Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-12-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
ADJ'T d INSPR GENL'S OFFICE,
RICHMOND, October oath, 1862
GENERAL ORDER,

NO. l3S.
Following instructions are published for carrying
INTO effect the 9Th Section of the Act of 26th March
1853 10 regulate impressnents in respect to labor
on fortihcations and other public works in States in
which provisions have not been made this subject
l.. The Commanding General, or the Officer of En-;
gneeIs In charge of the work. shall have power to
decide upon the necessity for making mpres sments
o. slaves tor this purpose after making suitable eff
forts 70 secure the necessary labor by contract He
must be satisfied of the necessity of the measure pc
fore he resorts to it.
2. He may authorize the inpressment of male
slaves between the ages of seventeen and fifty years.
but before the first day of De,embe- next shall ab
stain from Undressing slaves from plantations exclu
sivey devoted to the production of grain and prov
SONS without the consent OF the owner, except in
cases of urgent necessity.
8. No impressments shall be made of the slaves
employed in the domesticand family services exclu-
slvely, nor upon farms or plantations where there
are not more than three slaves of the age specified,
and not more than i've per cent of the population OF
time unless the necessity is very great and after
snltation with as Department of the Governor ofhe
State IN which the impressmen. isto be made.
4 The ordinary period for impressment shall be
sixty days. but if the owner of any slave shall fail to
bring e slaves impressed to the place of rendezvous
within Eve days after the time appointed the slaves
wit held may be detained for ninety days, and for
longer term OF ten days for every day OF default,
less reasonable excuse be given for the delays that
have occurred.
5. 1t shall be the dpty of the Commanding Gene
raj in charge Of any lines requiring ortlfcations, to
acquaint himself with the resources of slave labor in
his department. and to consider with care .he man
in which he may obtain the controi of whatever
necessary for the public vice by fair and equita
BILE apo ntEent among the owners of such property:
He will consult with the Governor of the State and
othor State authorities to the best mode oproceed
ing, so that is mpressment may the least en-
barrassment to the industrial pursuits of the
nifty.
s. Notices will be given. of the number and char
acte- the slaves required the time and place their
delivery, the time for which the service is required
and OF the arrangements made Tor the subsistence,
mana cement and custody of the slaves so required /
and IT the masters of slaves shall furnish SUBJ
slstence for their slaves, and suitable
agent to supernend them, they shall nave the priv
i1ege of doing But such overs ers snail be sub
ject to the control of the ocer in char ge and may
dismissed for any misconduct by him.
z. The sum of twenty dollars per month for each |
slave delivered ii pursuance to requisition, and fir
teen dolsrs per month for each slave held IL
quence OF failure of his master to obey requistion
made as hereinoetore provided shall be paid by the
Confederate States, and SOLDIERS ratons medicines
and medical attendance furnished and the value of
all such slaves, as may die during their time of SER
vice thereafter from injuries received, diseases
contracted IN such SERVICE or may not be returned,
shall be paid by the Confederate States Such value
shall be concusively established by formal appraise
ment by Beard O. Experts mutually agreed upon at
the time the slaves received into the Confederate
service. Compensation shall also be made for all in
uries to slaves arising from the act of the public
diligence on the part ofautloriues of the Confederate
States But the Confederate States will net be liable
for any slave not returned by Of fraud cou
son on the part ct the owner his agent, the
selected By him to superinteud them, his
death should be caused by the act of God, or by dis
existing when the slave is received by Confede
rate authorities.
8. Subsistence and provisions furnished bv the
owner shall be commuted for at the allowed SOL
iiers in service. All slaves sent voluntarily to the
authorities, and accepted by them with
Tut other special contract shall stand the same
ooting as those delivered under requisiton. end the
owners of all slaves delivered taken under requisi
Ion, shall be entitled to regard the Confederate
states as contracting with them to comply with the
obligations and conditions herein eX crossed.
9. In there should be any disagreement on the
subject of the value any slave impressed, or case
he impressing officer shall not be satisfied OF the ac-
uracy of any valuations or valu atons the apprise-
nent shall be referred the appraiser appointed
Ter the 5ih section of the act concerning impress
ents according the provisions of the act OF Con-
ress approved 9th April, 1868, and published In
)rders No. So, current series
By order
(Signed,) S.-COOnER,