The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-11
Camp tor Contrabsnas.

| 10aoio tnO AoaNSAo VI tI5 CNAuNl tue
annexed general order issued By Ada
tant General THOMAS, who arrived in
this city last week on one Of the noblsst
missions that ever occupied the stten-
ton of sn American statesman or sol-
der. This order gives assurance that
the oolored people vino have sought free
dom and protection within the Federal
lines in Middle Tennessee, will not be
permitted to suffer from want and desti-
! tuition. The measures for taking care of
these people will commend themselves to
the humane and philanthrOpic, as afford
| ing the means Of present support, and
giving them protection until the govern
ment of the United States adopts some
general policy relative to the future dis
position of the freedmen Of the South:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Feb. 4th, 1864.
Orders No-2.
I. A Camp for the reception Of Contra
bands will at once be established in the
vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, The
entire control and supervision of the
same will be under Captain Ralph Hunt,
list Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, sub
ject to such orders as he may receive
from the COmmsding General Of the De-
partment of lhe Cumberland. The
| Quartermaster's Department will furnish
all the materials and supplies necessary
to shelter and protect the negroes
destined to be located in this Camp. II
practicable, the cOntrabands will be
| quartered in log houses, 10 be constructed
| by the negroes themselves; but IN the
interim tents will be furnished for their
accommodation. The several staff De-
partments will Issue all supplies neces-
sary for the wants of these people, on
the requisitiOn of the officer in charge Of
the Camp, approved by the officer com
manding the nearest Post.
II. A detail of eight subalterns from
regiments of African descent, will be or
dered to report for duty 10 Captain Ralph
Hunt, 1st Kentucky Volunteers, Com
mandant of the Camp, for the purpose Of
aiding him in the performance of his
duties. 1t shall form a part of their
duties to visit the plantations, farms,
oOd-yards, and other places where ne
grOes may be employed, for the purpose
of iuquiring into their condition. and 70
see that the engagements between them
and their employers are promptly and
faithfully carried out on both sides.
Any failure on the part Of the EMPLOYER
to carry out his engagements, will be
Immediately reported to the Commanding
General Of the nearest Military District,
who will at once take action in the mat
ter.
III. The following regulations for the
government of freedmen in tie Depart
ment of the Cumberland, are announced
for the information Of all concerned:
1st. All male negroes coming within
our lines, who. after examination, shall
be found capable Of bearing arms, will be
mustered into companies and regiments
of C0lored Troops in process Of organi.
cation. all others, including men inca
pable of bearing arms, women and chill
dren, instead of being permitted to re-
main in csmp in idleness, will be requir-
ed TO perform such labor as may Be suited
to their condition, in the respective Staff
Departments of the Army on plantations
or farms, leased or otherwise, within our
lines; as wood choppers, Transfers, or in |
any way that their labor can be made
available.
End. Ali civilians of known LOYALTY, |
having possession of plantations farms, |
wood-ysrds, or otherwise engaged, may, |
upon application to the Commandant Of |
the Contrabsnd Camp, hire such negroes,
(including a fair proportion Of children,) |
as they may desire, if possible, for aciusl |
service. Ia all such cases, the employers |
viii enter into q written engagement to |
paY, feed and treat humanely, al the ne
grOes turned over to them, and none shall |
be hired for a less term than one year,
commencing on the 1st day Of January,
1864. Should it be desirable, aud the
employer furnish clothing 70 the hired
hands. the same shall be deducted from
their pay at the actual cost price.
3rd. When found impractieable 10 fad |
persons of sufficient character and res
possibility to give employment TO al |
negroes liable to be employed, the res
pective Generals Of Districts may desig- |
nate such abandoned or cOnfscated plan
tstiOns or farms as they may deem most
huAt@D4rg ~ 10 hEAA1A ~ eAD IHa4 tV1bg /
upon such terms as in their judgment /
shall be best adapted to the welfare Of 1
this class Of people--taking care that in
all cases the negroes shall besslf- sustsia-
ing, and not . burthsn upon the Govern
ment.
4ih. The wsges to be psid for labor
shall be as foliows: For all able bodied
males over fifteen years Of age, not less
than seven dollars per month; for abls-
bodied females over fifteen years Of age,
not less than five dollars per month Tor
children between the age Of twelve and 1
fifteen, half the above amounts; children
under fourteen years Of age shall not be
used as field hands, and families must
be kept together when they 50 desire.
The employer also must furnish such
medical advice as may be required,
81 his own expense.
". In order the more fully TO carry
out the requirements Of this order, the
Commanders Of Military Districts are
authorized when necessary, to lease
abandoned plantations 20 loyal citizens,
on such terms as may be equitable.
By order Of Secretary Of War;
L. THoMAs, Adjuiant General