| Office Commandant for Mississippi |
| Enterprise |
| February 17, 1865 |
| |
| I. Enrolling officers in this State are
instructed in making the impressment of slaves ordered in Circular
No. 1, current series, from this office, not to interfere with or
disturb the slaves, whether hired or impressed, who, on the 1st of
February instant, were in the employ of and actually at work with
railroad companies, whose roads are in actual use for military
transportation, or with quartermasters or commissaries in this or
adjoining States. And such slaves shall be credited to such of the
owners thereof as may desire it in making the impressment aforesaid. |
| II. Every owner claiming such credit
will have to produce to the enrolling officer of his county a
certificate of the superintendent of the railroad, or of the
quartermaster or commissary with whom said slaves are alleged to
have been at work as aforesaid, together with an affidavit by said
owner that such slave or slaves are now and were really and bona
fide on the 1st day of February instant in the employ of and at
work for said railroad, quartermaster, or commissary, and were not
hired for the purpose of defeating or evading their impressment. |
| III. Enrolling officers will in their
reports account for all such slaves by descriptive list, giving also
the names of their owners and all other particulars as prescribed
for those that are hired or impressed under Circular No. 1
aforesaid; and the certificate and affidavit required by paragraph
II of this circular shall be forwarded with said reports to this
office. |
| By order of Thomas J. Hudson, major and commandant:
|
| Richard D. Screven
|
| Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General
|
|