File:Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general, United States Army (1907) (14762364102).jpg

Identifier: autobiographyofo02howa (find matches)
Title: Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general, United States Army
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Howard, O. O. (Oliver Otis), 1830-1909
Subjects: United States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Campaigns
Publisher: New York, The Baker & Taylor Company
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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n-suing Monday; and as the divisions went through the
town we passed in review before a multitude of inter-
ested spectators.
At ten o'clock the morning of May 9th, we arrived
at Manchester, opposite Richmond, where were Gen-
eral Halleck's headquarters. I paid a brief visit to
the late Confederate capital, and after my return to
Manchester, issued orders of march pursuant to Gen-
eral Sherman's instructions for my two corps to pro-
ceed via Hanover Court House to Alexandria and
Washington. Blair's corps was to set out the 12th,
and Logan's to follow on the 13th. I then with my
staff intended to go on with Blair's head of column.
But while there at Manchester, the following dispatch,
which greatly surprised me, was placed in my hands:
Washington, D. C, May 7, 1865, 9 p.m.
Major General O. O. Howard,
Care of General Halleck, Richmond, Va.
Leave your army for corps commanders to bring overland
and come on immediately yourself by water. Report on
arrival to Secretary of War. U. S. Grant,
Lieutenant General.

206
Text Appearing After Image:

Mrs. 0.0. Howard.

Organization of the Freedmen's Bureau

This message, enigmatical enough for me, coming
into my hands in the afternoon, at once received this
answer: Richmond, May 9, 1865, 3:15 p.m.
Lieutenant General U. S. Grant.
GENERAL: Your dispatch only just received. I will conform
to it at once. Respectfully,
O. 0. Howard,
Major General.

The evening of May 10, 1865, found me in Wash-
ington. I went the next day to the Secretary's
office in the War Department and reported to him as
I had been instructed. This was not my first inter-
view with Edwin M. Stanton. He had been at times
very kind to me, and particularly friendly during his
Savannah visit; he had there emphasized his com-
mendations for the part I had borne in Sherman's
operations. He now appeared hearty, in good humor,
and glad to see me; but, after a few brief words of
greeting, as was usual with him, went straight to the
business in hand. We had hardly taken seats when
he took from his desk and handed me a copy of the
Freedmen's Bureau Act, and said substantially : " We

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