When President Lincoln issued a military order, it was usually
expressive, as the following shows:
“War Department, Washington, July 22, ‘62.
“First: Ordered that military commanders within the States of Virginia,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas
and Arkansas, in an orderly manner, seize and use any property, real
or personal, which may be necessary or convenient for their several
commands, for supplies, or for other military purposes; and that while
property may be all stored for proper military objects, none shall be
destroyed in wantonness or malice.
“Second: That military and naval commanders shall employ as laborers
within and from said States, so many persons of African descent as
can be advantageously used for military or naval purposes, giving them
reasonable wages for their labor.
“Third: That as to both property and persons of African descent,
accounts shall be kept sufficiently accurate and in detail to show
quantities and amounts, and from whom both property and such persons
shall have come, as a basis upon which compensation can be made in
proper cases; and the several departments of this Government shall
attend to and perform their appropriate parts towards the execution of
these orders.
“By order of the President.”