(RECONSTRUCTION) Group of orders from the Bureau of Refugees

Sale 2534 - Lot 379

Price Realized: $ 875

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750

(RECONSTRUCTION.) Group of orders from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Reclaimed Land. 4 items, including one printed circular, 8 x 5 inches, and 3 signed manuscript orders, 12 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches or smaller; folds, minor wear. Virginia, September-October 1865

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The only printed circular in this group sets up a primitive justice system: "Each assistant superintendent of this Bureau will invite the citizens and freedmen within his sub-district to select (each class for itself) . . . a suitable person to act as agent of the Bureau. The Assistant Superintendent, with the two Agents thus selected, will adjudicate upon all difficulties. . . . these agents will aid and assist the freedmen in making contracts for their services during the coming season, and will see that all able to work are properly and profitably employed" (27 September 1865). A 10 October manuscript order relates to Election Day: "Remove all troops from the vicinity of the polling places and suffer no officer nor man of your command to approach them unless it be absolutely necessary to preserve the peace. . . . You will also close all liquor shops on that day." At least two of these orders were addressed to Lieutenant Thomas W. Goring (1840-1926) of New Hamburg, NY, who had served in the 3rd New York Cavalry during the Civil War and was now an assistant superintendent in the Freedmen Bureau.