Mr. Lincoln signed the Order of Retaliation (General Order #252) this week that offered "protection to citizens, of whatever class, color, or condition, and especially to those who are duly organized as soldiers in the public service. The government of the United States will give the same protection to all its soldiers and if the enemy shall sell or enslave anyone because of his color, the offense shall be punished by retaliation upon the enemy's prisoners in our possession."
The emergence of United States Colored Troops fortified the Union army at a time when battles and desertion had depleted their ranks. The idea of enlisting blacks as soldiers was not an option for the Confederacy as their official constitution said "blacks were not able to take care of themselves."
The order was necessary after Confederate President Jefferson Davis promised to treat officers of colored troops "as criminals engaged in inciting insurrection." The Confederate Congress had followed Davis' comments by ruling that called for the execution of captured officers of black regiments and that captured black soldiers be either executed or sold back into slavery.
The president also encouraged Postmaster General Montgomery Blair to fill government job openings in Washington with war widows and disabled soldiers. The same war that forced men into the military opened up countless jobs as clerks, teachers, nurses, and copyists. The post office started employing women as post-mistresses.
During the same week, discussions were held in regards to Union General Robert Milroy, whose forces were decimated at the battle of Second Winchester in mid-June 1863. Milroy, who was one of the army's most least liked commanding officers, was being investigated for disobeying orders.
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