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SAVANNAH DAILY HEEALD.
VOK 1-NO. 120.
The Savannah Daily Herald
(MORNING AND EVENING)
18 PUBLISHED BY
8. W. MASON A CO., '
At 111 Uli Steeet, Savannah, GauaaiA.
teems:
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(furbs.
” ' : ■ ~— ■ :-r--- rT ■
g 3d. BRUCE.
*DEALER EXCLUSIVELY IN COTTON.
—ASS —
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC EXCHANGE,
AUGUSTA, GA.
The undersigned has made every arrangement to
resumohis commercial pursuits so soon as trade res
trictious are removed. I will be prepared to receive,
store, insure, compress, ship, sell or purchase Cotton,
and make advances on shipments to any markets in
the United States or Europe.
I respectfully invite correspondence, samples and
shipments by both Planters and Merchants, assuring
all that they can rely upon prompt responses and the
fullest information.
E. M. BRUCE.
I refer to Merchants generally throughout the U. S.
and to Members of Congress. jr.3-I2t
Q.ADEN & UNCKLES.
GENERAL PRODUCE AND COMMISSION MER
CHANTS, AND WHOLESALE DEALERS
—IN
GROCERIES, PROVISIONS. &0.,
CORNER OF BAY AND BARNARD STREETS,
SAVANNAH, GA.
Highest market, rates paid for Cotton, W 001, Hides
Ac., and liberal cash advances made on shipments to
ou t New York house, jo3-lm
. AGENTS FOR ISRAEL R. SEAI.Y,
Wholesale Dealers in
ALES, WINES andIMPORTED LIQUORS,
Os all Kinds and Qualities.
No. 5, MERCHANTS’ ROW,
Hilton Head, S. C
juncl lmo
JM PORTED AND DOMESTIC “
WINES AND LIQUORS,
AT WHOLESALE, FOR FAMILY IT'S E,
AT 207 BAY STREET.
ISRAEL R. SEALY & CO.
may24-tf
A LEACII,
BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS.
MERCHANTS’ ROW,
HILTON HEAD, S. C.,
—AND—
CORNER BRYAN STEEET AND MARKET SQUARE,
SAVANNAH, GA.
may3o ts
jgRWIN & HARDEE,
FACTORS AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
BAY STREET,
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA,
Robert Erwin, Cuas. S. Hardee,
may3l-eod2m
J EWI3 L. JONES,
SHIPPING AND COMMISSION MERCHANT,
Xo 17 Broadway, 3Scu> York.
Liberal advances on Shipments to above Consign
ment, made by
HUNTER & GAMMELL,
Agents Pioneer Line Steamships.
84 Bay Street, Savannah.
Reference in New York—
Messrs, Spofford, Tileston & Cos.
may2G
■ jOHAfiI.E3 lTcolby & co: ’ '
SHIPPING, COMMISSION AND FORWARDING
3IERCHANTS.
JONES BLOCK, CORNER BAY AND ABF.RCOXX STREETS,
SAVANNAH, GA. ™
LIBERAL CASH 'ADVANCEBI
Made on Consignments to the firm of Chas. L. Cout,
of New York, or to onr friends in Boston.
A. H. HOLWAY, Resident Partner.
i: F. KERF N CIS;
Messrs. Dabney, Morgan & Cos., New York.
Jarivs Slade, Esq., New York.
Hon. J Wiley Edmunds, Boston. <§
Gardner Colby, Esq., Boston. mayl&—tf
STEELE & BURBANK., ~
11 Merchants'Row,
Hilton Head, S. C.
Call the attention of Wholesale and Retail purchasers
to their superior stock of
MILITARY AND NAVAL CLOTHING
AND
FURNISHING GOODS,
Watches, Clocks, Fancy Goods, Jewelry, and Plated
Ware,Swords, Sashes, Belts, Embroideries,Boots, Cape
Fi Glasses. Gauntlets Gloves. Ac.., <feA, Ac.
The undersigned have this day formed a co-partner
ship under the firm name of Charles L. OolDy & Cos.,
lor the transaction of business as Shipping, Cominis
sion and Forwarding Merchants.
CHARLES L. COLBY,
ALEXANDER H. HOLWAY,
S.PAGE EDMANDS.
Savannah. Ga., May 10th, 1805. ts naayll
Bakery a confectionery* establish
ment AT BEAUFORT. ,
We respectfully call the attention of the public to
our Bakery & Confectionery Establishment in Sam.
A. Cooley's Building at Beunfurt, at which we are
prepared promptly to till any orders which may be for
warded to ns. Special attention Is paid to the man:
ufacture of Ornamental Pieces, Fancy Confectionery,
and Elegnnt Pastry, for holiday ors estival-tables,
Feb. 3-ls McMANUS & MURRAY.^
YORE HEitALD CORRESPONDENT.
The office of the New York Herald Correspondent
is at
111 BAY STREET.
11’ STAIRS.
mar 22 ts
Official,
HEADQ’RS DEP’T OF THE SOUTH,)
Hilton Head, S. C., May 31, 1855. j
General Orders,)
No. 80. J
The following General Orders from the War Depart -
1 ment. are publfshed for the government of the officers
and the information of the people in this command,
and District Commanders are charged with the execu
tion thereof.
WAR DEPARTMENT, <
Adjutant General’s Office, V
Washington, May It, 18C5. j
General Orders.)
No. 00 f
famishment of Guerrilla*.
AH the forces of'rhe enemy, east of the Mississippi
river, having been duly surrendered by their proper
Commanding Officers to the Armies of the United
States, under agreements of parole and disbandment,
and there being now no authorized troops of the ene
my east of the Mississippi river, it is—
Ordered-, That from aud after the first day of June,
1806, any and all persons found iu arms against the
United States, or who may commit acts of hostility
against it, east of the Mississippi river, will be regarded
as guerrillas, and punished with death.
The strict enforcement and execution of this order
is especially enjoined upon the Commanding Officers
of ail United States forces within the territorial limits
to which it applies.
By Command of Lieutenant-General Grant
* . E. D. TOWNSEND,
_ . Assistant Adjutant General.
By Command of Maj. Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE,
W, L. M. Burger,
_ __ _ Assistant Adjutant General.
T. D. Hodges, Capt. 85th IT.l T . S. C. T ,
Act. Asst. Adjt Gen.
* jes 7t
HEADQ’RS DISTRICT OF SAVANNAH,)
Sanannau, Ga., June 4, 1805. 4
General Orders-)
no. 30. /
Iu consequence of the great increase iu his duties os
Assistant Commissary of Muster-3 for the District of Sa
vannah, Capt. M. Benedict, A. C, M., and Provost Judge
of the Secoud Provost Court, will relinquish his duties in
the latter office to Capt. T. P. Ruudiett, 38th Mass. Void.,
who will from this date assume the same.
By Command of
Brevet Major-General C. GROVER.
Oliver Matthews, A. A. G.
je6 •'»•-a, * 7t
rOfficial.j
HEADQ’RS DEPT. OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C.. May 24,1805.
General Orders,)
No. 09. /
The following Despatch from the War Department
is hereby published for the information of this com
mand :
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Adjutant General's Offioe,
Washington, D. C., May 15, 1805.
The Secretary of War directs that yon call attention
of all Regimental and Company Commanders of your
Command, to the importance of having their regimen
tal and company records so completed aud arranged
that at any time the muster-out rolls of their respect
ive Commands can be prepared without delay.
Commissaries of Musters and their Assistants,should
give particular attention to the foregoing.
By order of the Secretary of War.
THOMAS M. VINCENT,
Assistant Adjutant Gen’l.
By command of
Mrjor General Q. A. GILLMORE.
W L. M. Burger, A. A. G. ju3-7
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, “
Office Chief of Military Police,
Hilton Head, S. C., May 24, 1805.
(Circular, j
In accordance with the recommendation-of the Chief
Medical Oflicer of the District, the following sanitary
regulations are established for this Post.
All garbage accumulated witiiin the Town will at
once be removed beyond its limits, and all slops must
be placed in barrels and removed daily.
Officers at this Post havd been reported as allowing
their stables to remain in such a filthy condition as to
engender disease. All Officers are therefore notified
that the nuisance referred to will be abated by a prompt
removal of the refuse matter, on application to this
Office.
All wells at this Post will be thoroughly cleansed
once each fortnight during the summer months, and
the refuse matter removed beyond the Town limits.
Chloride of lime will be freely-used in all sinks; and
where vaults are offensive, the same will be filled with
earth and new ones dug; and all out buildings will be
kept perfectly cleansed.
So much of tne foregoing as affects Officers, will be
attended to by the Chief of Police, on application to.
his office. Civilians will comply with the same at their
own expense.
All persons failing to strictly observe the above; will
be fined or imprisoned, or both.
The Chief of Police hopes that in a matter of such
vital importance, all Officers and civilians will do their
utmost to prevent the prevalence of any epidemic dur
ing the ensuing sickly season.
By order of Bt. Brig. Gen. M. S. LITTLEFIELD,
Commanding Post.
C. A. Rice, Lt. Col. and Chief of Military Police.
may3o-7t
HEADQUARTERS U. s, FORCES,
Hit .ton Head, St. Helena,
Daufuskik and Bull’s Islands,
Hilton Head, S. C., May £3,1*05.
General Orders,)
No. 21. /
L Captain James W. Graham, 9th Conn. Vet. Vols.,
is hereby announced as Provost Marshal of this Post,
and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. Capt.
Graham, will receipt to Capt. John Rich, 144 N, Y.
Vols., Provost Marshal of Port Royal District, for all
governmentproperty pertaining to the Post Provost
Marshal's Office.
By order of Bt. Brig. Gen. M. S. LITTLEFIELD.
CHAS. C. SIVER,
V Capt. 144 N. Y. Vols,, A. A. A. Gen.
(Official ) ,
C. Su.va, Capt, and A. A. D. C.
may3o-7t
[Official.!
HEADQ’RS., DEPT. OF THE SOUTH;
Hilton Head, o. C., May 27, 180a.
General Order, 1
No. 74. f
So much of Paragraph 11, of General Order No. 137,
series of 1865, from these Headquarters, as designates
the troops in the former District eff Beaufort as the
Second Separate Brigade, and those in the former Dis
trict of Hilton Head as the Third Separate Brigade, is
hereby revoked, und hereafter the troops in the Dis
trifli of Port Royal will be designated as the Second
Separate Brigade, District Command being eom
pos«Tof mixed troops equivalent to a Brigade.
By command of Maj. Gen. Q. A, GILLMORG.
W. L. M. Burger,
Assistant Adjutant General.
T. D. Honors, 1
Capt. 35th U. 8. C. TANARUS., Act. Asst. Adjt. Gen.
(.Official, )
HEADQ’RS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C., May 18,1805.
General Order!
No. 75. /
The following Special Order from the War Depart
meut,.is hereby published for the information of this
command:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Adjutant General's Office,
_ Washington,
errciAL Orders, >
No. 219. /
(EXTRACT.]
* « * * * * •
105. By direction of the President, npon the report of
the Judge Advocate General, Ist Lieut. Maximilian
Roscnburg, 54th Now York Volunteers, dismissed by
General Orders No. 105, Headquarters, Department of
the South, December 10th, ISC4, confirmed by Special
Orders No- 36, Paragraph 40, January 23d, 1805, from
this Office, is hereby restored to his command, with
date from the day at which he rejoins his regiment for
duty, provided the vacancy has not been filled, evi
dence of which must be obtained from the Governor.
*••••«
By order of the Secretary of War.
E. D TOWNSEND,
Assistant Affintant General.
By command of Maj. Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE,
M, Burger,
Assistant Adjutant General.
T. D. Hodges,
Capt. 35thU8CT., Act Asst. Adjt Sen.
mayUl-Tt
Savannah, ga., Tuesday, june h, i865.
OEN. SHEKitIAN’S HEPOBT.
His Criticisms on Secretary Stanton and
General Ualicck.
By our late files we Lave received a
very full abstract of the report by General
Sherman to the War Department, of lus mil
itary operations and negotiations with regard
to the Rebel Generals Lee and Johnston, al
though that document was not to be given
in full to the public until June 1.
Gen. Sherman gives his own version of all
his negotiations with the Confederate com
manders, and explains those of his military
operations wjrich he asserts 1 were misunder
stood or misconstrued by the Secretary of
War, and which gave rise to the despatches
which were given to the country by Secre
tary Stanton and Gen. llalieck, and of which
Gen. Sherman and Iris friends so bitterly
complain.
He begius his Report with a letter of his
to Gen. Grant, in which he says that his' ini
tiative “reconstruction" policy was all done
for the best; for that he had received no in
dication of the intended immediate policy of
the Government towards the Southern peo
ple. He says: , .
“I never saw or had famished mo a copv
of President Lincoln s despatch to you of
the sth of March until alter the agreement;
nor did Mr. Stanton, or any human being,
ever convey to me its substance or anything
like it. But on the contrary, 1 had'seen
General Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia
Legislature, made in Mr. Lincoln’s presence,
and had failed to discover any other official
notice of a plan of reconstruction, or any
idea calculated to allay the fears of the peo
ple of the South that alter the destruction
of the armies and civil, authorities they
would be left without any government at all.
We should not drive a people into anarchy,
and it is simply impossible for any military
power to reach all the resources of their un
happy country. I confess I did not wish to
break General Johnston's army into bands of
armed men, moving about without purpose,
and capable only of infinite mischief. .But
you saw on your arrival that I had my
army so disposed that his escape was only
possible in a disorganized shape, and as you
did not choose to direct military- operations
in this quarter,! infer yau were satisfied with
the military situation. At ail events, the
instant I learned, what was proper enough,
the disapproval of the President, I acted in
such a manner as to compel the surrender of
General Johnston’s whole army on the same
terms prescribed to General Lee’s army
w lien you had it surrounded and in your ab
solute power.
Mr. Stanton, in stating that my orders to
General Stoneman weep likely to result in the
escape of Mr. Davis to Mexico or Europe, is
iu deep errof. Stoneinau was not at Salis
bury then, but had gone back to Statesville.
Davis was supposed to be between us, and
therefore Stoneman was beyond him. By
turning towards me he was approaching
Davis, and had he joined me, as ordered, I
would have had a mounted force greatly
needed for that and other purposes; but even
now I don't kuow that Mr. Stanton wants
Davis caught; and as my'official papers,
deemed sacred, are hastily published to the
world, it will be imprudent for me to state
what has been done in that respect, as the
editor of the Times has. It may be logically
and fairly drawn from this singular docu
ment the conclusion that I am insutfordinate.
I can only deny the intention. I have never
in my life questioned or disobeyed an order,
though many and many a time have I risked
my life, my health and reputation, in obeying
orders or even hints to execute plans and
purposes not to wv liking. It is not fair to
withhold from me plans and policy, if any
there be, and expect me to guess at them, as
facts and events appear quite different from
different standpoints.
For four years I have been in camp deal
ing with soldiers, and I can assure you that
the conclusion at which the Cabinet arrived
with such singular unanimity differs from
mine. I conferred freely with the best
officers in this army as to the points involved
in this controversy, and, strange to say, they
were singularly unanimous in the other con
clusion ; and they will learn with pain and
amazement that I am <leemed insubordinate
and wanting in common sense; that I, who,
iu the complications of last year worked day
and night, summer and winter, for the cause
and the administration, and who have brought
an army of seventy thousand men in magni
ficent style across a country deemed impas
sable, aud placed it just where it was wanted
almost on the day appointed, have brought
discredit on our government. Ido not wish
to boast of this; out I do say that it entitled
me to the courtesy of being consulted before
publishing to the world a proposition right
fully submitted to higher authority for adju
dication. and then accompanied by other
statements which invited the press to be let
loose upon me. *****
I envy not the task of reconstruction, and
am delighted that the Secretary has relieved
me of it. As you did not undertake to as
sume the management of the affairs of this
army, I infer, on personal inspection, your
mind arrived at a different conclusion from
that of the Secretary of War. I will, there
fore, go on and execute your orders to their
conclusion, and when done will, with intense
satisfaction, leave to the civil authorities the
execution of the task of which they seem to
me so jealous; but as an honest man and
soldier, invite them to follow my path, for
they may sec something and hear something
that may disturb their philosophy.
With sincere respect,
W. T. Sherman,
Major-Gen. Comd’g.
Lieut Gen. U. 8. Grant, Gen.-in-Cbie£
Washington, D. C.
P. S.— As Mr. Stanton’s singular paper has
been published, I demand also that this be
made public, though I am in no manner re
sponsible to the press, but to the law and my
proper superiors.
Wi T. Sherman, Maj. Gen. Comd’g.
j He describes at some length the operations
| of his different Generals in carrying out. the
j grand combination by which he succeeded in
compelling the surrender of Lee and'John
stou, aud gives a detailed sketch of the va
rious shares taken by Generals Terry, at
Wilmington; Stoneman about Greensboro,
N. C. ; Wilson in Georgia; aud Kilpatrick,
who was held for reserve iu pertecting the
plans which were destined to dually effect
this glorious result.
He draws a parallel between the marching
and fighting abilities of bis own troops, and
those of Gen. llalieck, pot to the disadvant
age of the former. He then gives all the par
ticulars of the meeting between himself and
Geu. Johnston, aud says:
General Johnston gave me to understand
that further war on the part of the Confeder
ate troops was foil}', that the cause was lost,
and that every life sacrificed after the surren
der of Lee’s army was the highest possible
cifiuie. Johnston admitted that the terms con
ceded to Gen. Lee were magnanimous and
all he could ask, but wanted some conces
sions that would enable him to allay
the natural fears and anxieties of his follow
ers, and enable him to maintain liis control
over them until they could be sent back to their
homes. He also wanted to embrace in the
same . general proposition the fate of all the
Confederate armies that remained in exist
ence. I never made ;any concessions as to
<ffs own army, or assumed to deal finally and
authoritively in regard to any other; but
it did seem to me that there was presented a
chance for peace that might be deemed valu
ble to the government of the United States,
and was at least worth the few days there
would be . consumed in reference thereto.
To push an army whose commander had so
fraukly and honestly confessed his inability
to cope with me were cowardly, and unwor
thy the brave men I led.
He concludes his account of tin various
meetings, with Johnston, and sums up this
part of his report by thus giving his reasons
for signing the celebrated “memorandum,”,
of which the President disapproved, and
which brought on the disagreement between
Gen. Sherman, with the Secretary of War,
and Gen. Halleck.
, President Lincoln's message of 18G4, his
amnesty proclamation, and General Grant s
terms to General Lee, which substantially
Extend sthe benefits of that proclamation
Jjb all officers above the rank of colonel, and
xfae invitation to the Virginia Legislature to
rrassemble in Richmond by General WeTtzel,
with the approval of Mr. Lincoln and Gen
eral Grant, then on the spot; a firm belief
that I had beets fighting to re-establish the
constitution of the United States ; and last,
and not least, the geqgral and universal de
sire to close a war any longer without or
ganized resi9tence, were the leading facts
that induced me to pen the “memorandum”
of April 18, signed by myself and General
Johnston. It was designed to be, and so
expressed on the face, as a mere “basis" for
reference to the President of the United
States and constitutional Commander-in-
Chict, to enable him, if he chose, at one
blow, to dissipate the military power of the
confederacy, which had threatened the na
tional safety for years. It admitted of
modification, alternations and change. It
had no appearance of an ultimatum, and
by no false reasoning can it be construed
into a usurpation of power on my part. I
have my opinions on the questions involved,
aud will stand by the memorandum. But
this forms no part of a military report.
As soon as the “memorandum” was sign
ed, it was sent to Washington by the hands
ot a member of Gen. Sherman’s staff, but
on the 24th Major Hitchcock returned, ac
companied by General Grant and a member
of his staff, bringing information that the
memorandum was disapproved, and orders
to give at once forty-eight hours notice and
resume hostilities at the close of that time. *
Within an hour a courier was riding from
Durliams’s station towards Hillsboro, with
notice to Gen. Johnston of the suspension of
the truce, aud renewing the demand for the
surrender of the armies under his imme
diate command. An order was pub
lished to Gen. Sherman’s troops terminating
the truce at 12 M., on the 2Gth of April, and
ordering them to be in readiness to move at
that time. Meantime Gen. Johnston asked
for another interview, and under the appro
bation of Gen. Grant it was accorded, and
took place at 2, p. m., of the 27tli, aud says
Gen. Sherman:
‘•We then consulted, concluded and signed
the final teimsof capitulation. These were
taken by me back to Raleigh, submitted to
Gen. Grant, and met his immediate approval
and signature”
After sketching the operations of the next
few days, and commenting with much sever
ity on Gen. Halleck’s order, ridiculing the
idea of cutting off Johnston from Burkesville
and Danville, he says:
The last and most obnoxious feature of
Gen. Halleck’s despatch is wherein he goes
out of his way and advises that my subor
dinates, Gens. Thomas, Stoneman and Wil
son, should be instructed not to obey “Sher
man's” commands. This is too much ; and I
turn from the subject with feelings too strong
for words, and merely record my belief that
so much mischief was never before embraced
in so small a space as in the newspaper par
agraph headed “Sherman’s Truce Disregard
ed,” authenticated as “official” by Mr. Secre
tary Stanton, and published in the New York
9 papers of April 28.
We left Charleston on the evening of the
of May, and hastened with all possible
speed back to Morehead City, which we
reached at night on the 4th. 1 immediately
communicated by telegraph with Gen.*Soho
field at Raleigh, and learned from him the
pleasing fact that the Lieuttenant General
PRICE. 5 CENTS
» » -: :■ 4
commanding the armies ot the United States
had reached the Chespeake in time Jo count
ermand Gen. Hallcck’s orders‘and prevent
his violating my truce, invading the area of
my command, and driving Johnston's sur
rendering army into fragments- General
Johnston had fulfilled his agreement to the
best of his ability, and the officers charged
with issuing the paroles at Greensboro report
ed about thirty thousand already made, and
that the greater part of the North Carolina
troops had gone home without waiting for
their papers; but that all of them would
doubtless come in to someone of the military
posts, the commander sos which are author
ised to grant them.
About eight hundred of the rebel cavalry
had gone south, refusing to abide the terms
of the surrender, and it was supposed they
would make for Mexico. I would' sincerely
advise that they be e*ncouraged to go and
stay. They would be a nuisance to any civ
ilized government, whether loose or in prisbn.
With the exception of some plundering.on
the part of Lee’s aud Johnston's disbanded
men, all else in North Carolina was quiet:
When to the number of men surrefodeted
at Greensboro’ are added, those at'T&lla
hassee, Augusta and Macon, with the scat
tered squads who will come in at other mil
itary posts, I have no doubt fifty thousand
ai med men will be disarmed and reStbred to
civil pursuits by the capitulation made near
Durham's station, N. C., on the 2Gtl|.of April,
and that, too, without the loss of. a .single
life to us. , j
There are no longer armed enemies* in
North Carolina, and a soldier ca'tr dial With
no other sort. The marshals and sheriffs,
with their posses, of which the military may
become a part, are the only proper officers
to deal with civil criminals and marauders.
But I jvill not be drawn out into a discussion
of-this subject, but instance a cose to atyow
how difficult is the task become to military
officers, when men of the rank, education,
experience, nerve and good sense of General
Schofield, feel embarrassed by thtan. Gen.
Schofield, at Raleigh, has a' well-appointed
and well disciplined command, is tele
graphic communication with the controlling
parts of his department, and remote ones in
the direction of Georgia, as well as with
Washington, and has military possession of
all strategic points.
S|ln like manner Gen. Gillmore is well situa
ted in all respects except as •to rapid com
munication with the s&it.of the general gov
ernment. .1 leave him;.also, with every yian
lie ever asked for, and In full and quiet pos
session of every strategic point in his depart
ment. And General Wilson has in the Vjery
heart of Georgia the strongest, best .appoint
ed, and best equipped cavalry corps that
fell under, my command; and he has now,
by my recent action, opened to him a'source
and route of supply by way of the Savannah
river that simplifies his military problenv so
that I think I may, with a clear conscience,
leave them, and turn my attention onefe' more
to my special command —the army with
which I have been associated through some
of the most eventful scenes of this, or any
war. I hope anl bejieve none of these com®
rnanders will ever ffhVe reason to feprokch
me for any “orders” they may have received
from me,- and the Preaidgftt of the United.
States may be assured that all of them are iq*
Ksition, ready and willing to execute to the
fer and in spirit any orders he' may give.
I shall henceforth cease to give them any or
ders at all, for the occasion that made them
subordinate to me is past, and shall confine
my attention to the army composed of the
•Fifteenth and Seventeenth, the Fotirteenth
and Twentieth corps, unless the commanding
General of the armies of the United States
orders otherwise.
We’ have given a pretty liberal resume of
this highly important report for two reasons,
firstly: on account of- its. intrinsic impor
tance, aud great interest i and secondly, be
cause it seems no moye than right, that a
brave, trusted and respected officer, the
motives of whose actions were so -suddenly
called in question, and who was so severely
and sharply criticised by his Superiors, and
the Press of the c ountiy, should have a full
and fair hearing when he p«ts himself upon
his defence.
The opinion of the impartial reader can
only be honestly made up when he has the
opportunity to hear both sides, which, on
this question, is precisely the opportuni
ty we offer the public in this day's Belaid,
thereby giving every man a fair ehance to
form his own judgment, meanwhile? re
serving our own.
THE ABANDONED PLANTATIONS.
Important Circular from Major General
Howard, the Commissioner of S'rfeeii-
turn.
CIRCULAR NO. 3.
War Department, Bureau of Freedmen,
Refugees and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, May 22, 1865.
Whereas, a large amount of land in the
State of Virginia, and in other States, that
have been in insurrection, has been abandon
ed by disloyal owners, and is now being cul
tivated by freedmen ; and whereas, the own
ers of such lands are attempting to obtain
possession of them and thus deprive the
freedmen of tfce fruits of their industry, it is
ordered that all abandoned lands in such
States, now under cultivation by the Ireed
men, be retained in their possession until the
crops now crowing shall be secured for their
benefit, unless full and just compensation be
made for their labor and its products, and for
expenditures.
The above order will not be so construed
as to relieve disloyal persons from the conse
quences of their disloyalty, and the applica
tion for the restoration of their lands by this
class of persons will in no case be entertain
ed by any military authority.
O. O. Howard, Major General,
Commissioner of Freedmen, Refugees and
Abandoned Lands.
War Department, ■* - •
Adjutant General’s Office,
Washington, May 22, 18G5.
All military authorities will sustain the
Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees,
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, ;tnd aid
him in the execution of the above order.
By direction of the Secretary of War.
E. D. Townsend,
Assistant Adjutant General.
