| Location | Fortress Monroe, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Order |
| Names Mentioned | – |
| Date | November 1, 1861 |
| Document Title | General Order No°34 from General John E. Wool |
| Document Description | General Wool gives guidelines for the compensation of “contrabands” (fugitive enslaved people from the rebellious states). All were to receive adequate clothing and food. Able-bodied men were to receive $10 a month, while boys between 12 and 18, and sick or otherwise infirm men were to receive $5 a month; Wool includes plans for bonus pay for extra work and a policy for sickness/inability to work. With the exception of bonuses, Wool orders that 80% of this pay is withheld to cover the cost of supporting the “contraband” women, children, and those unable to work. (From Free at Last, 167-168.) |
| Transcription | "Fort Monroe [Va.]. November 1st 1861 General Orders N° 34 The following pay and allowances will constitute the valuation of the labor of the Contrabands at work in the Engineer, Ordnance, Quartermaster, Commissary, and Medical Departments at this post to be paid as hereinafter mentioned, Class 1st Negro men over 18 years of age and able-bodied ten dollars per month, one Ration and the necessary amount of Clothing, Class 2nd. Negro boys from 12 to 18 years of age and sickly and Inform negro men, five (5) per month, one ration and the necessary amount of Clothing, The Quartermaster will furnish all the Clothing. The departments employing these men, will furnish the subsistence specified above, and as an incentive to good behaviour, (to be witheld at the discretion, of the Chiefs of the departments, respectively) each individual of the 1st Class, will receive, two (2) dollars per month; and each individual of the 2nd Class one (1) dollar per month for their own use. The remainder of the money valuation of their labor, will be turned over to the Quartermaster, who will deduct from it the cost of the Clothing issued to them, the balance will constitute a fund to be expended by the Quartermaster under the direction of the Commanding Officer of the department for the support of the women and children, and those that are unable to work, For any unusal amount of labor performed they may recieve extra pay, varying in amount from (50) fifty cents to one (1) dollar, this to be paid by the departments, employing them, to the men themselves, and to be for their own use. Should any man be prevented from working on account of sickness for six consecutive days, or ten days in any one month, one half of the money valuation will be paid, For being prevented from laboring for a longer period than ten days in any one month all pay and allowances cease, By command of Maj Genl Wool |
If you are citing this record, please use the following format:
[Author (if known)], Documents from the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
Pinned records can be viewed at any time by clicking the More menu in the top right corner of the page, then selecting My Pinned Records.