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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； Savannab； 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； be 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 offcer 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。
I saw a good deal of the secretary socially； during the time of his visit to Savannah。 He kept his quarters on the revenue…cutter with Simeon Draper； Esq。； which cutter lay at a wharf in the river； but he came very often to my quarters at Mr。 Green's house。 Though appearing robust and strong； he complained a good deal of internal pains； which he said threatened his life； and would compel him soon to quit public office。 He professed to have come from Washington purposely for rest and recreation； and he spoke unreservedly of the bickerings and jealousies at the national capital； of the interminable quarrels of the State Governors about their quotas； and more particularly of the financial troubles that threatened the very existence of the Government itself。 He said that the price of every thing had so risen in comparison with the depreciated money； that there was danger of national bankruptcy； and he appealed to me； as a soldier and patriot； to hurry up matters so as to bring the war to a close。
He left for Port Royal about the 15th of January； and promised to go North without delay； so as to hurry back to me the supplies I had called for； as indispensable for the prosecution of the next stage of the campaign。 I was quite impatient to get off myself； for a city…life had become dull and tame； and we were all anxious to get into the pine…woods again； free from the importunities of rebel women asking for protection； and of the civilians from the North who were coming to Savannah for cotton and all sorts of profit。
On the 18th of January General Slocum was ordered to turn over the city of Savannah to General J。 G。 Foster； commanding the Department of the South； who proposed to retain his own headquarters at Hilton Head； and to occupy Savannah by General Grovers division of the Nineteenth Corps； just arrived from James River； and on the next day； viz。； January 19th； I made the first general orders for the move。
These were substant