Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-14
IMPORTANT ORDERS BY GEN. MccLEL
Headquarters Army offht Potomac

IMPORTANT ORDERS BY GEN. McCLEL.
Ian.
Hsa5qunrterS Army ofths Potomac. }
Camp near HGTTISoH'S Lending. Va Aug. 9, '62
General Orders, No 15i The Major General
Commanding directs the attention Of the officers
snd soldiers Of the Army Of the Potomac to the
which has been ficiallv published:
Wdr DEPARTMENT, Washt"s'on, July %, 1852.
"Ez,cutirs Order.
/" FIRST :-Ordered, That military commanders
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisa.
IA, Texas, and Arkansas, In an orderly manner,
seize, ard use any property, real or personal,
which may be necessary or convenient for their
several commands for supplies, or for other mill
tary purposes and that while property may be
DESTROYED for proper military objects, none shall
be DESTROYED In wantonness or malice.
" Second That military and naval commsn-
ders shall tmplt as laborers, within and from
said States, 30 many persons Of African descent
az can be Sdvan ageously used for military or na-
val purposes; giving them reasonable wages for
their labor.
"TA,rd That, az to both property and persons
OF African descent, accounts shall be kept SUN
ciently accurate and in detail to show Quantities
and amounts, and from whom both property and
such persons shall have come, an q basis upon
which compensation can be made in proper
cases; and the veral department. Of It's govern
ment shall attend to and perform their appropri-
ate parts towards tie execution Of these orders.
By order Of the President.
"EDwIS NJ STANTON, Secretary Of War;
No Otlcisl cory OF this order has been received
a. tkese headquarters, and the General Command
Ing has for this reason delayed the issuing Of a
General Order 70 carry into eject the views and
dire5iiops OF the President. Some recent occur
rences In this army have, however, shown that Il
has become necessary 70 do so, 70 prevent this
Executive Order being made a prefext for mill.
tary license.
TIE order Of the President accorda 90 substau-
italy with the course uniformly pursued by this
army on this Peninsula, under the orders and In
s:ructio2s ~ tie General Commanding, that no
mate:ial change in any respect is required there
b. In Its conduct and government.
Personal property necessary or convenient for
supplies or other military purposes Of this army
Will be, al heretofore, seized and used by the
proper IartermSsters or subsistence officers upoa
the orders Of commanders Of army corps or In
cases OF troops employed on detached service
where army corps commanders are not accessible,
by order OF the Cfhcer in command Of such de-
tichec force.
In all cases the officers thus making the seizures
shall take an account, showing the kind and
Guan.,i1ss OF property selled, and by whose com
names OF the persons from whom the same shall
have come Whenever circumstances admit of
so doing, receipts will be given 10 the owners or
their agents, specifying simply the particulars
above mentioned. Copies OF all such accounts
and receipts Will be transmitted In the usual
manner, by the ofacen making them, to these
hezdQ uRtters
Ali OH GERS and soldiers Of the armv are ento,ned
and ordered to abstain from all seizures Of private
property except in the mode above prescribed !;
ali other appropriations will be earded and
punished as piilage: The idea that private pro-
perty may be plundered with impunity, is Der.
haps tie very worst that can pervade an army
Marauding degrades as men and demoralires as
soldiers all who engage In II, and returns them
10 iLeir homes united Tor the pursuits Of honest
Industry This army Is composed mostly Of
young men and the general commanding, TO
whose care they are entrusted, owes Il to the IA
rents who have sent their sons, and the comu1u-
" 20 I'm hEyr
Into the military service Of their country To ,ze IN
and restrain them from an evil so pernicious
The order OF the President requires the appli.
cation OF similar rule IN the use Of real proper
". Thls, however, does not apply to such uses
as are inseparable from military operations, TO
VIII marches, camps, pasturage, hospitals de.
pots, quarters, and damages occasioned by active
hosnhnesi but no use should be made OF injury
done 70 real property beyond what Ia actually
necessary or convenient for military purposes
The destruction OF any species Of property in
wantenness OF malice Is expressly prohibited by
The Presidents order al well an by the rtir les
Of War and the usages Of all civilized nations
Al commanding 0ficars earnestly enjoined
70 exercise the utmos! vigilance on this subject
Smuggling aad tTesPsssing sre the nyariable In.
crime.
Inhabitants, especially women and children.
remaining peaceshly at their homes, must mot be-
moes'ed and wherever commanding officers
nad families peculiarly exposed In theif persons
or property 20 marauding from this army thev
will, IS heretofore, far as they can do so with
safety and without detriment TO the service, nos;
guards for their protection
In protecting private property no refe,e,ce q,
Intended 10 persons held 10 service or labor by
| reason Of African descent Such persons will h.
regarded by this army, as they heretofore have
peen ,ss Occupying simply peculiar legal statu,
under state laws which condition the military
authorities OF the United States are no. reouired
70 regard at ali In districts where military opera
ot 9ns Ie MADE necessary by the rebellious action
Persons subject 70 suspicion of hostile purposes
ftsloing or being near our forces, will be- a, here
tofofe subject to arrest and detention until the
cause OF necessity is removed. All such arrested
ParueS VIII De sent, az usual, 10 the provost MAJ
case ." e"SA
The general commanding takes this oco..,o,
20 Iemind the Officers and soldiers Of this army
Inetweare aged In supporting the Constitute
ana laws OF Tue United States and In suppressin0
rebe lion against their authority; that we ara M,
engaged In war OF rapine, revenge, or subiupa.
Won mat THIS I: not contest against popula-
uoas, put against armed forces and political or
ganiIatlons; that IL 10 struggle carried on with.
In the United states, and should be coud rctsd
6y us upon the highest principles known %
Since this army commenced active operation.
persons OF African descent, Including thone hela
to'sefytce or labor under Site lawn have sIursv,
been received, protected, and EMPLOYED at wsrec'
Hereafter IL shall be the duty Of the provost m
shal general to cause Lists 70 Be made of all per
sons OF African descent employed In this afny
a. soorers for military purposes, suoh liss being
haoe snmciently accurate and In detail to show
Hon whom sucn Persons shalt have come
rn rcns so subject and 20 employed have aIwayu
sni1', tnet after being received into tie
nacits re, service Of the United States, in any ca.
P.cIsy, tney could never be reclaimed bv fhsi,
former holders. Except upoa Sneh nnasyy.. suer
"a "a .nef part the order Of the President, a,
r. ~ etass Of Pessonsy void ss iIoperstive.
- Sssis,a - AZ iAsrsfore Ssels author.
VA receive permanent miu hTy pfosSss{ss s.ssry
any compulsory return 20 cond ifior "a