II. Since the rebel power has been driven from Middle Tennessee numbers of men have left their army; they and others scattered through the country are in danger of being assembled into lawless bands for theft, pillage, and violence under the name of guerrilla warfare. to prevent this, which would destroy the whole country, the general commanding earnestly warns all such persons not to engage in such a criminal course. If they wish to oppose the Government of the United States, they must take upon themselves the uniform and subject themselves to the duties and restrictions of regularly organized rebel soldiers. If taken within the country subject to our control in disguise, roaming as individuals or banding with other brigands, and living by stealing and plundering, they will be treated as spies or robbers, enemies of the human race, against whom it is the duty of all, both military and civilians, to wage a war of extermination.

III. Since it is for the salvation of civil society, no persons within the limits of this command will be exempted from the duty of using their utmost efforts to put a stop to any attempt to inaugurate a system of plunder, rapine, and murder under the name of guerrilla warfare. In enforcing this duty the general commanding will follow the old rule of common law, and hold the inhabitants of each locality responsible for the guerrilla warfare practiced in their midst, and unless satisfied that they have done their full duty and used their utmost efforts to stop it, will lay waste their country and render it untenable for robbers.

IV. Peaceful inhabitants, without regard to political sympathies, being equally interested in preventing the ruin of their country, are counseled and enjoined to unite in putting a final end to all lawless and individual warfare, robbing, and plundering under the name of partisans and guerrillas. To this end they must use all the moral influence they can bring to bear, warning those who threaten, publicly denouncing the practice, and giving information which will lead to the prevention of the crimes or the capture and punishment of the offenders. They will further be permitted to resume the freeman's right of bearing arms in self-defense whenever and wherever the Military Governor of the State and the department commander deem it practicable without involving the risk of their being captured and used against the Government.

V. All persons heretofore acting with the rebellion and desirous of becoming peaceable citizens, are referred to General Orders, Numbers 175, for the terms upon which it will be allowed.*

By command of Major-General Rosecrans:

C. GODDARD,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND,

Numbers 200.
Winchester, Tenn., August 15, 1863.

To enable this army to draw supplies from the country with the greatest facility and cause the least possible distress to its inhabitants, the following rules will be observed:

I. Where it is possible, commanders of troops will send in advance notice to the inhabitants of the section from which they intend to

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* See Series I. Vol XXIII, Part II, p. 184.

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