The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-20
The Oath OF -SIaves-Im
Pressmsnts. &c.s &c.
HEADo'TBgs DISTRICT OF NAsHvILLE. ]
NASHVILLE. Tenn. Feb. IL. 1864. !

HEADo'TEgs DISTRICT OF NAsHvTLLE.l
NASHVILLE, TENN, Feb. II, 1864
General Orders No. 81
In accordance with instructions from
the Major General Commanding the De-
partment Of the Cumberland, the follow
ing orders are issued
I. The Provost Marshals of the several
Pests in this District will administer the
Amnesty Oath" prescribed in the
Presidents Proclamation Of December 8,
1863, TO all citizens who desire to take
the same.
Books, in which to record the names
of such persons and blank certificates
stating the fact that the oath has been
administered, will be furnished the
Provost Msrshals, who viii record the
nsmss and date of the OATH, and deliver
the certificate At the time the oath is
taken to the party taking it, All per-
sons who voluntarily take this oath are,
By the Presidents Proclamation, restored
to all the rights Of citizens of the United
States, snd entitled to the protection of
the Government and to be regarded IS
loyal. II this oath be violated, charges
will be preferred, and the party tried
and punished By military commission.
II. The military authorities will have
as little to do with slaves, as may be, in
the discharge of their duties as SOL
diers, il being considered best to allow
masters and slaves TO settle their own
aFsirs without military interference.
The practice of taking from their homes
old men and negro women and children
and bringing them TO the Posts of this
District or Of allowing them to come to
the Posts and generally becoming 6
charge 10 the Government, consuming the
rations Of the soldiers, whilst they are
utterly useless TO the authorities, is for
hidden, and steps will be taken by the
Commandments of the various Pests to
prevent it, and to see that the owners Of
7uch slaves do not send them into the
osts to get rid of their support and to
make them burthen to the Government.
Ill By the impressment of horses and
mules AID other stock in this District by
the military, in many cases without
authority, there is not 4 sufficient num-
Der of work beasts left on many planta-
tons ID raise ; crop.
No further impressment will be made
except in cases of great necessity, and
then only by the order Of the Post Com
msnder, who shall have personal knoWl-
edge Of the facts, and who will at once
report such impressment to these Head
quarters, together with its necessity and
the circumstances connected with il. If
such impressment be made upon loyal
citizens, (snd those having taken the
amnesty oath" are to be considered
loyal) vouchers will be given to the
owners assuring the payment of fair
price to the party whose stock is SO i'm
pressed.
". The attention of officers and
soldiers in this District is called to
General Orders: "NOs. II and 80, 1862,
and 200, 1863 Headquarters Department
of the Cumberland" on the subjects of
forging and obtaining supplies in the
country. These Orders, so far as appli-
cable, viii be rigidly enforced, and to
that end the taking of private property
by the military, without the consent and
against the will Of the owner, except in
with those Orders, will be
promptly and severely punished. All
so demOrslizing 70 the soldier
and so unworthy the brave man, must
cease.
By command of Ma. Gen. Rousseau.
BIB. POLK,
feb1S-3t Capt. and A. A. G.
WJo~,oDe RuF baoTod poots e. o,,o J,J