Myaimthenwas，towhiptherebels，tohumbletheirpride，tofollowthemtotheirinmostrecesses，andmakethemfearanddreadus。\"FearoftheLordisthebeginningofwisdom。\"IdidnotwantthemtocastinourteethwhatGeneralHoodhadoncedoneinAtlanta，thatwehadtocallontheirslavestohelpustosubduethem。But，asregardskindnesstotherace，encouragingthemtopatienceandforbearance，procuringthemfoodandclothing，andprovidingthemwithlandwhereontolabor，IassertthatnoarmyeverdidmoreforthatracethantheoneIcommandedinSavannah。
WhenwereachedSavannah，wewerebesetbyravenousStateagentsfromHiltonHead，whoenticedandcarriedawayourservants，andthecorpsofpioneerswhichwehadorganized，andwhichhaddonesuchexcellentservice。Ononeoccasion，myownaide—de—camp，ColonelAudenried，foundatleastahundredpoornegroesshutupinahouseandpen，waitingforthenight，tobeconveyedstealthilytoHiltonHead。Theyappealedtohimforprotection，allegingthattheyhadbeentoldthattheymustbesoldiers，that\"MassaLincoln\"
wantedthem，etc。Ineverdeniedtheslavesafullopportunityforvoluntaryenlistment，butIdidprohibitforcetobeused，forI
knewthattheStateagentsweremoreinfluencedbytheprofittheyderivedfromthelargebountiesthenbeingpaidthanbyanyloveofcountryorofthecoloredrace。InthelanguageofMr。Frazier，theenlistmentofeveryblackman\"didnotstrengthenthearmy，buttookawayonewhitemanfromtheranks。\"
DuringMr。Stanton’sstayinSavannahwediscussedthisnegroquestionveryfully;heaskedmetodraftanorderonthesubject，inaccordancewithmyownviews，thatwouldmeetthepressingnecessitiesofthecase，andIdidso。Wewentoverthisorder，No。15，ofJanuary16，1865，verycarefully。Thesecretarymadesomeverbalmodifications，whenitwasapprovedbyhiminallitsdetails，Ipublishedit，anditwentintooperationatonce。Itprovidedfullyfortheenlistmentofcoloredtroops，andgavethefreedmencertainpossessoryrightstoland，whichafterwardbecamemattersofjudicialinquiryanddecision。Ofcourse，themilitaryauthoritiesatthatday，whenwarprevailed，hadaperfectrighttograntthepossessionofanyvacantlandtowhichtheycouldextendmilitaryprotection，butwedidnotundertaketogiveafee—simpletitle;andallthatwasdesignedbythesespecialfieldorderswastomaketemporaryprovisionsforthefreedmenandtheirfamiliesduringtherestofthewar，oruntilCongressshouldtakeactioninthepremises。AllthatInowproposetoassertis，thatMr。