Smith, Edward W. General Orders 134
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.327 Author/Creator: Smith, Edward W. Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 October 1864 Pagination: 1 p. Order a Copy
The order informs that the Union soldiers who were prisoners of the Confederate Army have been relieved of their duties in the trenches and orders that the Confederate soldiers being held as prisoners of war by the Union are withdrawn from their retaliatory duties. The order further states that prisoners of war wishing to take the Oath of Allegiance should be allowed to travel North and do so.
Head Quarters
Department of Virginia and North Carolina
ARMY OF THE JAMES
General orders,
No.134.
In the field, Va, Oct. 20th, 1864
It having been officially certified by General Lee, commanding Confederate forces, that the prisoners of war of this Army put to work in the trenches near Fort Gilmore, have been withdrawn, to be treated as prisoners of war, it is ordered that the prisoners of war of the Confederate forces, put to work in the canal at Dutch Gap, in retaliation, shall be at once withdrawn, and sent to Point Lookout, to be held and treated hereafter as prisoners of war. Numbers of these prisoners having certified in writing the Commanding General their desire to take the oath of Allegiance, because of the inhumanity of the confederate authorities towards them, which application was declined lest it should be said that these prisoners took the oath of Allegiance to the united states under duress, it is now ordered, that so many of them as choose, after this order is read to them, be permitted to take the oath of Allegiance, and be sent North, to be there found employment by the Government, as other prisoners of war have been who have returned to their loyalty to the United States
By command of Major General BUTLER:
Ed. W. Smith
Assistant Adjutant General
OFFICIAL:
Assistant Adjutant General
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