Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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: Per Copy Five Cents. Per Hundred $3 50. Per Year ...... $lO 00. ADVERTISING: Two Dollars per Square of Ten Liues for first in sertion ; One Dollar for each subsequent one. Ad vertisements inserted in the morning, will if desired, appear in the evening without extra charge. JOB Pit INTIN In every style, neatly qud promptly done. (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.