New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-25
THE FREEDMEN ON TIE
ISLANDS, o. &.
How They Came There-Letterf
Chaplain French.

Hon. CHARLES SUMsER-Dedr SIR: have
us. seen copy Of your bill for legazing Gen. sher'
mans Special Field Order No. Is dated Savannah Gs,
jan 6 1865 setting apart the Sea Islands OF the coss
Of South Carolina Georgia and Florida Tor the peheh'
Of Freedmen. q,
There is not only political wisdom. but justice, ~
the measure your bill contemplates
The honorable Secretary Of War. in Special oE&er
dated as far back al Aug IS 1862 sad directed 10
Brig. Gen r. saxton, then Military Governor o. tho
Department ofthe South, instructed him as follows;
3. In view Of the small force under yonr command.
and the Inability Of the Government at the present time
m H. in order TO guard the pantations and
settlements occupied by the United States from nyaso
and protect the Inhabitants thereof FROM captivity and
murder by the enemy you also authorized 10 sro
Uniform. equip and receive into the service OF yss
United States, such number Of volunteers OF Airfan
descent as you may deem expedien not exceedin9 I've
thousapd and may detail officers 10 instruct tem IN
military drill, discipline and duty ana 10 eorlMsle
them. The persons so received into service, anu ine
officers 10 be entitled 10 and receive the same pay ana
ratons as are allowed by law to Volunteer In tho
4 You will occupy. If possible, all the islands and
plantations heretofore occupied by the Government
and secure and harvest the crops, and cultivate una
improve the plantations. , IT,.
s The population Of African descent that cultiNals
the land and perform the LABOR Of the Rebels eons
tue large share Of their military strength, aud
bic the white masters to fill the Rebel armies and
a cruel snd morderous war against the peope Vi
Northern States. by reducing the labornS suehel-
of the Rebels their military power viii be educed.
Yen are therefore authorized by every means lnyour
mower 10 withdraw from the enemy their aborEg
force and population end to spare eIoi. consistent
with civilized warfare, to weaken. haras on annoy
them and to establish the authority Of the GOVERNMENT
Of the United States within your Department.
In carrying out this very important OrdeL so credit
able to the wisdom and forecast Of the Hon Secretary
OF War, Gen. Saxton sent scouts through tie eueme,
lines to offer homes on these Sea Islands, and tho
lection Of the United States Government to oil
friends who would deser. their masters To the
bodied was offered the privilege Of enlistng as
in the Union Army aid fighting for the free
their race.
| Immediately upon the announcement OF the
promise OF this order, assertions, By SC
hundrcas, all along the coast. commenced
| fldings soon reached the interior OF South Ca
Georgia, and men dropped the hoe, forsook
tiers. and at the risk Of life came and often
families from 50 to 200 miles, TO secure the
and the homes promised them on the islands
More fully to carry out the designs Of IL
rious armed expeditions were fitted out,
trated the enemies lines at various points, O. naa
!!sige numbers varying from 100 tol nearly lpooi
slaves and aborers Of the enemy. Many refa ees ats
providing comfortable homes for their fGnHies gave
their services to the country by enstirg IN the hrt
Of the Government and known as the First SOu:h
Carolina Volunteers. Many hundreds OF men also rem
dered important service in the Quartermsscr Depart
ment, on board army transports, AID naval vessels.
The important effects Of this order In weakening tho
enemy and increasing military strength and par
,cuarly tie moral prestige given 70 tne HGyernen,
be fully estimated Under heavy pressure the Coz.
eminent struck, by means Of this order wise ets;t.
i've and Just blow against the Rebellion and for freedom
| When Gen. Shefmal's Special Field Order, No. IS
was issued at SAVANNAH Ga. the Secretary OF War VA
present. and 1t understood indeed known, that he
sanctioned the order.
The enemy, Is well known, not then conquered
aud while both humanity and tie laws Of war required
such or similar provisions of that order for the suffering
| freedmen liberated by SbeTmans triumphant march
through Georgia these very provisions were held up
before all the enemies laboring forces, still held is
bondage. as Inducements to desert their masters.
Bounties in homesteods agreeaby TO the provisions F
the order, were offered to freedmen having families
to induce them to enlist in the United States service
Before the Rebel army surrendered, 1900 or 4000C
freedmen accepted the offers Of the Government *
pressed by Gen. Sbermans order.
Through the entire season. these Freedmen have beet
coming and locating planting and building more or
less aud anchorng they fondly supposed for life on
their little homesteads.
1t was not until late in the Fall that any inmation
was given them that the Government did intend to
fulfill Its promises Although tAe order directed ouY
possessory titles TO be given. IL encouraged improve
mens and OUTLAWS such as clearly justified the people liz
expecting and claiming perpetuity Of possession. 70
after oil this the Government claim that 1t Is under
legal obligation to protect this confding and
dars % ess's 5
invoked in the hour Of its extremity, and without
help youohsafsd, victory might never have come
it Is under no moral obligation to fulfill even 10 the
letter the promises and sacred pledges OF these ord
Would hese freedmen needy IS they were
made the sacrifices they nav TO get the Islands,
then expended the time labor and money they have
their homesteads (or much Of which no GieQ COM
pensaton to them can ever be made. though the
Government were disposed TO make I'D. II they haa
he riUhtn
faith with them. surrender back 10 their former owners
all their hbnesteads and leave them thereafter 20 sIk
TOT themselves as best they coaldi Never no. never
In the full belief that their homes were permanent,
they have made little improv In building fencing
laying out gardens plsnting vines etc. nearly all Of
which viii DO OF no value to Others And 10 be tors
part Of the Government.
The Government refuses and very properly TO make
compensation for the houses mills bridges, roads and
fences destroyed OF such Rebel owners pordoncd
It's plea against compensation (and 10 1t not accepted
even ny the former owners themselves is. that mill.
tary necessity required their destruction and did n9s
ntqy necessity require the appropriation OF these
Islands TO the Of tie freedmen and has not formal
contract on the part Of the Government assigning tLe
lands to them pat Il forever ou o. power TO restore
OF bar 10 restoration than sacred contracti Does
the Government plead for universal restoration on tie
ground that soue G5sl men are suteFerst What woud
have become OF the lands VI such had the RebeOB
been SUGGEST They would have been confscatod boz
yond recovery, Of course Truly loyal indebted
more or less to these r1y orders which have senGteG
their lands for their deyerance from the CoDedeTas
Government and for present protection II they c1s
prove that their loyalty would eventually have resulted
Ia the conscstion Of their lands By the CoDfcderscy,
then the Government uDquestioRsby should now coHi"
pensste them for their losses out In so doing care nus
be observed not 10 do injustice TO the loyal feednes
while melting out justice to their former owners.
pray that you, and al members Of Government msg
have wisdom see and do what lis right between as
parties and acceptable 20 God.
Enclosed please find copy Of Gen. sherpans Special
IrfaII Odd No ID