Printed form letter from Assistant Adjutant General W. A. Gordon; July 27, 1865

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Printed form letter from Assistant Adjutant General W. A. Gordon; July 27, 1865

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People

Gordon, W. A.Osterhaus, Peter, 1823-1917 Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Swann, G. T.

Events

Crime Crime--Arson Crime--Theft

Organizations

Military Headquarters Mississippi--Treasury Department United States--War Department United States--War Department. Adjutant-General’s Office

Occupations

Legal Profession--Judges

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson

Social Identifiers

Impoverished people

Printed form letter from Assistant Adjutant General W. A. Gordon; July 27, 1865

[seal]

Head Quarters Northern District of Mississippi,
Jackson, Miss., July 27, 1865.

Commanding Officer,

SIR:

The following instructions for your guidance in "Cotton" claims, include and supercede former circulars, and, unless specially instructed to the contrary by competent authority, you will in all cases conform to them.

As a general thing, you will not interfere with any cotton which is not positively declared to be "Government property." When private cotton is exposed to danger by fire or theft, you may, as far as the means at your disposal permit, protect the same on proper application. Owners of cotton will be permitted to ship it under existing Treasury regulations without interference on the part of the military authorities.

Where the title to private lots of cotton and the shipment thereof is legally objected to by contesing parties, the decision of Judge G. T. SWANN, invested by his Excellency, Gov-ernor SHARKEY, with special jurisdiction, is to be respected and considered final, as far as any military restraint is concerned. In order to protect such disputed cotton, it would be best if the contending parties assent, to have the same removed to garrisoned places, where it can be easily guarded. This proceeding is recommended in all cases where protection is asked for. This will not, however, be so construed as to authorize the use of government transportation for that pur-pose.

Objections to the shipment of private cotton by bona fide owners, which are not based on legal process, but are only indivicual or unofficial representations, will not be enteretained for an instant, Our policy must naturally be, to have all the cotton brought to market, in order to re-introduce money among the impoverished people, and you will therefore render such assistance as you consistently can, to attain that object.

The decisions of the Treasury Department will be considered as final in cases of Govern-ment cotton, and those of Judge G. T. SWANN in cases of private cotton, and you will see that disputed cotton is handled in compliance with those decisions. Of course Government cotton has, in all cases, the first claim to your protection.

BY ORDER OF MAJ.-GEN. P. JOS. OUSTERHAUS.

W. A. GORDON,
Ass't. Adj't. General.