, 1863-06-06
DEPARTMENT. OF THE OKfED


CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 3, 1863.
GENERAL ORDER No. 90.-Thc General COM
1panling directs that Gen. n, G. Mclean, Pro-
vost Marshal General, at once institute au in
: vestigation into the cases Of all citizen
ment, md in a1l such cases rs do not
clearly show premedisated dis1oyalty on
the part Of the accused, or when q
desire is manifested to atone for past
faults BY future good conduct, the PRISONERS
will be released On taking the oath Of allie.
ance thereof. The General commanding Is
convinced that large majority OF the men
arrested have been mis1ed BY dishonest and
designing politicians, and he prefers to strike
ut the sources Of the eyil, and allow those who
hare been led astray to return to their loyalty
andnllegiance, If they they have seen the folly
and sin Of opposing the Government.
The United States, in striving to put down
. rebellion unparalleled in history, requires
that every man at home or In the field shall
each In his sphere be enlisted In the cause.
The necessity demands u sacrifice from all.
In responding to this call, the devotion Of the
citizen soldier stands foremost, and his sacri-
to the citizcn-hiB home, his freedom Of
speech and action, the prospect Of gain, and
often gives his life. He cxacts no conditions,
but suT1enders himself wholly to his country,
AZ represented Dy tne constituted authorities
placcd over him
But while he thus yields up his civil rights
80 entirely to his country, he is none the less
citizen; he wniyes them temporarily to
give greater efficiency to his efforts, aud
looks forward to the time when, theauthority
Of the Government restored, he shall again
exercise the rights he has patrlotically laid
down.
While the duties Of citizen arc of peace
fnl and less cNacting character, he Is none tho
1css soldier, md it becomes hin to appre-
ciate tic grandeur and cntirencss Of the de-
yotion Of his brethren in the field, and to re-
member that he, too, has sacrifices to make; ;
but the country demand upon him Is com.
paratiyely but small. The country requires
from him no physical sacrifice, no personal
Lardshirs, It merely nsks that he shall imi-
tate the loyal example Of the soldiers in the
field, 20 fur as to abate somewhat If that
freedom ef speech which they give u2
jnet to the soldier, as well as un-
faithful to his country, II, while en-
joying the comforts Of home, he were unwll
ling to give up portion Of 4 privilege which
The soldier resigns altogether. That freedom Of
discussion and criticism which is proper III
the politician ard Journalist in time of peace,
becomes rank treason when 1t tends to weak
en- the confidence Of the soldier in his officers
and his Government. When this insfdious
treason, striking at the very root of that mill
tary power, which Is for the time being the
cou1itry's protection, makes its appearance, it
is the bounden duty of the Commanding Gen
e5al to expel it from his lines, with heavier
bond tlaD he would drive from bis camp the
yillaIn who would scatter n material poison,
| that would eneryate and decimate his soldiers.
Tic General commanding desires to again
call the attention Of the officers, Provost MIR
shals and others In authority, to the necessity
Of great care In the making of arrests, which
should iu nil instances be founded on full affi-
davits sustaining distinct charges except when
the e1igencics Of the case demand instant
action. Carelessness in this respect is only
less censurable than negligence in the detee-
tion and punishment Of crime.
With the exercise Of scrnp1lous care aud
sonnd discretion, on the part of officers, aud
candid consideration on the part Of all citi-
zens Of the re1ations the pcopleand thearmy
to each other, as as,ove set forth. the General
commanding Is full Of hope that mutual CO.
operation In putting down the rebellion, will
BECOME more hearty and effective, the necessi-
ty for arrests will bc diminished, and tho ten
dtncy to Elctious opposition to the Govern
,nent, and hurtful criticism Of It's measures,
te removed.
By command of Minor General Burnside.
LEWIS R1cns,oND. Asst. Adjt. Gen.
| Official: ". T. ANDERSON,
Assistant Atljutant General.