Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[262] of December instant, and until otherwise ordered, every able-bodied colored man who shall enlist and be mustered into the service of the United States for three years or during the war, shall be paid as bounty, to supply his immediate wants, the sum of ten (10) dollars. And it shall be the duty of each mustering officer to return to these headquarters duplicate rolls of recruits so enlisted and mustered into the service, on the tenth, twentieth, and last days of each month, so that the bounty may be promptly paid and accounted for.

Second. To the family of each colored soldier so enlisted and mustered, so long as he shall remain in the service and behave well, shall be furnished suitable subsistence, under the direction of the Superintendents of Negro Affairs, or their assistants; and each soldier shall be furnished with a certificate of subsistence for his family as soon as he is mustered; and any soldier deserting, or whose pay and allowances are forfeited by court-martial, shall be reported by his captain to the Superintendent of the district where his family lives, and the subsistence may be stopped — provided that such subsistence shall be continued for at least six months to the family of any colored soldier who shall die in the service by disease, wounds, or battle.

Third. Every enlisted colored man shall have the same uniform, clothing, arms, equipments, camp equipage, rations, medical and hospital treatment, as are furnished to the United States soldiers of a like arm of the service, unless, upon request, some modification thereof shall be granted from these headquarters.

Fourth. The pay of the colored soldiers shall be ten (10) dollars per month, three of which may be retained for clothing; but the non-commissioned officers, whether colored or white, shall have the same addition to their pay as other non-commissioned officers. It is, however, hoped and believed by the Commanding General, that Congress, as an act of justice, will increase the pay of the colored troops to a uniform rate with other troops of the United States. He can see no reason why a colored soldier should be asked to fight upon less pay than any other. The colored man fills an equal space in ranks while he lives, and an equal grave when he falls.

Fifth. It appears by returns from the several recruiting officers, that enlistments are discouraged, and the Government is competing against itself, because of the payment of sums larger than the pay of the colored soldiers to the colored employee in the several staff departments, and that, too, while the charities of the Government and individuals are supporting the families of the laborer. It is further ordered: That no officer, or other person on behalf of the Government, or to be paid by the Government, on land in this department, shall employ or hire any colored man for a greater rate of wages than ten dollars per month, without rations, except that mechanics and skilled laborers may be employed at other rates — regard being had, however, to the pay of the soldier, in fixing such rates.

Sixth. The best use, during the war, for an able-bodied colored man, as well for himself as the country, is to be a soldier. It is therefore further ordered: That no colored man, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, who can pass the surgeon's examination for a soldier, shall be employed on land by any person in behalf of the Government, (mechanics and skilled laborers alone excepted.) And it shall be the duty of each officer or other person employing colored labor in this department to be paid by or on behalf of the Government, to cause each laborer to be examined by the surgeons detailed to examine colored recruits, who shall furnish the laborer with a certificate of disability or ability, as the case may be; and after the first day of January next, no employment-rolls of colored laborers will be certified or passed at these headquarters wherein this order has not been complied with, and are not vouched for by such certificate of disability of the employes. And whenever, hereafter, a colored employee of the Government shall not be paid within sixty days after his wages shall become due and payable, the officer or other person having the funds to make such payment shall be dismissed the service, subject to the approval of the President.

Seventh. Promptness of payment of labor, and the facilities furnished by the Government and the benevolent, will enable colored laborers in the service of the Government to be supported from the proceeds of their labor. Therefore no subsistence will be furnished to the families of those employed by the Government at labor; but the Superintendent of Negro Affairs may issue subsistence to those so employed, and charge the amount against their wages, and furnish the officer in charge of payment of such laborers with the amounts so issued, on the first day of each month, or be himself chargeable with the amount so issued.

Eighth. Political freedom, rightly defined, is liberty to work, and to be protected in the full enjoyment of the fruits of labor, and no one with ability to work should enjoy the fruits of another's labor. Therefore, no subsistence will be permitted to any negro or his family, with whom he lives, who is able to work and does not work. It is, therefore, the duty of the Superintendent of Negro Affairs to furnish employment to all the negroes able to labor, and see that their families are supplied with the necessaries of life. Any negro who refuses to work when able, and neglects his family, will be arrested, and reported to these headquarters, to be sent to labor on the fortifications, where he will be made to work. No negro will be required to labor on the Sabbath, unless upon the most urgent necessity.

Ninth. The Commanding General is informed that officers and soldiers in the department have, by impressment and force, compelled the labor of negroes, sometimes for private use, and often without any imperative necessity.

Negroes have rights so long as they fulfil their duties. Therefore, it is ordered, that no officer