Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Forty Acres And A Mule: Special Field Orders, No. 15


During Mr. Stanton's stay in Savannah we discussed this negro question very fully; he asked me to draft an order on the subject, in accordance with my own views, that would meet the pressing necessities of the case, and I did so. We went over this order, No. 15, of January 16, 1865, very carefully. The secretary made some verbal modifications, when it was approved by him in all its details, I published it, and it went into operation at once. It provided fully for the enlistment of colored troops, and gave the freedmen certain possessory rights to land, which afterward became matters of judicial inquiry and decision. Of course, the military authorities at that day, when war prevailed, had a perfect right to grant the possession of any vacant land to which they could extend military protection, but we did not undertake to give a fee-simple title; and all that was designed by these special field orders was to make temporary provisions for the freedmen and their families during the rest of the war, or until Congress should take action in the premises. All that I now propose to assert is, that Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, saw these orders in the rough, and approved every paragraph thereof, before they were made public:



HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 16, 1865.



1. The islands from Charleston south, the abandoned rice-fields along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the St. John's River, Florida, are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the negroes now made free by the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States.


2. At Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, Fernandina, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville, the blacks may remain in their chosen or accustomed vocations; but on the islands, and in the settlements hereafter to be established, no white person whatever, unless military officers and soldiers detailed for duty, will be permitted to reside; and the sole and exclusive management of affairs will be left to the freed people themselves, subject only to the United States military authority, and the acts of Congress. By the laws of war, and orders of the President of the United States, the negro is free, and must be dealt with as such. He cannot be subjected to conscription, or forced military service, save by the written orders of the highest military authority of the department, under such regulations as the President or Congress may prescribe. Domestic servants, blacksmiths, carpenters, and other mechanics, will be free to select their own work and residence, but the young and able-bodied negroes must be encouraged to enlist as soldiery in the service of the United States, to contribute their share toward maintaining their own freedom, and securing their rights as citizens of the United States.


Negroes so enlisted will be organized into companies, battalions, and regiments, under the orders of the United States military authorities, and will be paid, fed, and clothed; according to law. The bounties paid on enlistment may, with the consent of the recruit, go to assist his family and settlement in procuring agricultural implements, seed, tools, boots, clothing, and other articles necessary for their livelihood.


8. Whenever three respectable negroes, heads of families, shall desire to settle on land, and shall have selected for that purpose an island or a locality clearly defined within the limits above designated, the Inspector of Settlements and Plantations will himself, or, by such subordinate officer as he may appoint, give them a license to settle such island or district, and afford them such assistance as he can to enable them to establish a peaceable agricultural settlement.


The three parties named will subdivide the land, under the supervision of the inspector, among themselves, and such others as may choose to settle near them, so that each family shall have a plot of not more than forty acres of tillable ground, and, when it borders on some water-channel, with not more than eight hundred feet water-front, in the possession of which land the military authorities will afford them protection until such time as they can protect themselves, or until Congress shall regulate their title. The quartermaster may, on the requisition of the Inspector of Settlements and Plantations, place at the disposal of the inspector one or more of the captured steamers to ply between the settlements and one or more of the commercial points heretofore named, in order to afford the settlers the opportunity to supply their necessary wants, and to sell the products of their land and labor.


4. Whenever a negro has enlisted in the military service of the United States, he may locate his family in any one of the settlements at pleasure, and acquire a homestead, and all other rights and privileges of a settler, as though present in person. In like manner, negroes may settle their families and engage on board the gunboats, or in fishing, or in the navigation of the inland waters, without losing any claim to land or other advantages derived from this system. But no one, unless an actual settler as above defined, or unless absent on Government service, will be entitled to claim any right to land or property in any settlement by virtue of these orders.


5. In order to carry out this system of settlement, a general officer will be detailed as Inspector of Settlements and Plantations, whose duty it shall be to visit the settlements, to regulate their police and general arrangement, and who will furnish personally to each head of a family, subject to the approval of the President of the United States, a possessory title in writing, giving as near as possible the description of boundaries; and who shall adjust all claims or conflicts that may arise under the same, subject to the like approval, treating such titles altogether as possessory. The same general officer will also be charged with the enlistment and organization of the negro recruits, and protecting their interests while absent from their settlements; and will be governed by the rules and regulations prescribed by the War Department for such purposes.


6. Brigadier-General R. Saxton is hereby appointed Inspector of Settlements and Plantations, and will at once enter on the performance of his duties. No change is intended or desired in the settlement now on Beaufort Island, nor will any rights to property heretofore acquired be affected thereby.


By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General.

18 comments:

  1. Asking questions are in fact fastidious thing if you are not understanding something entirely, but this post gives
    pleasant understanding yet.
    Here is my web page : property management company

    ReplyDelete
  2. Im here to settle my claim on my forty acres. Quite sure I'll need professional help

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amazing! Its truly remarkable post, I have got much clear idea concerning from this article.


    Take a look at my web page safe diet plans

    ReplyDelete
  4. If you desirе to obtaіn much from thiѕ piecе of writіng then you
    have to аpрly these strategies to your wоn blоg.


    Feel fгee to surf to my ωebsitе - http://myhairgrowthchallenge.com/groups/fashion-tips-that-may-benefit-everyone/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hmm it aρρеаrs likе your sitе ate my first comment (it
    wаѕ supеr long) so I guеss I'll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I'm thοroughly enјoying youг blоg.
    I too am an аsрiгіng blog blogger but
    I'm still new to the whole thing. Do you have any recommendations for novice blog writers? I'd cеrtаinly aρрreciate it.


    My weblog - thoi trang

    ReplyDelete
  6. This person can loose body weight really fast and she will need
    to apearance associated with lots of achievement... but in reality the body realizes
    that it isnt becoming nourished and it will burn muscle
    tissue rather than fat and maintain the fat being
    a hold... given that fat can be lighter then muscle the particular scale will
    read success but we doubt she will fit into her desired dress size.
    .. actually... there are several solutions for the friend.
    .. tell her to start exploring healthy food options although not only that will.
    ... excercise thats the simplest way! diet plans suck.

    .. not only would be the result horrible and dissatisying but no one likes getting
    on the diet... but i would create concious initiatives to consume healthy
    foods but simultaneously find something you actually like to do.
    .. such as bike or even inside my situation..
    . perform handbags... I actually eat SO MUCH..
    . still junk a lot but i play handbags so really much this doesnt issue for me.
    .. the other option is if she is really straight into this starvation
    idea... there is an ever more popular weight reduction "drug" that
    you can order on the web and my dad has even had
    success by it... it basically helps it be so that when you starve your self the
    body doesnt realize it and it also still burns up body fat.
    .. yet one important thing is that you simply get a balanced diet
    besides this drug as possible do some serious damage in case
    you dont consume as designated with all the medication.
    .. It is known as HCG if you need to purchase
    some look it up on-line

    Also visit my page; fat loss supplements

    ReplyDelete
  7. Greetings from Florida! I'm bored at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you present here and can't wait to take a look when I get home.
    I'm surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I'm not even using WIFI, just 3G
    .. Anyhow, very good site!

    Here is my web page: calories burned calculator

    ReplyDelete
  8. Excellent post. Keep writing such kind of info on your site.
    Im really impressed by your blog.
    Hello there, You've done an excellent job. I'll definitely
    digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I'm sure they'll be
    benefited from this site.

    Also visit my website :: Buy Razberri Ketone Slim

    ReplyDelete
  9. This page definitely has all the information I wanted
    concerning this subject and didn't know who to ask.

    my homepage http://www.cuteteenporn.net/video/29651/young-virgin-undressing.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. May I simply just say what a comfort to find someone who truly understands what they're discussing on the internet. You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people should check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you are not more popular given that you surely possess the gift.

    Here is my weblog: xxx-fuck.Net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good day! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I
    genuinely enjoy reading your blog posts. Can you suggest any
    other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects?
    Thank you so much!

    My blog post; http://www.wildpartygirls.org

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can
    survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
    My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had
    to share it with someone!

    Check out my webpage; www.anal4firsttime.org (dansksextube.dk)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Attractive element of content. I simply stumbled upon your website
    and in accession capital to say that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your
    weblog posts. Anyway I'll be subscribing for your augment and
    even I fulfillment you access consistently rapidly.


    Also visit my blog; adult cam girls

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually recognise what
    you're talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please additionally discuss with my web site
    =). We could have a hyperlink change contract between us

    Also visit my weblog - air duct cleaning phoenix ()

    ReplyDelete


  15. Feel free to visit my web blog: gaming laptops under 500 (https://www.diigo.com/user/abnormalpo481)

    ReplyDelete