Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-03
HEAD QUARTERS MILITARY DIsTRIcr,l
Lyhghburg, Va, June ~, 1855 !
q r,,vRAI ORDERS M. %

b O. SAAN 80 APSS
GENERAL ORDERS, No. %
Tie frequent mplaints OF planters that they
are burdened with helpless women ard children
whose natural protectors are upon the plsnta-
tous OF their neighbors, are useless, it having ell
ready been announced in General Orders No. IL
from these HeIdqus rterS, that families should he
brought together ON the lame fam, or satiSfaC-
tory arrangements made for their support by per-
sou, employing the husband and father.
A. Persons having able bodied men in their
environment who may have families on other
Plantations aud who refuse 10 let them 80 10
their families or allow the Il 10 bring their fam.
lies 10 them. will be compelled 10 do juAlice to
both tie freedmen and their neighboIs.
III. The price OF labcr has been fixed in several
localities at i've dollars es month fer first class
Iabor and in proportion for less efficient labor
I'm sanctioning this arrangement, il was under.
scol that the wages mentioned was to include
clo,bing food house rent, fuel, and the usual
priyi eye of gardens heretofore for the laborer
and his family.
Nv. When the freedmen sre willing TO remain
On the plantations Of their former owners as one
family. and they are willing TO keep them and
provide Tor them rs has heretofore been custom
sry and when the neigbOring planters can ar.
yange among themselves for the present year for
The families of the sble-bOdied men tn Al may lie
up0n other farms and 10 give them a suite eCt
portion OF the growing crop to keep them from
freedmen performing faithfully such labor as the
planter may have during sad tine, it will 10 con.
sidered fair remuneration under existing cir.
rumstauces and when the freedmen and the for.
mer owner have made contract Of this kind it
win be cons derei binding on both parties.
V. Where persons hiring able. bodied men re.
fusa 20 provide for their families, houses fuel,
cd. clothing and gardens, the lowest wages that
will be considered fair remuneration will be a sum
that will enable them 70 procure the afore en-.
toned necessaries in addition 70 the FIVE dollars
per month AS fixed by the various meetings Of the
citizens Of this District for FIRST elias lab r.
VI. All persons employing able bodied men
whose wives and families are living on other plan
tatlons who refuse TO give them n Cert.hcI te Of
character, in accordance with their just. merit,
when they may desire 10 ork on the Plantation on
"a hich their families reside, or TO 90 elsewhere in
order that they may live with their families and
support them by their labor, and all persons who
refuse 20 employ either negro OF white labOrers,
who nav 'ety. one plantation 10 60 9 another in
order 10 I've with aud support their families, for
the reason that they are not provided with GER
tifcate OF good character from their rmer em.
p'oyer. will be considered as colspirng against
the laborer for the purpose OF deirauding him Of
his lust wages, and will be brought before a Mill
tary Commission, and punished according to the
nature of his offence. 3
VII. This order is not to be construed by the
freedmen as giving them any encouragement to
leave q work without cause. They are TO make
every effort in their power TO obtain certificate IF
good character and should be able n show that the
pe-sons on whose plantations their wives and
families are living are willing 10 employ them or
that they can obtain employment elsewhere at
such wages as will enable them to maintain their
families, and provide shelter for theT they
should also know where they are going TO find
the shelter. This is Of primary importance, and
in many instances the laboring man works for
less wages than he otherwise would, simply be.
cause he must have a home for his family.
BY command of
Breyet Major General GREGG,
Commanding.
JoHy 8. MAIILASn,
Brcy't Major and A. A. G.