eg.!' l.^,m tarru Hit Duke University Libraries Communication f Conf Pam #418 MKSSAGK OF THK I'liE^inKXr. RicuMOM*, Va., Jan. 18, lS64. To the House of Representatives : In response to your resolution of the 3:lrh ultimo. I lierewitlh. transmit for your information a coinmuniciition from the Secretary of War, covering copies of rCL'ulatious and orders relative to the pay- ment of aoftesBraents of darajtge:^ made by commanding officor:- in the field, "without intervention of conrti* martial or boards of Hurvov." JEFFERSON DAVIS. O'hMMU.NLUAriON FllOM THE SEORETAllY OK WAR, CoNFEDERATK StaTES OF AmKRICA, J War Department, \ Richmond, Va., Jan. lo, 18C4. ) To' the Presidint of the Confcddrati States : Sir : I have received the resolution of the House of Representa- tives, adopted on the 3Uth ultimo, requesting to be informed "whether orders have been made by commmanding officers in the field requir- ing officers of regiments and companies to p:iy asse.ssmcnts of d.tmagea made by such commanding oificors, without intcivcmtion of courts martial or boards of survey, and whether such orders are authorized by any 8ta':ute of the Confederate Spates, and if not, upon what authority such power is claimed or exercised." In response, I have the honor to transmit herewith a report from the Adjutant General, enclo.sing such regulations and orders as bear upon riie subject referred to in the resolution of the House. JAMES A. SEDDON, Sccrft'jry of War. COMMUNICATION FROM AIM I V\I» IN\nI'R GKNKKAL. Ricfmwnd, Jan. 18, 1 863. \ Hod. J. A. Scudon, Secrtlary of Jyar : Sir : In reply to the re-nolution of the House of Representatives, inquiring "whether onlers have been nifule hy commanding officers in the tifclii. rt*0P nml disorders rommitteil by any officer or soldier under th'dr comriiaf;d, and on th« ir failure to do so as far M» the cifftiidcr's pay gihall enable them, directs that they shall be esrhicieil. The re^^ulatiois of the army, paragraph 083, require, when lands. kc„ are oecupiotl as ericampnients and vacated, a report of their non- ditinn, and any injury tliey may have receiveil by the use of tiic Con- fetlcrate States, hhall be made to the Quartermaster Ueneral. I enclose herewith a copy of the Articles of War, and of general orders 104, from this office; as bearing on this subject. In pursuance of the foregoing ie!]:ulations and onJers, Gen. R. E. Lee ihsued his general order No. ?•', of June 4, I.SG3, a copy of which is niso enclo.scd. It is pri>bable that other commanders have issued instructionn resembling those of Gen. Ijce, as they are frequently necessary to prevent carclcs^rues and the wanicn dc otruction of property. I ro*pectfiilly return the letter of the President referred to me. \'erv r<.vpcctfullv, yous obedient 'servant, S. COOPKR, Adjutant find Inspector Gcneml. Headquartkus Army Northern Va. June 4, 1863. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 70. EXTRACT. 1, Ptira;^niph V, of general orders No. 39, Adjutant and Inspector General's flice, late series, regulating the subject of damages, will hereafter determine the settlement of all such questions, and will be strictly observed. It is republished for the information of the army : " Frequent complaints having been made of injury to fencing, and to tlie grounds on or near to which troops have encamped, attention is called to the 983d paragraph of the Army Regulations, which requires the commanding officer and quartermaster to make inspec- tion of buildings, quart; rs, or lands occcupied for encampments, when they are vacated, and a report to be made to the Quartermaster General of their coudirion. and of any injury to them by use of the troops. , " This regulation will be strictly enforced, and in case of injury not reported by the commanding officer and quartermaster, they will be charged on their pay accc unts of the troops with the damage done. If report be made, it must specify by whom the injury was inflicted, and the deduction in puch case will be made from the pay of the offending party. ■' A-pj't .and Insp'r General's Office, > Richmond, Dee. 15, 1862. I GENERAL ORDERS, ^ No. 1U4. 5 I. Encampments of troops near towns and villages must be avoided where it is not indispensable. Whenever it is so, a sufficient force for guards and outposts must be selected from the best disciplined troops, and assigned as a garrison, (fee. ; and officers and men will not be permitted to enter the town or village, except on written permis- sion of the commanding officer. II. Arms must not be carried from the camp, nor will mounted men in camps be permitted to ride their horses, except upon duty. III. Private property is invariably to be respected, and must not be taken or used, except when indispensable for the public service, and then only by orders of competent authority, and in the manner pointed out in the Array Regulations an'l orders of the Quarter- master and Commissary Departments. IV. The reckless destruction of fencing, wood and other property of the cirizen^ wbiri; has occurred in so many instmees, cannot bo too Btrongly condemned. Commander* of truopb of whatever grade should, bj the ex?rcise of dilig»^nre and strict discipline, endeavor to prevent such recults, entailing, aj; they will, povi-rty upon individuals, and uselesp expense upon the Government. Fencing ought not to be disturbed where it can possibly bo a\oiHcd ; and when wood is necc^'sary for the public use. that which ie least valuable must be selected, with SB little waste as practicable. V. A careful observance of these orders is enjoined on the army, ji? of tile first importance to the j ublic intcreets. AH violations of them are directed to be reported to the pro|.*e ill-trcaiing any pcioou, or disturbing fairs or irarkets, or of committing any kind of riots, to the diKjuicting of the citizens of the Confederate States, he, the paid rommander, who shall iefu.>