Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-10-02
Circular From the Office Provost
Marshal Greensboro, Ga,
June 17Ih, 1865.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:


While many reasonable and order
abiding citizens, residing in various
parts Of this country, are endeavoring
with a Ommendable earneStneSS to
maintain good order in the commun-
ity during this distracted period of
the states transition from Rebellion
to LOyalty-from Anarchy to Law:
1t has come to the knowledge OF the
military authorities at this Post, that
some evil-diSposed individuals, reck-
less of all responsibilities, are labor
ing with equal pertinacity, to subvert
this end by creating trouble, raising
factious questions, misrepresent ting
the state of things generally, and
embarrassing the military authori-
ties, in their endeavOrS to reconcile
matters between freedmen and their
former masters, and in committing
many other unlawful acts prejudicial
to the peace of the people.
Now, in order that these violaterS
Of law and the recent orders of the
government, shall not be allowed to
plead ignorance. (when arrested with
a view to punishment, for their acts
of public injustice) as to what is re-
quired Of them, this circular is issued
to such persons, | will say:
First. All persons must under
stand that slavery has no legal exis-
in, rot q Of Ennrrj1
that all colored persons are hence
forward to be treated the same as
other citizens, and while the whole
military power of the government is
rights as free men, it must also be
understood by them that they must
labor for their own support, and
those dependent upon them, the
same as is required of white men.
Second. Negroes who are idling
about plantations and other places,
will be taken up, and put to work by
force, but when willing to make
reasonable contracts to work for
their former masters, if driven away,
a sufficient detail will be sent to the
plantation from which they were
driven, to take therefrom food suf
fcent to support them at this Post,
until work can be found for them to
do, or the offender will be imprisoned
until the required supplies are fur
nished. This order is necessary to
prevent we'll disposed persons from
suffering by forced vagrancy
amongst these people.
Third. Threatening to shoot ne
groes, beating or otherwise injuring
them, will not be allowed, and when
proof of such treatment is made at
this office, the offender will be pun
ished by fine and Imprisonment
here, or turned over to the military
at Augusta. When ne
groes need punishment, the legal
will punish them, when
evidence of their misconduct is pro-
duced, but citizens can only punish
them at their peril. Cases of NAL
treatment of negroes have multiplied
until it has become necessary for the
authorities, to take hold of
the matter in earnest, and each and
everyone of these cases will be in
vestigated and the guilty punished.
BY order of Jas. w. Martin,
Capt. oath Iowa and Provost Marshal.
A. Forrest, A. A. of Post.
The above interesting army order,
a relic of the civil war period, will be
read with great interest by people of
the present day because it explains
conditions in Georgia at the close of
the civil war. The order was issued
by Captain Martin, father of Hon.
Eben w. Martin of Deadwood, who
was very devout Christian soldier, a
man who never took furlough or
left his "boys" from the time they
were mustered in till they were mus
tered out. Captain Martin was a
brave, dashing soldier of the Stone
wall Jackson order. He prayed be-
fore entering into the conflict and
prayed when the red carnage Of war
was over. His men loved him for his
soldierly qualities and for his earnest
and noble christian spirit.
The above document has been in
possession of Asa Forrest, ST., since
that June day away back in 1865,
who as acting adjutant of the post,
countersigned the proclamation is
sued by his superior officer according
to military rule. Asa Forrest Sr. is
an old and respected citizen of Can
ton and in discussing war times and
war measures the other day he spoke
of the Martin proclamation and we
expressed desire to publish it, as we
had slight acquaintance with Cap
tain Martin before he died at Hot
Springs, where he lived on fine
ranch and was highly esteemed. AS
conmandant of the Soldiers Home,
We furnished military escort and a
firing squad who took part in the
funeral of the gallant old christian
soldier.
This proclamation explains the Bit
ter feeling abroad in the southland
when the war closed In fact the pa
per it is written on was made in ST.
Thomas in 1868 and carried through
the Union blockade.
Mr.. Forrest relates many interest
ing events of Capt. Martins military
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