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VERSO [in pencil] Dry Tortugas
[typed] WAR DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE Washington, May 12, 1864
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 196
General Orders, No. 76, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, February 26, 1864, commutting the capital sentences of deserters to imprisonment during the war, at the Dry Tortugas, Florida, are so amended as to direct the discharge from the service of the United States, with forfeiture of pay and allowances due, of all persons to whose cases the provisions of the General Orders apply.
BY ORDER OF TH SECRETARY OF WAR: E.D TOWNSEND Assistant Adjutant General
OFFICIAL:
Assistant Adjutant General.
[in pencil] May 1619. 1865
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF LOUISIANA AND TEXAS, New Orleans, La., August 4th, 1865
CIRCULAR, No. 1 I. The following General Order is re-published for general information: WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, May 27, 1865 "GENERAL ORDERS, No. 98 ORDERED: That in all cases of sentences by military tribunals of imprisonment during the war, the sentence be remitted, and that the prisoners be discharged. The Adjutant General will issue, immediately, the necessary instructions to carry this order into effect. By order of the President of the United States: E.D TOWNSEND Assistant Adjutant General" All prisoners coming within the scope of the foregoing order, will be immediately set at liberty, upon the receipt of this Circular at their respective places of confinement. A report of each case will at once be made to these Headquarters, by the Commanding Officer of the post or prison, setting forth the offense of which the prisoner was convicted, the tribunal before which he was tried, and the sentence imposed, the length of time he has been in confinement, and such other facts in reference to the particular case as may be in his possession. II. Commanding Officers of all military prisons within the Department, will immediately upon the receipt of this Circular institute an investigation into the causes of all prisoners in their [illegible due to stain] are undergoing sentences of imprisonment for terms extending beyond their enlistments. Where the circumstances of the [illegible due to stain] would warrant a recommendation for pardon, the prisoners will be [illegible due to stain] from confinement, and forwarded to the Chief Mustering Officer of his State, to be mustered out of the service, or other [illegible due to stain] of in accordance with existing orders. A special report [illegible due to stain] these Headquarters in each case, and a copy of the order [illegible due to stain] in each case, direct to the Adjutant General of the Army. BY ORDER OF THE MAJOR [illegible due to stain] K.S CANBY WICKHAM HOFFMAN Assistant Adjutant [illegible due to stain and rip] OFFICIAL: [in pencil] [illegible] [illegible] CO Ft. Jefferson
RECTO Department Adjutant Generals Office Washington July 26 1864 General Orders No. 76 The President directs that the sentences of all deserters who have been condemned by Court Martials to death, and that have not been otherwise acted upon by him, be [illegible] to imprisonment during the war at the Dry Tortugas Florida, where they will be sent under suitable Gaurdsby orders from army Commanders The commanding Generals who have [illegible word] to act [illegible] proceedings of Court martial in such cases are [illegible] we[?] special cases to restore to duty desertion [?] under sentence[?] where is their judgement the service will be there by benefited.
Genl orders no 196 may 12, 1864 Genl orders no76. War Department H.G.O. Feby 26. 1864. commiting[?] the Capital Sentences of deserters to imprisonment during the war at the dry Tortugas [illegible] are so amended as to direct the discharge from the service of US. with forfeiture[?] of pay and allowances due of all persons to whose cases the provisions of the General orders apply. By order of Secy War. sg'd E D Townsend Asst Adph[?] Genl
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Prv[?] marshals office Washington H, June 19 1864[?] Official J [illegible] Col and[?] Prv mar[?]
[written below but in a different direction] Special news[?] no 711 & 1911
[illegible] to Desertion
official copy