The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-23
conascatoa and Abandoned Properly
UEADQCARTERs BCREAC OF KEF0aELg, fEEL34ES
AND ABANDONED LANDS, LoUIsIANA,

Ur,DoCARrERs BUREAC OF REFUGEES, FEErDXES i
AND ABANDONED LANDS LOUISIANA,
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, august 10, 1865
rCfrcular No. z.
The following circular of the war department. bureau
II ref1rees freedmen and abandoned lands, is r6p1b
Isbed for the information OF all concerned:
WAR DEPARTMENT, BUazAU REFroees FREEDMEN
AND Aba DoNsD LANDs
WAsHiSaToY, July % 1856.
[Circular No. 10.
eatiye to confscated and abandoned lands, and other
confscatcd and abandoned property, which aFe row,
~ bat may hereafter come, under the control OF this
bureau by virtue Of the act, approved March y 1867
establishing the bureau, ard other acts, and sections
~ meta and orders of the president relative 70 cap
tsrsd confs.ated and abandoned property, to-wil
Section ID act approved July ., 1854, and general
orders No ITO, war department, June y 1885, tile
following rules and regulations are established
/ All conEscated and abandoned lands aud other
confscated aud abandoned lands that now are Or tha
may hereafter come under the control Of the bareau p
refugees freedmen and abandoned lands BY viFtle 81
said acts and scctons Of acty and orders Of the pTes
dent are and shall be, set apart for The use o. oyR
refugees and freedmen and 30 much as may no lece5
sary assigned to them provided IN section g. g te
act establishing the bureau, VIZ: 10 every male clt
ION whether refugee or freedmen, aforesaid, there
shall be assigned not than forty acres oil such
lind and the persons to whom it 50 assiguedsla be
protected ia the and enjoyment Of the land tor tue
term of three years at annual rent not exceeding
per cent upon the value of auch land Gs il WAS ap-
praised by the State authorities in th3 year 1862 pr
the purpose of taxation and IL case nc such appraisal
can be found then the rental shall be based apoa the
estimated valae Of the land in said year, to be asctr-
tanned in such manner as the commissioner m8y, BY
regulation, prescribe. At the end Of said term, or
during any part of said term, the occupants Of any
paTcea assigned may purchase the land and receive
such title thereto the United States convey up
on paying therefor the value of the land asceraincd
and fixed for the purpose OF asteFtaRIng The annual
rent aforesaid"
9 All land other property within tie several in-
surrectionary ates, viz Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama Mississippi
Kentucky Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana
and Texas, to which the United States have, sEal
have acquired title by confscatiou sale other.
wise during the late rebellion and All abandoned lands
other abandoned property in these States become
by the construction Of section 8 act approved july
@ 1854, viz;
property, real or personal, shall bo regarded AZ
abandoned when the lawful owner thereof shall be vol
unfairly absent thererom and engaged either il
or otherwise in aiding or encouraging the rebellion,
aud which remains unsold or otherwise disposed Of
are and shall be- considered under tho control OIL
the commissioner of the bureau OF refugees freedmen
AID abandoned lands for the purposes hereinafter sci
forth and for the time authorized by tie act establish
ing the bureau and no part or parcel OF said coAfsa
ed or abandoned property shah be surrendered OF
restored to the former thereof or other claim
ants thereto except such surrender restoration bG
authorized by said commissioner.
g. Whenever any abandoned lands OF olhcr aban
Goned property that shall have come into the posses
sion Of the bureau does not fall under The definition
Of abandoned" as forth in section q of the &C
approved July O. 1854 it viii be formally Surrendered
by the commissioner assistant commissioner OF tht
bureau upon clear proof that the claimant did no
abandon the property in the sense defined % Cle mai
section and act.
L. In the surrender or restoration Of any property
the requirements of circular No g. curreHt SERIES from
this bureau, will be carefully observed.
g. Assistant commissioners will, az rapidly as posi-
ble cause accurate descriptions Of all coufscated ant
abandoned property that now, or that may hefat
ter come under their control, TO be made, and beside
Eeeping record Of such themselves, will forTfarC
monthly to the commissioner OF the bu7cau, copds o
such descriptions in the manner prescribed By ercnlG
No 10, of July IL, 1865 from this bureau. The
will with as little delay as possible select and set apar
such contscated and abandoned lands and property
laay be deemed necessary for the immediate usP c
refugees and freedmen the specific division Of Thic
into lots and the rental sale thereof according
the law establishing the bureau, will be completed 3
Hoon practicable, and reported to the commissioner
IN the section and setting apart OF such lanes All
property care will be used to take that about Whic
there is the least doubt to the proper custody an
control Of this bureau.
& The pardon of the president vii! not lie under
stood TO extend to the surrender of aband0ncd or
nSCGteu property "HiSH ~ a." A'So - go
refugees and freedmen, or in for the employner
and general welfare Of all persons within the lines
national military occupation within sai6 instructions
~ States formerly held slaves who IRE. o. shall b
come free (See act of March 8 1855 and act Of Jul
:, 1864, section ], chapter 225.)
0. .. HOWARD,
Maior-General, commissioner, bureau Of refugees
freemen and abandoned lands.
TnoM4s W. CoHwATr
Assistant commissioner bureau Of refugees :geerner
etc State OF Louisiana.