The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-12
An Important Order from Gen.
Grant. l#

N1CKsBURG, Miss, Aug. j, 1S63.-GENE-
RAJ ORDER No. SOL. All regularly or
ganlzed bodies Of the enemy having been
driven from those parts of Kentucky and
Tennessee west of the Tennessee river: and
from all OF Mississippi, west of the Missis-
slppl central Railroad; and it being to the
interest OF those districts not to invite the
absence OF armed bodies of men among
them, 1t is announced that the most rigor-
Gus penalties will hereafter be inflicted up
on the following class of prisoners, to wit !:
All irregular bodies Of cavalry not muster
e1 anu PAID by the Confederate authorities;
all persons engaged in conscription, or in
apprehending deserters, whether regular or
irregular; all citizens encouraging or aid
ing the same; and all persons detected in
hrlng upon unarmed transports.
1T is not contemplated that this order
shall effect the treatment due to prisoners
of war captured within the districts named
when they are members Of legally organ
lzed companies, and when their acts are in
accordance with the usages of civilized
warfare. ~
2. The citizens Of Mississippi, within the
limits above described, are called upon to
pursue their peaceful avocations, in obe-
dience to the laws Of the United States.-
Whilst doing so in good faith, all United
States forces are prohibited from molest-
ing them in any way. 1t is earnestly rec
commended that the freedom of negroes be
acknowledged, and that instead of compul-
sory labor, contracts upon fair terms be
entered into between the former master
and servants, or between the latter and
such other persons as may be willing to
give them employment. Such system as
this, honestly followed, will result in sub
stantial advantages to all parties.
All private property will be respected
except when the use Of it is necessary fol
the Government, in which case it must be
taken under the direction of corps com.
mander, and by proper detail under
charge of a commissioned officer-witf
specific instructions to seize certain prop.
erty and no other. A staff officer Of the
Quartermaster or Subsistence Department,
will in each instance be designated to re.
ceipt for such property as may be seized
the war, on proof Of loyalty, or on proper
adjustment of the claim, under such regu
lations or laws as may hereafter be estab
lished. All property seized under this or
der must be taken up on returns by the Of
ficer giving receipts, and disposed of in &C
cordance with existing regulations.
3. Persons having cotton or other pro
duce not required by the army, will be al
lowed to bring the same to any military
post within the State Of Mississippi, ant
abandon it to the agent Of the Treasury
Department at SAID post, to be disposed o
in accordance with such regulations as tn,
Secretary of the Treasury may establish
At posts where there is no such agent, thi
Post Quartermaster will receive all sucl
property, and, at the option Of the owner
| hold it till the arrival Of the agent, at tina
place.
4, Within the county of Warren, laiC
waste by the long presence of contendint
| armies, the following rules to prevent suf
| fering will be observed:
Major Gen. Sherman commanding tn,
18th army corps, and Major Gen. McPer
| each designate a Commissary of Subsist
| ence, who will issue articles of prime ne
| cessity to all destitute families calling fol
them, under such restrictions for the pro
| lection of the Government as they deem
necessary. Families who are able to pay
| for the provision drawn will in all cases b,
required to do so.
5. Conduct disgraceful to the American
name has been frequently reported to th'
Major General Commanding, particularly
on the part of portions of Cavalry. Here
| after if the guilty parties cannot be reach
| ed, the commanders of regiments and de
| tachments will be held responsible, ant
those who prove themselves unequal to tn
| task of preserving discipline in their com
| mands, will be promptly reported to tn
War Department for "musterlng out.''-
Summary punishment must be inflicted
upon all officers and soldiers appre
hended in acts of violence or lawlessness
By order of
Maj. Gen. U. s. GRANT.
T. S. BOwERT, A. A. A. G.