William T. Sherman: Special Field Order No. 15

Essential Quotes

“The three parties named will subdivide the land, under the supervision of the Inspector, among themselves … so that each family shall have a plot of not more than (40) forty acres of tillable ground, … with not more than 800 feet water front, in the possession of which land the military authorities will afford them protection, until … they can protect themselves, or until Congress shall regulate their title.”

“In order to carry out this system of settlement, a general officer will be detailed as Inspector of Settlements and Plantations, whose duty it shall be to visit the settlements, to regulate their police and general management, and who will furnish personally to each head of a family, subject to the approval of the President of the United States, a possessory title in writing, giving as near as possible the description of boundaries.”