Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, July 15, 1865
GENERAL ORDERS No. 109
In accordance with the Amnesty Proclamation of the President of the United States, dated May 29, 1865, and the instructions, of the Secretary of State pursuant thereto, the following instructions for administering the amnesty oath by military authorities in this department are hereby published for the information and the guidance of all concerned:
I. The requirements of the proclamation of the President, and the instructions of the Secretary of State, above referred to, will be strictly observed, and due care exercised to see that no improper persons are permitted to take the oath.
II. An application for amnesty will be made in each case, on a form to be furnished by the Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Gulf, who will also furnish blank forms for the oath and certificate. The oath and certificate will be made in triplicate - one copy attached to the application, and one copy, unattached, to be forwarded to the Provost-Marshal-General of the department (the first to be sent to the State Department for record, and the second to be kept on file,) and the third copy to be delivered to the person taking the oath.
III. A record of the names, rank, (if any,) professions and residences of those to whom the oath may be administered, will be kept at each office or headquarters where said oath is administered, and at the office of the Provost-Marshal-General of the department.
IV. The amnesty oath will only be administered on the written order of
1. Any general officer in actual command within the department.
2. The commanding officer of a district, sub-district or post.
3. The Provost-Marshal-General of the department.
V. By virtue of the written order in each case of any of the officers above specified, any commisssioned officer of the army named in said order may administer the amnesty oath.
VI. The copies of the applications and amnesty oaths made and taken, will be forwarded, as required in paragraph two, on the last day of each month.
VII. A fee of twenty-five cents will be charged and collected from each person taking the oath, for the purpose of covering the necessary expenses. The amount so collected to be sent, at the end of each month, to the Provost-Marshal-General.
By order of
Maj.-Gen CANBY
J.Schuyler Crosby, Brevet Lieut.-Col. A.D.C. and A.A.A.G.
