The New York herald., 1863-12-08
Important Order Relative to
COlOrcd Troops.
The Negro to Fight for n Great
Boon --Freedom for Himself
and Ills Race For Ever"
General Butler Calls Upon Congress to Place
The COlOred Troops Upon an Equality with
Other Troops Of the United States,
ke., &C., &c.
NIr. w. III. stiner's Despatch.

Mr. w. II. stiner's Despatch.
FoRTsEss MONROE. Dec 8. 1863
The following important relative tho contra
bands have been Issued by Major General Butler goes
into effect at
GENERAL ORDEEs. NO. 46.
HEADQUARTERS, EIGHEESrH ARMY CoRPs,
DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
Fort MONROE, Va, Dec. 8, 1863
The recruitment OF coored has settled
purpose OF the government II s therefore, the duty
every officer and soldier to aid in carrying that pur
by every proper means, irrespective of personal
predecton 10 do this eilecuay the former condition
of tho blacks, their change OF relation the rights
acquired by them, the new obligations imposed upon
them, the duty OF the government to them the great
stake they have in the war, and the claims their gno
rance and the heplessnes Of their women and children
mako each OF who hold higher grade in social
and political life, must all be carefully considered
soldiers have the machinery Of estate ad'
the support of their families while lighting battles,
literally provided for the white soldiers the
generous beuntes given by the state and national
ornments in the loyal Saies-alihough this last is far
than compensated 10 the black man by the great
awarded TO him, the result OF the war-ireedom for
himself and his race forever
To deal with these several aspects OF this subject so
chat as few Of the negroes as possible shall become
chargeable either upon the bounty OF government or the
charities tho benevolent and at the time to do
justice t. those who shall enlist TO encourage enlistment,
and all capable OF working to employ themselves
for their support and that OF their iamiies-ether IN
other serviceand that tho rights OF negroes and
the government may both be protected, i is ordered
In this department, after the lst day of December,
instant, and until otherwise ordered every able bodied
eoored who Shall enlist and be mustered into the
OF the United States for three years or during the
war shall be paid bonty, to supply his immediate
wants, the OF ten (ol dollars And it shall be the
duty OF each mastering officer TO return to these head
quarters duplicate rolls Of recruits enlisted and
service the I0th Goth and last days of
each month, that the bounty may be promptly paid
H. To tho family each colored soldier enlisted and
mustered go long as he shall remain service
behave we'll shall be furnished suitable subsistence,
under the direction OF the superntendenss Of Negro
Affairs their assistants each soldier shall be fur
nshed with certificate OF subsistence for his family
he is mustered; and any soldier deserne, or
whose pay allowances forfeited by martial
ea be reported by captain to the superintendent OF
tho district where his family lives, and the subsistence
may stopped provided that sucn subsistence sha bo
continued tor least months TO the family OF any
coored soldier who shall die in the service by disease,
wounds battle.
III. Every enlisted coored shall have the
uniform. clothing, arms, equipments, camp equrage,
ra,ions medical andhospta treatment as are furnished
10 tho United States soldiers a like OF the
vice. unless upon request. some modification thereof
shall 10 granted from these headquarters.
~. rhc pay OF the colored soldier shall be ten sl0)
dollars per monh--thrce OF which may be retained Tor
clothing But the non commissioned officers whether
colored o. white shall have the same addition to their
pay other non commissioned officers. 10 is, however,
hoped and believed bv the commanding general that
Congress Of justice. vii. Increase the pay Of
the colored troops 10 uniform rate with other troops Of
soldier should be asked upon less pay than any
other. The colored man hls an equal space IN ranks
while he lives, and an equa! grave when nc rails
V. appears by returns from the several recruiting
officers that enisnents are discouraged and the govern
mont Is competing against tso because OF the payment
colored pIoyes in the several star departments
viduas supi iOrting the families OF the aborer II Is
further ordered That officer other person on behalf
land IN ths departmet shall employ or bire my coorea
for greater rate Of wages than ten dollars per
month, without rations except that mechanics and
skilled aborers may be employed at other ta!esregard
being had. however, to the pay Of the soldier IN hSng
NJ The bcs, use during the FOR able bodied col.
ored man. as well FOR himself as The country, Is 10 be
soder il s therefore further ordered That co!oted
talu cen
pass the surgeon examination for soldier shall be
emn,oyea on land by any person behalf Of govern
men; mechanic aud skilled aborcrs alone epted
And Il stall be the duty o, each officer otheI person
.n,,ovn, coorcd labor 10 t Gepsr ucnt 10 be paid By
behalf OF the government, TO cause each iaborer
be examined by the surgeons detailed to examine
certificate Of disability ability, a. the case may be,
and after the LIST day Of January next no employment
rolls OF coored laborers VII be certhed or passed al
these wherein this order has not been
piled and not vouched for by such certificate OF
disablhy OF the emp.oyos Aud Whenever hereafter
cnlored ompoye OF the government shall not be paid
within sixty days after his woges shsll become due and
payable. the oGleer or otnsr person having. tho
funds TO make such payment shall he dismissed the
service, fubject TO the approval Of the President
viprompncss q payment Of labor and the facilities
furnished by the government and the benevolent will
enable coored laboers the service 81 the government
be supported from the proceeds OF their abor There:
employ ed by the government ut labor but the Su
peutcndcnt OF Negro Affairs may issue subsistence to
those so employed, and charge tue amount against their
wages aud furnish the otcer charge oe payment of
such laborers with the amoin,s so Issued on the first
viIi@Po,cal freedom rrhtIy defined is liberty to
work and be protected u the foll enoynsnt Of the
fruits Of labor, and one wtb ability 10 WORK should
enjoy the fruits OF another's labor. Therefore, ~
subsistence will be permitted TO any negro OF MS
family, with whom be lvcs, who able
aud does not work. II is, therefore, the duty q
the Super ntendent OF Negro Anars 10 furnish employ
eot TO all tho negroes abe 70 labor. and their
families supplied with the necessaries of lie Any
negro who refuses to WORK when able and uegects lis
family " III be arrested reported these
labor The orttcaiions, where be viii be
,hs ahSa,S ~ Wo'n nm ,Ss me MOI neecssy
TX Tho Commanding hsuera 8 informed that officers
and soldiers in the department nave by im.sfmen aud
force compelled the abot OF regroes, sometimes for pr
vate use. aud .of,en without any imperative necessity.
Negroes have rights 50 eIg a. in.ysulh .hem dnes'
force 10 labor for auy private purpose Whatever
any negro and negro LABOR, sha not be Impressed or
forced for public uness under orders from
these hoadquarters or becagse or imperative military
necessity and whore the abor Of white citizens would
be compelled u present aud ssy orders OF any officer
compelling any labor by negroes white citizens shall be
forthwith reported TO these and the reasons
which called for Tine necessity or sucn order be uy set
forth.
Tor the purpose OF building orthcatons bridges roads,
aiding transPortaton or oifer military purposes IL
shal beJhe duty Of the sIctinterdent o. Negroes %
those compelled to labor and TO present said Ts as
as the Necessity ceases 70 he Assistant Quareruas
ter OF the district that The labor ne Tad and the
perntendept shall That inCg, that ator shsl have
proper subsistence and may draw from tue Conmsary o.
Subsistence ratlons therefor Any omcer ofcndng Si.
fully aga the provision q tbs order " os dsmssed
the subject 70 tue spfrov val Of toe President
And no negro sha be pressed INTO military service %
the Uued States except under orders from these head
quarters, by draft which shall equally apply TO the
white aud coored citi er.
X-The tboory upoI vnich nefroes are teceFed INTO
the Union lines, aud empoyei either ~ aoorer - sol
ders ~ that every negro abe q work ~bn eases the
rebel lines dimnishes by 30 much tte Iodue NC power
oC the rebellion TO supply tsei win 'ood and labor ne
eessary be done outside " military operations 10 sus
tain IT, armies and the lncd states thor ty gains either
solder or aproducer. Women and children are rsceNed
because Il would be manlesty nquitous aud must to
rake tho hu sband and a,ter aud eAye she vie and child
"a M treatment aud Women aLd children are
also received whom unacC0snpsnlod by the husband and
gather because negro hfs the domestic affect
a. strong a degree as the white man and however far
south nis master msy dtve nm, be viii sooner o. later
return 70 his family
therefore Il s ordered ls every ohccr and soldier Of
this command shall aid Uy eters means N hs tho
omng of All coored re II o viii The Union Hoes that
s officers comruandng ex ons aud raids sal bring
In with them all the re.rccs possible snordng Them tran.
uoratIon aid protection aud Encouragement any cncer
tringinr admitting within hH lines Eba orth