The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-02


Respectfully. your ob't serv't.
ii. H. VAN DYcK, Sup't.
FEs Iy.F ------~.A~---
Important order - Cen. GRANTEE.
EApieymsnt OF ContrabanAs.
We think the South Carolina coast 10
the only section in which the contrabands
within our army lines have heretofore
teen Systematically employed and provi-
ded for. In that department considsra-
BILE effort has been made, with . good
degree of success, we think to give them
work, and at the same time furnish such
instruction rs they NEST need to qualif,
them for self-care and usefulness. The
importance Of this policy, both to the
government and the negroes themselves,
must be apparent to all In most sections
the labor of large numbers of them il
muck needed in the ordinary service of
the army, and in many especially cot
ton. growing lucalities--their skill, Is
we'll as labor. is necessary TO the care of
crops abandoned by the planters or con-
hscated by the government.
The second organized attempt to care
for and employ Southern slaves, is now
being inauguratsd in Gen. Grants de-
partment, based upon the following order ::
HEADQUARTERS l3Tu ARMY CoRPs. y
DEPT OF THE TENNESSEE,
la GRANGE, Tenn, Nov. IA.
SpEcIAL FIELD ORpER. No. 4.
l. Chaplain J. Eaton. Jr., of the 9th
regiment, Ohio infantry volunteers, is
hereby appointed to take charge of all
fugitive slaves that are now. or may from
time to time come within the militia
ny lines of the advancing army in this
vicinity, not employed and registered in
accordance with general orders No. 72,
from headquarters District of West Ten
nessee, and viii open camp tor them at
Grand Junction, whore they will be suit
ably cared for and organized into compa-
MES and set to work, picking, ginning
and baling all cotton now outstanding in
the fields.
2 Comm anding officers of troops will
send all fugitives that come within the
lines, together with such teams, cooking
utensils and other baggage as they may
bring with them, to Chaplain Eaton, Jr.,
at Grand Junction.
8. One regiment OF infantry from Brig.
Gen. McArthur's division will be tempo
rarily detailed as guard in charge Of such
contrabands, and the Surgeons of said
regiment will be charged with the care
Of the sick.
4. .Commissaiics of Subsistence will is
sue on the requisition Of Chaplain Eaton,
jr., emitting the coffee rations and sub
shutting rye.
BY order of Maj Gen. US GRAFT,
Jno. A. Rawlins, A. A. G.
Hitherto the only work performed by
negroes in the Mississippi Valley has been
that of loading and unloading steamboats,,
cars and wagons, driving teams, building
Notifications, repairing roads, bridges and
other labors usually devolving on the
soldiers. This is the 6rst instance
wherein the contrabands are made to
produce anything for the goyernme at. -
The fields around Lagrange and Grand
junction are full Of cotton that was aban-
doned BY the owners Of the plantaaious,
.. me time our army approached. If all
TINS IS properly collected and sent tc
market, it will create revenue Of no 10.
considerable Importance. If cotton rails
ing is remuncrative at ten cents per pound
cotton picking will certainly be pro6tabl.
at.hfty cents per pound. It is highl,
necessary that the negroes should b,
placed somewhere in employment and III.
present opportunity has beer well impro
we'd by Gen. Grant.
Il i