T. W. Sherman to William H. Nobles, December 3, 1861
December 3, 1861.
Port Royal, S. 0., December 3, 1861. WILLIAM H. NOBLES, Esq.:
SIR: The inhabitants of the deserted islands having been warned of the destruetion of their property by the negroes and invited to return and take charge of their plantations, with a promise of ample protection to all loyal citizens, and such invitation and promise of protection having been set at naught by their refusal to return and by several instances of ordering their cotton to be burned, I deem it proper to take steps for the preservation of as much of this article as practicable, in order that such disposition may be made of it as the Government may direct. You are theretore appointed an agent of the United States Government to collect and put into store, at the most convenient points occupied by the United States troops, such quantities of cotton as you may find in any part of the State of South Carolina deserted by the inhabitants. A correct and explanatory statement will be made by you weekly to the headquarters, showing the amount of cotton stored, its quality, whether baled or unbaled, from whose plantation obtained, and all other information which in your judgment may be necessary to convey a correct idea of its value and the fixing of its ownership, so that the Government will not be at a loss to dispose of the questions
of its disposition or of remuneration to its owners if such questions should arise.
You will employ negroes in picking, collecting, and packing the cotton, who on your vouchers, properly made out and certified to, will be paid by the Quartermasterâs Department. Your services will oe compensated by allowing you 6 per cent. on the market value of the cotton stored as above.
Very respectfully, &oc.,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.