February 16, 1863, The New York Herald
The Order Permitting Volunteers to Enlist in the Regular Service Rescinded – Subsistence Stores to Be Sold to Citizens in Actual Want – The Destruction of the Philips House, &c., &c.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Feb. 15, 1863.
EXTRACTS FROM GENERAL ORDERS NO. 10.
The General commanding has been informed that General Orders from the War Department authorizing enlistments of volunteers into the regular service have been rescinded.
Subsistence stores may be sold and issued to citizens residing within the limits of the army by the commissaries of subsistence, under the following restrictions: – First – a certificate, under oath, of the purchaser that he is without the means of subsistence, and that he is unable to sustain life without being permitted to make such purchases, this certificate to be approved by the corps commander to whom application is made, who may thereon direct the sales. Such sales shall not at one time exceed the quantity necessary to sustain the applicant and the members of his family five days. Second – Issues to destitute citizens may be made under the same restriction, upon returns approved by the Provost Marshal General of the Army of the Potomac. The parties in all cases will be required to take the oath of allegiance before sales or issues are made to them.
Captains Benjamin C. Berry and Allen M. Seymour, Second regiment New York cavalry, having deserted their regiment while on the march to meet the enemy, January 21, 1863, and having left this army without proper authority and continued absent up to the present time, are dishonorably dismissed from the military service of the United States, subject to the approval of the President.
By command of Major General HOOKER.
S. WILLIAMS, Adjutant General.
The Phillips House was destroyed by fire yesterday. It was the finest dwelling in this section of the State, having been up to a recent date upon the Downing College plan. The fire was of accidental origin, having caught from a defective flue. The mansion was located on a beautiful elevation, overlooking Fredericksburg and the surrounding country, and had been occupied by several Union generals as their headquarters, including General Sumner. General Stoneman had just occupied it temporarily, pending the preparations to convert it into a hospital. The costly furniture was saved and placed in the Lacy House on the bank of the Rappahannock, where such as is appropriate will be applied for hospital necessities. The owner is a banker in Fredericksburg. The destruction of this property, although purely accidental, is greatly regretted by all.
In consequence of recent publications injurious to the Union cause, measures have been taken to arrest and punish correspondents who have been guilty of making such developments, and plans are to be adopted which will prevent their future occurrence.
Many violations of law and regulations regarding sutlers’ goods, &c., having been brought to the notice of the General Commanding, a new course has been adopted by the Provost Marshal General, to detect and punish all who are engaged in illicit trade within the lines of this army. The traffic in contraband articles is not confined to regularly appointed sutlers, only a portion of whom are believed to have been guilty of these violations, but by many others not having permits to trade in the lines of the army.
Large seizures of contraband goods have been made and distributed for hospital uses. The offenders hereafter will be summarily punished.
Another rain set in this afternoon, and still continues.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 1863.
From information received from the Army of the Potomac, it appears the rebels are throwing up breastworks and rifle pits north of Fredericksburg. It must not be inferred from the absence of interesting news from the Rappahannock that the army is in a condition of idleness. The abolition of the grand divisions has thrown many weighty matters upon the Commanding General and his staff, and the various departments are sedulously engaged, without regard to hours, in matters pertaining to the discipline and consolidation of the army.