Hatch, John Porter (1822-1901) General Orders No. 62
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05037 Author/Creator: Hatch, John Porter (1822-1901) Place Written: Charleston, South Carolina Type: Autograph document signed Date: 24 June 1865 Pagination: 2 p. ; 24.7 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Marked as a "True Copy." Contracts between planters and freedmen: "any contact... which contains provisions tending to peonage, will be considered null."
A native New Yorker, Hatch graduated from West Point in 1845 and was commissioned in the Infantry, serving in the Mexican War. He served in the Antietam Campaign where he was wounded. By the end of the war he was breveted Colonel and Brigadier General of regulars, but he reverted to Major on being mustered out of volunteer service. He then returned to the frontier. He retired from the Army in 1886.
[draft]
Head Quarters, Northern District, D.S.
Charleston S.C. June 24. 1865.
General orders
No. 62.
It has come to the knowledge of the District Commander, that, in some of the Contracts made between Planters and Freemen, a clause has been introduced establishing a system of peonage the Freeman binding himself to work out any debt he may hereafter incur to his employer. All contracts made under authority from these Head Quarters, will be understood as merely temporary arrangements to induce the cultivation of the ground for the present season. Any contract made under the above authority, which contains provisions binding to peonage, will be considered null. The Officers having charge of contracts will examine them carefully, and when they are found to contain such clause, will notify the Planters that new contracts must be made in which the objectionable feature will be omitted. Contracts will [2] be simply worded; whilst acknowledging the freedom of the Colored man, such exparssion [sic] as, "freed by the acts of the Military Forces of the United States" will not be permitted. The attempt to introduce anything into the contract which may have an appearance of our intention at some future [inserted: day] to contest the question of the emancipation of the Negroes will be reported to the Commander of the Sut District, who will examine into the antecedents of the person making the attempt, and report upon the case to District Head Quarters.
By Command of Bvt: Maj. Genl.
Jno. P. Hatch
(signed) Leonard B. Perry
Asst. Adjt. Genl.
True copy
Jno. P. Hatch
Lt. Col. & Bvt Maj. Genl.
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