is to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future Governor of the State of Louisiana, or other superior officers, according to the Rules and Articles of War, and in conformity to law.
"'In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the State to be hereunto annexed.
"'Given under my hand, at the city of Baton Rouge, on the second day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
[L.S.] [Signed,] Thos. O. Moore.
By the Governor:
[Signed,] "'P. D. Hardy, Secretary of State.
[Endorsed.]
"'I, Maurice Grivot, Adjutant and Inspector General of the State of Louisiana, do hereby certify that —— ——, named in the within commission, did, on the second day of May, in the year 1861, deposit in my office his written acceptance of the office to which he is commissioned, and his oath of office taken according to law.
[Signed,] "'M. Grivot,
Adjutant and Inspector General, La.'