Davis, Robert S., 1832-? [General orders No. 46 concerning the recruitment of non-white troops]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00698 Author/Creator: Davis, Robert S., 1832-? Place Written: Hampton, Virginia Type: Printed document Date: 5 December 1863 Pagination: 8 p. ; 19.7 x 12.5 cm. Order a Copy
States "The recruitment of colored troops has become the settled purpose of the Government. It is therefore the duty of every officer and soldier to aid in carrying out that purpose, by every proper means, irrespective of personal predilection." Instructs recruitment to proceed "so that as few of the negros as possible shall become chargeable either upon the bounty of Government or the charities of the benevolent, and at the same time to do justice to those who shall enlist ... " Discusses the possibility of equal pay for white and non-white troops. Issued by Davis as Major and Assistant Adjutant General based on the command of Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler. Contains a hand-drawn sketch appearing to show the layout of a town or military compound on the last page. There is a handwritten note on the top of page one which states "Read page 2." The handwritten note on page two refers to an underlined passage of text: "The colored man fills an equal space in ranks while he lives, and an equal grave when he falls." Written at Fort Monroe.
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