cupation of the country by the United States authorities, General Grant issued the following order for the care and disposition of such as were without protection or employ ment: HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, [General Orders, No. 51.] } I. At all military posts in States within this department, where slavery has been abolished by the proclamation of the President of the United States, camps will be established for such freed people of color as are out of employment. II. Commanders of posts or districts will detail suitable officers from the army as Superintendents of such camps. It will be the duty of such Superintendents to see that suitable rations are drawn from the Subsistence Department for such people as are confided to their care. III. All such persons supported by the Government will be employed in every practicable way so as to avoid, as for as possible, their becoming a burden upon the Government. They may be hired to planters or other citizens, on proper assurance that the negroes so hired will not be run off beyond the military jurisdiction of the United States; they may be employed on any public works, in gathering crops from abandoned plantations, and generally in any manner local commanders may deem for the best interests of the Government, in compliance with law and the policy of the Administration. IV. It will be the duty of the provost-marshal at every military post, to see that every negro within the jurisdiction of the military authority is employed by some white person, or is sent to the camps provided for freed people. V. Citizens may make contracts with freed persons of color for their lahor, giving wages per month in money, or employ families of them by the year on plantations, &c., feeding, clothing, and supporting the infirm as well as able-bodied, and giving a portion, not less than one-twentieth of the commercial part of their crops, in payment for such services. VI. Where negroes are employed under this authority, the parties employ. ing will register with the provost-marshal their names, occupation, and residence, and the number of negroes so employed. They will enter into such bonds as the provost-marshal, with the approval of the local commander, may require, for the kind treatment and proper care of those employed, and as security against their being carried beyond the employe's jurisdiction. VII. Nothing of this order is to be construed to embarrass the em ployment of such colored persons as may be required by the Government. By order of T. S. BOWERS, Acting A. A.-G. Major-General U. S. GRANT. Having thus secured his department against every important contingency, and having made provision for minor matters that did not require his personal superintendence, General Grant devoted a little time for the purpose of visiting the more distant districts under his command, leaving General McPherson, who had been appointed commander of the District of Vicksburg, to carry out the necessary orders in that immediate neighborhood. CHAPTER XLV. VISIT TO MEMPHIS AND NEW ORLEANS. On the 25th of August, 1863, General Grant arrived at Memphis, Tenn., where he was received with great honor by the inhabitants of that city, although it was late in the evening before he arrived. At ten o'clock the next morning a committee of citizens waited upon the General to tender him the hospitalities of the city and to present to him a series of resolutions passed at a meeting of the residents of Memphis held on the day of his arrival. At the close of the address an invitation was proffered to General Grant to be present at a dinner to be given in his honor that evening. The General received the committee cordially, but without further words than the thanking of the gentlemen, and through them the citizens of Memphis, for the great courtesy conferred upon him. After these ceremonious proceedings, an interview took place as to the most desirable time for the entertainment. The General signifying his satisfaction, nine o'clock was appointed. The committee then withdrew, and proceeded to the business of preparation. The festival and reception was on a grand scale, and is thus described by one who was present: At precisely nine o'clock the band struck up one of the national airs, the doors of the reception-room flew open, and General Grant made his appearance. There was a great rush on the part of the enthusiastic and impatient to grasp the hero's hand. An hour, at least, though it seemed less, was thus consumed in hand-shaking and congratulations. After the lapse of this time the band again sent forth its melody in the shape of a march. The whole assemblage then formed in two ranks, headed by General Grant. This being done, the entire party marched into the dining-room, made the complete round of the tables, examining the preparations, and then seated themselves. As would be expected, no sooner had each individual fastened himself to his seat, than commenced a grand, simultaneous and destructive assault upon the various dishes before him. Under the withering gastronomic abilities of the assemblage the victory was complete, and wound up by the total wreck and dissipation of the scene which, but a few moments before, shone refulgent in all its beauty. There suddenly appeared a masked battery of champagne on our rear, which opened upon the guests a vigorous champagne cannonade. Soon the engagement became general, and, like all general engagements, everybody did pretty much as he pleased, so that he kept in the ranks and did not shirk, or leave the field. Next followed the regular toasts of the evening. The assemblage being called to order, the chairman arose and stated the fact. The toasts were then read. "The United States of America-They have one constitution and government. May they have one grand destiny while human institutions endure." Responded to by Hon. Chas. Kortrecht. "The Army and Navy-Their deeds and heroism in this war will be the noble theme of poet and historian in all future time." Responded to by Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas. "General Grant-the guest of the city." This was the signal for the wildest applause, and it was some minutes before order could be restored. It was expected that General Grant would be brought to his feet by this; but the company were dissapointed upon perceiving that instead his place was taken by his staff-surgeon, Dr. Hewitt, who remarked: "I am instructed by General Grant to say that, as he has never been given to public speaking, you will have to excuse him on this ocasion, and, as I am the only member of his staff present, I therefore feel it my duty to thank you for this manifestation of your good-will, as also the numerous other kindnesses of which he has been the recipient ever since his arrival among you. General Grant believes that in all he has done he has no more than accomplished a duty, and one, too, for which no particular honor is due. But the world, as you do, will accord otherwise.". The Doctor then proposed, at General Grant's request "The officers of the different staffs, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the Army of the Tennessee." "The Federal Union-it must and will be preserved." Responded to by Major-General S. A. Hurlbut. "The Old Flag-May its extinguished stars, rekindled by the sacred flame of human liberty, continue to shine forever undiminished in number, and undimmed in splendor." Brigadier-General Veatch. "The President of the United States-He must be sustained." Colonel J. W. Fuller. The Star-Spangled Banner was here sung, the whole party joining in the chorus. "The Loyal Men of Tennessee-Their devotion to the Union, the cause of republican government and constitutional liberty is like gold tried seven times by fire." Mr. J. M. Tomeny.* * Dr. Morris here read the following lines composed in honor of General Grant: DE SOTO, FULTON, GRANT. Science and commerce winged their pinions there, Ages rolled by, the tawny savage fled- Unto the sower's hand a hundred-fold: To stem the unconquered flood, to push the weight And by the Spaniard's name he wrote his own- |