U.S. Brigadier General R. H. Milroy's Order to Citizens of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia in Reference to the Emancipation Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln
1/5/1863
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Four days after President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. Brig. Gen. R. H. Milroy put the citizens of Frederick County and Winchester, Virginia, on notice with this order. It warned that all those who opposed the Proclamation would be treated as “rebels in arms.”
Transcript
Freedom To Slaves!Whereas the President of the United States did on the final day of the present month, issue his Proclamation dictating "that all persons held as slaves in certain designated States, and parts
of States, are henceforward and shall be free and that the Executive Command of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, would recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
And whereas the county of Frederick is in cluded in the territory designated by the Proclamation of the President, in which the slaves should become free,I therefore hereby notify the citizens of the city of Winchester, and of said county of said Proclamation, and of my intention to maintain and confirm the same. I expect all citizens to yield a ready compliance with the Proclamation of the Chief Executive, and I admonish all persons disposed to resist its peaceful enforcement, that upon manifesting such disposition by acts, they will be regarded as rebels in arms against the lawful authority of the Federal Government and dealt with accordingly.
All persons liberated by said Proclamation are admonished to abstain from all violence, and immediately betake themselves to useful occupation.
The officers of this command are admonished and ordered to act in accordance with said proclamation and to yield their ready cooperation in its enforcement.
R. H. Milroy
Brig. Gen. Commanding
Jany 5th 1863
Jany 5th 1863
R. H. Milroy
Brig. Gen. Comdg
"Freedom to Slaves"
Order to citizens of Winchester & Frederick County in reference to Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln
This primary source comes from the War Department Collection of Confederate Records.
National Archives Identifier: 4662609
Full Citation: U.S. Brigadier General R. H. Milroy's Order to Citizens of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia in Reference to the Emancipation Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln; 1/5/1863; Letters and Telegrams Received by General Robert E. Lee, 1874–1899; War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives Building, Washington, DC . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/milroys-order-citizens-winchester-and-frederick-county-virginia-emancipation-proclamation, April 17, 2025]Activities that use this document
- From Slavery to Juneteenth: Emancipation and Ending Enslavement
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