(MILITARY--CIVIL WAR.) STANTON, EDWIN M. Secretary of War. Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp near Harrison's Landing, VA, August 9th, 1862. GENERAL ORDERS NO 154. Single 8vo sheet, printed on both sides; with signatures and the 'endorsements' of various officers written on both sides. (WGC) Harrison's Landing, VA, 1862
a very important general order, printed on a field press. General Order No. 154 authorized and commanded all of the armies in Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, "to seize and use of any property, real or personal which may be necessary or convenient," and also: 'That military and naval commanders shall employ as laborers, with and from such states so many persons of African descent as can be advantageously used for military or naval purposes; giving them reasonable wages for their labor.' The Third section mandates that accurate records be kept of both personal and real property seized and from whom it had been seized. It also says stated that while property may be destroyed for military purposes, 'none shall be destroyed in wantonness or malice.'
