\
GOl&KKOR BROWN'S
1
PROCLAMATIONS AND ORDERS
«
CALLING INTO
ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE
AND
SENDING TO THE FRONT
THE
CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICERS,
AND THE
RESERVED MILITIA
OF THE
' *
STATE OF GEORGIA,
TO THE
Armj of Tennessee.
BOUGHTON, NISBET, BARNES & MCO?E, Prikteks.
MILLEDOEV1LLK, CA.
18C4
wagnili ■iiii'
!i
A PROCLAMATION.
BY JOSEPHE. BROWN,
Governor of Georgia.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, >
Milledgeville, May 18th 1S64. >
I hereby require all Commissioned Officers of the Militia
of this State, including district Aids-De-Camp, to report im¬
mediate I y*.,to Maj. Gen. H. C. Wayne, at Atlanta, to receive
further orders, and to aid during the present emergency, in
driving back the enemy from the soil of this State. Neg¬
lect to obey these Orders promptly, will be visited by ap¬
propriate penalties. All Civil Officers except those of the
State House, the Penitentiary, the State Road, the Judges
of the Superior and Inferior Courts,Ordinaries and Solicitors
General, and Clerks and Sheriffs of Courts actually in ses¬
sion, are also requested to report to Gen. Wayne, with the
least possible delay.
As notice of the existence of the Order, each Newspaper
in the State is requested to give it one insertion.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
A PROCLAMATION.
BY JOSEPH E. BROWN,
Governor of Georgia.
* EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, >
Milledgeville, OJa., May 2J st, 1S64. )
I am informed that some of the civil officers of this State,
-embraced in my Proclamation of J8th inst., do not under¬
stand that they are ordered to the field, but only requested
to go. As many of them are protected from conscription
by their official positions, they should not hesitate a mo¬
ment, in a great emergency like the present, to fly to arms to
repel the enemy. 1 have no power to order them as civil
officers, but I have as part of the militia; and to prevent any
misunderstanding, I issue this additional proclamation, and
I hereby order all civil officers of this State, under 50 years
of age, except those mentioned in my former Proclamation,
and Tax Collectors andReceivers, to. report immediately to
.Major General H. C. Wayne at, Atlanta- While Clerks cf
4
Courts and Sheriffs are not ordered, their deputies are. It
is presumed that those who do not claim to be civil officers
now, will not set up the claim in future to avoid conscrip¬
tion. Militia officers who have been elected but not yet
commissioned, will report at Atlanta immediately, where
they can receive commissions. No exemptions will be
granted to any of the inilitia or civil officers mentioned. If
any disobey the order, they will do it at their peril, and
would do well to be satisfied that their excuse will stand
the test on trial before a court martini. They should has¬
ten to the front, and none should remain at home submitting
excuses by letter to this department. Such letters cannot
receive replies, and will not excuse from trial by court mar¬
tial.
It is hoped that the service will not be long; b*it the re¬
sponse must be prompt, or thp penalties may be very disa¬
greeable. No officer must remain at home a'da.y after he is
advised of the call. Georgia expects every man to do his
duty. JOSEPH E. BROWN.
tjjp Each daily paper in the State will give this .one in¬
sertion in first issue, as notice to officers.
J. E. B.
A PROCLAMATION.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, > '
Milledgeyille, Ga., July 9th, 1SG4. >
To the Reserved Militia '>/ Georgia:
A late correspondence with the President of the Confed¬
erate States, satisfies my mind that Georgia is to be left to
her own resources to supply the reinforcements to Gem.
Johnston's army, which are indispensable to the protection
of Atlanta, and to prevent the State from being overrun by
the overwhelming numbers now under command of the
Federal General upon our soil. The officers, civil and mil¬
itary, who constitute, in a great degree, the remaining ac¬
tive militia force left to the State by the different acts of
conscription, have already been called out, and have render¬
ed effective service, while they, as well as the two regi¬
ments of the State Line have distinguished themselves by
cool courage and intrepid valor when attacked by the enemy.
But there is need of further reinforcements, as will be seen
by the accompanying letter of Gen. Johnston -r and while
a very large proportion of the gallant and chivalrous sons of
Georgia arc on distant fields defending the soil of, other
States, it becomes my duty to call forth every man in the
State able to bear arms, as f ast as they can be ariped, to aid
■b
n the defence of our homes, our altars, and the graves of
jur ancestors.
I am fully aware of the importance of the growing crop
of the State, and have delayed this call as long as the exi¬
gencies will possibly permit, to enable the people to do the
labor necessary to secure the crop. In the Southern por¬
tion ol the State, it is believed this will be accomplished by
the time this proclamation can be generally published,
while ten days or two weeks longer will enable those in the
Northern half of the State to do most of their labor neces¬
sary to make the crop.
I therefore, by virtue of the authority in me vested by
the laws of this State, do hereby order into active military
service, all that part of the reserve militia of this State be¬
tween the ages of fifty and fifty five years, and all
between the ages ot sixteen and seventeen years, who reside
South of a line running East and West across the territory
of the State*, passing through the city of Macon, to report to
General G. W. Smith at Atlanta, with the ieast possible de¬
lay ; and I further order, that all persons between said ages
subject to militia duty., who reside North of said line, re¬
port to Gen. Smith, each leaving his home on the 20th of
this month, and repairing to Atlanta by the nearest and
speediest route.
■ I also order all free white male persons in this State be¬
tween the ages of seventeen and fifty years, who are exempt
from Confederate Conscription, and are not absolutely una¬
ble to do militia duty, (which disability must be shown by
the certificate of a Surgeon properly appointed under the
lawTs of this State,) to report with the militia of their respec¬
tive counties, as they are subject to State militia duty. And
I further require ail free white male persons between said
ages in this State, not in actual military service of the Confed¬
eracy, (except as herein exempted,) to report also, as I can¬
not suppose the President will claim as exempt from militia
<Juty in this great emergency, the large number of able-
bodied young men who have Confederate details to attend
to various industrial avocations and pursuits, in which they
have no military service to perform. It cannot surely be
the intention of the Confederate Government to place a
large number of young men able to do service in the organ¬
ization, to keep them out of the bullet department. Hence, I
claim their aid in the field till this emergency is passed, and
direct, in case of their refusal to report when others embra¬
ced in the call respond, that their neighbors who are going
to camp, arrest them and compel them to go. The time
allowed, enables those of thejri who are planters, to lay by
their crops, or to approximate so near to completion, that
.-..lAno^ninrv cannot crow out of their absence, while little
6
damage will be done by the temporary absence from their
places of Confederate Tax Assessors, Collectors, Tanners,
Mechanics, secret service men, &c.. &c , as their business
must cease entirely if the enemy overruns the State. All
who respond to this call, are required to arrest and carry
with them all deserters within their power at the time they
start to camp. *
The following persons are not embraced in this call : all
commissioned officers of-the Confederate States on detached1
or local service ;-all State officers and others exempt from
militia duty by the act to re-organize the militia, and the
act amendatory of that act; all persons in the employment
of the Confederate States in the cities of Savannah, Augus¬
ta, Macon, Columbus, Griffin, Atlantn, and Athens, who be-,
long to regularly organized military companies who drill fre¬
quently and are held for the local defence of the place against
raids, &c; all officers and em ployeesofany Rail'Road company
in this State, who are regular^ and constantly employed in
the service of said Road, at the date of this call; all Tele¬
graphic operators arid employees of the Express company
all persons employed in any cotton or woolen factory or
paper mill in this State, who have details from the State or
Confederate Governments, on condition that they keep
themselves organized as military companies prepared to do
all in their power to defend the factory in <• sse of attack ;
the Mayor of each of the cities above named, and such po¬
licemen and firemen as he will certify to be indispensably-
necessary to the protection of the city ; all practicing phy¬
sicians, not exceeding three in a county, to be selected by
the Inferior court in case there are more ; and all such mil¬
lers as the court will certify are actually necessary at home;
two agents of the Relief Fund, selected by the Court of
each county ; all post masters in cities, with their necessa¬
ry clerks, and one post master in each county, town, and all
mail carriers constantly engaged in that business ; all State
House officers and their necessary clerks ; the officers and
guards of the Penitentiary, and the officers and employees of
the State Armory, and Card factory, who are required to
drill twice a week, as a military company, for the defence
of the capital. All persons who remain in counties in the
rear of the enemy's lines ; all who reside North of the Blue
Ridge, with the people of the counties of Rabun, Haber¬
sham, White, Lumpkin, Gilmer, Pickens, and Dawson, on
account of the great scarcity of provisions and the distance
they have to haul them, to preserve the lives ol the inhabi¬
tants of those counties.
As the law of this State declires every man*subject to
militia duty, who refuses to respond to this order, to be a
deserter, and liable to be tried and punished as such, all
7
aids-de-cdmp at home, and all Justices of the Inferior Court,
Sheriffs, Clerks, Ordinaries and Tax Collectors, and Receiv¬
ers, of Tax Returns of the State, who are by statute declared
exempt from militia duty, are hereby required fc> travel'
through their respective counties constantly, and, if neces-
saiy, arrest and send forward all persons subject, who neg¬
lect or refuse to report. In case any of those officers neg¬
lect this. duty and refuse themselves to report and aid; ia re¬
pelling the enemy, it is hoped all who are in service-will
remember them in future, and place more faithful pu&lic
servants in positions of responsibility. However weighty
the reasons each man might be able to give for remaining
at home, there are more important reasons why he should
hasten to the front if he is able to travel.
Georgians, you must reinforce General Johnston's army
and aid in driving back the enemy, or he will drive yo«
back to the Atlantic, burn your cities and public buildings,
destroy your property, and devastate the fair fields of y.our
noble State.
If the Confederate Government will not send the large*
Cavalry force (now engaged in raiding and repelling raids);
to destroy the long line of Railroad over which Gen. Sher¬
man brings his supplies from Nashville, and thus compel him
to retreat with the loss of most of his army, the people of
Georgia, who have already been drawn upon more heavily
in proportion to population than those of any other State ira
the Confederacy, must at all hazards and at any sacrifice,
rush to the front, and aid the great commander at the bead
of our glorious self-sacrificing army, to drive him from
soil of the Empire State.
I beg you. fellow-citizens, to reflect upon the magnitude
of the issue.
If Gen. Johnston's army is destroyed, the Gulf States are
thrown open to the enemy, and we are ruined. If Gen-
Sherman's army is cut off, the West is thrown open to us to
the Ohio River, and all raids into Mississippi, Georgia acwi
Alabama, will at once cease. If every citizen of Georgia
will do his duty, and the President will permit Kentucky to»
rest free from raids for a time, and will send Morgan and
Forrest to operate upon the Railroad line of communication,,,
nearly three hundred miles, in Sherman's rear, which passes;
over many bridges, through a- country destitute of supplies*
the grand army of invasion can be destroyed, and not only
our own State but the Confederacy- delivered from disaster
by the triumphant success of our arms.
JOSEPH S', BROWN;.
U3P1 Each Daily paper in the Staite will give this procla¬
mation one insertion and send .bill accordingly ; and each
8
Railroad Company, will convey to Atlanta all who are on
their way in response to these orders.
GEN. JOHNSTON'S LETTER.
Near Chattahoochee, 7th July, 1364.
To His Excellency, J. E. Brown, Governor:
I have the pleasure to inform you that the State Troops
promise well, and have already done good service. While
the army was near Marietta they were employed to support
the cavalry on the extreme left, and occupied a position
quite distinct from any other infantry of ours. According
to all accounts, their conduct in the presence pf* the enemy
was firm and creditable. Such Federal parties as approach¬
ed the crossing places of the Chattahoochee guarded by
them, have been driven back. These proofs of their value
make me anxious that their number shall be increased. Is
it possible? You know that the distinguished officer at
their head is competent to high command.
Must Respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. E. JOHNSTON.
HEAD QUARTERS, MACON, GA., )
July 23th, 18(>4. >
To the Aids-de-Camp and other State Officers:
I am informed that the Inferior Courts of some of the
counties have abused the privilege of exemption to millers,
which was allowed by my Proclamation, and have certified
for exemption owners of mills who have not been employed
regularly as millers previous to my call. The exemption
applies only to those who are, and were at the time of tl%e
call, actually employed as millers and not owners of mills who
were npt so employed. As it can be known at head quar¬
ters who are the actual millers, only by the certificates of
the courts, some may have obtained, from the Adjutantand
Inspector General's office, exemptions as millers w*ho are
only the owners of mills, and such exemptions are hereby
revoked, and all such persons will be sent forward to the
front immediately.
All civil arnd military officers of the State will enforce
'gtri&tly and rigidly, the orders contained in my proclama¬
tion, a,nd Send forward under arrest, when necessary, all
who are embraced in it and refuse to report.
The orders of Confederate officers interfering with the ex¬
ecution of the military laws of the State, or attempting to
protect from active service their favorites in civil pursuits,
9
when the State is in imminent peril and needs the services
of all able to bear arms in front of the enemy, can neither
be respected nor. obeyed by State officers. If State officers
are met by armed resistance which they cannot overcome,
while in the discharge of their duties in attempting to car¬
ry to the front skulkers who are unwilling tp defend their
own homes and property, they will report .the facts instant¬
ly, and troops will be sent to enforce the execution of the
laws of the State, and to compel all such men to discharge
their part of the duty and meet their part of the danger.
Upon the application Qf the chief officer in charge of the
collection of the tithe tax of the State which is necessary
for the support of the army, and upon a similar application
of the Confederate ordinance officer, I have exempted from
my call thcagents certified by them to be constantly em¬
ployed and indispensably necessary to the efficient manage¬
ment of their respective departments. The same rule will
be applied on Application of the proper officer to each of the
other departments of the Confederate Government in this
State.
While it is my 'fixed purpose to execute the laws of the
State, and to compel all favorites of power or of persons in
position, who have details as a shield from danger, whilst
spending their time in the management of their ordinary bu¬
siness, to obey the Jaws and aid in repelling the enemy; it
is not my intention to cripple or throw obstacles in the way
of the Confederate Government in providing all necessary
support for the army. It is a fact known to the w7hole
country that numbers of able-bodied men have been kept
out of military service by the details and appointments of
Confederate officers. The decision of a distinguished Judi¬
cial' officer of this State sustains the jurisdiction of the State
over all such, when not in the actual military service of the
Confederate States. This jurisdiction will be enforced at
whatever cost may be necessary to sustain the sovereignty
and dignity of the State, and compel such persons to do their
duty in her delence.
As Georgia seems to be left to her ow^n resources for the
reinforcement of Gen. Hood's army, which is necessary to -
prevent her territory from being overrun by the enemy, she
cannot now waive her just jurisdiction over her militia, who
are at home engaged in the ordinary pursuits of life, on ac¬
count of any details or exemptions which may have been
granted by Confederate authority. # She will never assent to
the doctrine that the Confederate Government has any con¬
stitutional right or power to divest her of jurisdiction over
her whole militia, by mustering her whole people into ser¬
vice, and detailing them to remain at home, engaged in the
common avocations of life. The Confederate Government
.10
may rightfully command that part of her citizens who are
in the actual military service of the Confederacy, and none
others. When her territory is invaded by a powerful foe,
which calls for the exercise of qll the manhood of the State
to protect her very existence, she will not allow any other
power to interfere and prevent her from sending her own
militia force to the battle-field for her own security.
All persons claiming to be employed by the Confederate
Government as farmers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, tax-asses¬
sors and collectors, secret service men remaining at home,
&c., must show their exemptions from these headquarters,
which will be given when actual^ necessary, upon the ap¬
plication of the heads of their respective departments show¬
ing that they are constantly employed and indispensably
necessary ; and, on failure to exhibit such exemptions, they
will be arrested and sent to General Smith, as directed by
my former proclamation. *
Any State officer failing or refusing to carry out these
instructions promptly, will be held to rigid accountability ;
as the exigency requires that every abFe-bodied man in the
State, whose services are not indispensably necessary in
some other department, shall rush to the front without a
moment's delay.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
ADJ'T & INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, >
Macon, Ga»., August 1, 18G4. >
Special Order, )
No.— S •
As there is a misapprehension about the powers of the In¬
ferior Courts in making details for police duty, the follow¬
ing orders are published for the information of all concerned.
One policeman is allowed for each 500 negroes in each
county.
All men between 55 and 60, able to ride and carry a gun,
are to act as a police force in their respective counties.
The Aids-de-Camp are specially instructed to order tHem
upon this duty ; and any man between these ages able for
service, who refuses, will be sent to the front. They are
to ride all through the county, confining themselves to no
particular district or plantation, and are to give their whole
time to this business. As they can sleep in houses at night,
they can do this duty, when they would not be fit for other
military service. They will visit the plantations, correct
insubordinate negroes, and do all in their power to protect
property and preserve order.
It is believed there are but few counties in the State*
11
in which there are not in the county, one man able for ser¬
vice for each 500 negroes. If there should not be that
number in any county, the Inferior Court will recommend
for detail a number of men subject to the late call sufficient
to make up the deficiency. These should be selected from
such overseers and others as have most control over the ne¬
groes. The recommendations of the courts must be sent to
these headquarters, where they will be allowed, if the evi¬
dence of deficiency in the number of old men, is satisfactory.
The court must accompany the application for the detail
by a certificate, giving the following facts :
1st. The number of slaves in the county.
2d The number and names of the old men between 55
ard 60 in the county, with the name of each who is too
feeble to ride through the county.
3d. The names of the persons recommended by the
courts to make up the deficiency, if any. All details grant¬
ed by the courts without an order from these headquarters,
are void, and will be so treated by all Aids-de-Camp and
other State officers, who will send all such detailed men to
the front immediately.
As the late interruption in the Railroad transportation
may have caused some of the militia who had started to Ma¬
con, to return home for want of transportation : allsuch are
required to press forward to Macon without delay, as the
channels of communication will be open again in a day or
twro.
All officers at home will exercise great energy in sending
all men, subject to the call, forward, promptly, ur^ler arrest,
when necessary. HENRY C. WAYNE,
Adjt. Insp. Gen'l.
STATE OF GEORGIA, )
ADJ. & INS. GEN'L'S OFFICE. >
Milledgevil-le, Aug. 17, 1864. >
General Orders, )
No. 2'4. )
The officers and men sent by Gen. G. W. Smith to enrol
and carry the Militia to the front, having had ample time
for the discharge of the duties assigned to them, will report
in person forthwith tQ Gen.'Smith, at Atlanta. The Aicte of
Military Districts and specia1 Aids will see that this ordei*
is promptly obeyed. The Aids will, further, assisted by the
civil officers of their Districts, continue to send to Macon all
men liable to Military duty under the Governor's Procla¬
mations. By order of the Commander-in-Chief:
HENRY C. WAYNE,
Adi. & Ins. General.
12
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, >
Milledgeville, Aug. 19th, 1864. \
As numerous applications are made to this office by per¬
sons now in the Division of Militia under command of Maj.
Gen. G. W. Smith, for furloughs, details and discharges, I
take this method of stating to all concerned, that the Divis¬
ion has been placed under the command of Gen. J. B. Hood
till such time as I may choose to resume the command, or
till I shall order it disbanded when I am satisfied the emer¬
gency has passed.
As it is important that there be no divided counsels at
Atlanta, when so much depends upon the result, I deem it
proper that Gen. Hood while in command of the Militia,
-shall have the entire control, t-'o soon, therefore, as the
men are armed and sent to Atlanta, I yield the sole com¬
mand to Gen. Hood, till I shall think proper to resume it
as above stated; and all applications for furlough, detail, or
•discharge, must be made to him through the regular milita¬
ry channels. None of them will be acted upon by me.
The Hospitals of the Militia are also under the direction
and control of the officers in charge of that Department,
under Gen. Hood, and the State has no control over them.
'During the time that Gen. Hood commands the Militm,
they are as absolutely under his control, for the defence of
Atlanta, as the Georgians in Virginia are under the control
of Gen. Lee.
The only difference is in the term of service. Those in
Virginia are in for the war, while the Militia are in for the
emergency to be judged by the Governor, and they disband¬
ed or withdrawn by his order.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, )
Milledgeville, Aug. 19th, 1S64. >
To the Justices of the lnjeriar Courts and Alds-dc- Camp :
I am informed that the Policemen in some of the counties,
who h&ve been detailed under Orders from these Head
Quarters, upon the application of the Inferior Courts, to
act as a police force for their respective counties, are neg¬
lecting their duties and giving their attention exclusively
to their own private affairs, tfhis cannot be tolerated. The
details were not granted to them as matter of personal fa¬
vor but as matter of public interest.
They are required to give their whole time to the busi¬
ness of travelling through the county, from plantation to
plantation, under such regulations as the Courts may pre¬
scribe, and in seeing that the negroes on all plantations, left
13
without overseers, are kept in subjection, and properly pro¬
tected.
This duty is expected to be performed as'promptly and
faithfully as they would perform the duty of soldiers at the
front. No Policeman is expected to give any more of his
time to his ovvn plantation than he does to the plantation
of like size of each other person in the section of the county
to which he may be assigned by the Court.
It is also hereby made the duty of the policemen in each
county, to arrest'and send to General Smith at Atlanta, each
and every man remaining at home who is embraced in my
call upon- the militia to go to ihe front.
In each case of neglect to perform his duty under the
rules here laid down, the Court and the Aids-de-Camp are
charged and required to arrest such delinquent Policeman
and send him immediately to Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith, at
Atlanta, that he may be compelled to do duty at the front.
JOSEPH E. IfROWN.
Under the above orders Gov. Brown has sent to the
front, armed and equipped, as reinforcements to the army
of Tennessee, before Atlanta, about ten thousand men. The
State has fully and promptly responded to every call for
troops made upon her by the Confederacy. She has borne
her full share of conscription and has furnished the above
number of troops which no law of Congress, ndr requsition
of the President called for, as the President, while he did not
send sufficient re-inforcements to Georgia, made no requisi¬
tion for the militia. They were tendered to the command¬
ing General, by the Governor, and were accepted to aid in
the defense of the State.
CTJLVERTON, Aug. 22d, 1864.
Gov. Brown,
My Dear Sir: When you have read this letter you will, I
trust, expuse my intrusion on your time and attention.
Your recent order in relation to patrol duty is, in my
judgment, sadly misconstrued by some of our citizens, and
the proceedings they have instituted are well calculated,to
produce discontent and insubordination among the colored
people. It is proposed, and instructions have been given,
to. the Captains of Districts, to visit plantations, and search
negro houses, trunks,^ chests and corners. This order is giv-
enln the absence of all suspicious circumstances, without
any theft supposed or any property stolen.
Now this, for one, I regard as expletive, a gratuitous an¬
noyance to whites and blacks, as. tending to provoke and .
1*
alienate a people whose loyalty at this time dementi* ^n4
deserves a very different treatment. But worse still, these
indiscreet men are interfering with the Sabbath worship of
the negroes, and if allowed, will break up the mission work of
the churches. In my own neighborhood, on yesterday, at a
Regular appointment, of an ojd well known Preacher, at the
close of the service the patrol appeared and whipped about
all they could catch. The only plea for this was that many
of them were without passes. I never have thought of giv¬
ing a pass to one of mine to go to preaching, any more than
of giving a pass to go to mill. At the place to which I re¬
fer, there has been preaching for years. The negroes meet by
consent of their owners, are served by a white man regular¬
ly appointed, and there has never been any disorder.
Now that the poor, unoffending creatures, acting in obe¬
dience to their masters, should, without warning, be whip¬
ped as criminals, I think an outrage on humanity and relig¬
ion. Such iniquity unrebuked will bring the curse of God
upon the land. This ungodly interference with the religious
meetings of the blacks, ought to be stopped by authority.
Your sound judgment and christian heart never authorized
such proceeding I know, and it ?s because your order has
been perverted and abused that I call your attention to it.
In writing this letter I feel that I am discharging a public
duty—a duty to God and man.
A word of explanation from you will correct the evil.
You can use my name'in any way in this matter if you wish.
Yours Respectfully, G. F. PIERCE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, )
Milledgeville, Aug. 25th, JS64. )
Rt. Rev. Bishop G. F. Pierce:
Dear Sir.—Your letter is now before me, and I feel ex¬
tremely mortified that the policemen of any county in the
State, should, under any pretext, have assumed to commit
such outrages upon ttu negroes as those mentioned by you.
The slaves of Georgia, not in the hands of the enemy,
were never more subordinate or loyal than they now arei
Wtrile it is the duty of the policemen, when so large a ,pro¬
portion of the white male population are in the army, to be
vigilant and active in visiting plantations left without white
managers, and in correcting bad negroes who are stealing
and committing other fcrimes. they should be careful that
those who act well their part receive just praise and kind
treatment as incentives to good conduct in future.
It should be distinctly understood that they ride through
15
the county to correct only such as misbehave, and to protect
all who do Aheir duty.
Punishment should not be inflicted upon vague suspicions.
There shoukl be no unreasonable searches or seizures; and
all unjust and unnecessary causes of irritation should be
carefully avoid3d.
One of the most important duties of the police, is the pro¬
tection of the negroes from the corrupting influence of bad
men, who, as deserters from the army, or skulkers from du¬
ty, are at home attempting to mislead and use the negroes
for their own wicked purposes, while honest, patriotic men
are confronting the enemy in the field. One of the first du¬
ties of each policeman, is to arrest all such, with all others
who neglect or refuse to go into service when legally order¬
ed to do so, and to send them to the front without delay.
If this is done, our army will not only be greatly strength¬
ened, but I venture to say there will be very little difficulty
in controlling the negroes. In case the policemen neglect
this it is .made the duty, by my late order, of county officers
and Aids'dc-Camp, to arrest thehi and send them to the front.
The outrage mentioned in your letter upon the unoffen¬
ding negroes in your neighborhood, where they had pea'cea-
bly assembled in accordance with a long established usage,
for Divine service, meets mv unqualified disapproval.
The perpetrators have shown that they lack either the
common sense or the humanity winch are necessary qualifi¬
cations for their position. If you should think proper to
report their names, I will, if they are subject to militia du¬
ty, order them arrested and sent to the trenches at Atlanta,
in the hope that their places may be filled at home by bet¬
ter men.
Cordially thanking you for the information contained in
your letter, and earnestly requesting it as a favor that you
will call my attention, at all times, to abuses which you may
see in any department over which I have control,
I am, very truly, your friend,
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
HEAD QUARTERS, JUIvY 23d, 1864.
His Excellency, Governor Brown :
The State Troops under Major Gen. Smith, fought with
great gallantry in the action of yesterday.
J. B. HOQD, General.
Head Quarters, Macon, J.jily 23, 1864.
Gen. Hood, Atlanta:
I am proud to hear, of the gallant conluct of the £tate
Troops. Thousands of others have now assembled in rc-
1G
spouse to my call, and will be armed and sent forward as
rapidly as possible, who, upon the soil of their beloved
State, will show equal valor lor the defence of their wives
and their children—their homes and their altars.
I assure you of the most energetic co-operation with
all the aid in my power.
May God grant you success, and aid to drive the inva¬
ders from the soil of the Confederudv.
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
This is a most distinguished and gratifying compliment.
The State Troops must have displayed conspicuous valor
to have elicited it from the Commander-in-Chief at a
moment of such extraordinary pressure and responsibility.
We call the attention of our citizen soldiers to it, that they
may see that their services are appreciated—that however
valuable discipline and experience may be, yet a gallant
militia, rushing to the field iired with zeal in defence of
their soil and household gods, can be pitted successfully
against the disciplined ranks of an invading army. We
shall wait with impatience to read the story of the gallant
achievements of the Georgia State Reserves.
[ Macon Telegraph.
The following is an extract from a letter from Major
General G.<,W. Smith to Gov. Brown relative to the fight
of the 22d July, at Atlanta.
'•The Militia did themselves great credit outside of the
trenches on Friday. They marched over the breastworks
—advanced upon the entrenchments of the enemy in fine
order, took position within three hundred yards, and si¬
lenced the artillery by musketry fire through the embra¬
sures. We had no support on our right within a mile,
none on our left within six hundred yards, and our troops
on the left were driven back.
We held our position for several hours, and only with¬
drew after receiving an order to that effect from General
Hood, which order was given because the troops iipop our
left had been repulsed. There was not a single straggler." •
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