Freedmen’s Bureau Circulars
Circular No. 13 (1865)
40 acres and a mule
Freedmen’s Bureau Circulars
"This topic was suggested and proposed by Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy
The Freedmen’s Bureau Circulars
The Freedmen’s Bureau Circulars were directives issued by the Freedmen’s Bureau to outline policies, procedures, and guidance for the bureau's operations during Reconstruction after the Civil War. These circulars served as internal communications and instructions for bureau agents, outlining their duties, regulations, and standards. Key circulars addressed topics like the distribution of land, employment contracts between freedmen and landowners, education for freed people, medical care, and the overall enforcement of civil rights for African Americans.
Some notable Freedmen’s Bureau Circulars included:
Circular No. 13 (1865): This circular is significant because it ordered that 40-acre plots of land be distributed to freedmen, echoing the promise of “40 acres and a mule.” This land was taken from Southern plantation owners who had supported the Confederacy, but this plan was later reversed by President Andrew Johnson, leading to much of the land being returned to its previous owners.
Circular No. 2 (1865): Focused on establishing contracts between freedmen and former slaveholders, guiding labor agreements in the post-slavery economy. It encouraged fair wages and treatment for the newly emancipated African Americans.
The circulars are important primary sources for understanding the administrative decisions of the Freedmen’s Bureau and the broader federal efforts to integrate formerly enslaved individuals into American society during the Reconstruction era. They reflect the complexities and challenges of transitioning from slavery to freedom and provide insight into both the successes and limitations of Reconstruction policies.
Key Freedmen's Bureau Circulars
Established the basic duties of the Bureau and the responsibility to oversee the welfare of freed people and refugees.
Provided guidelines for labor contracts between freedmen and landowners. It set the rules for fair compensation, working conditions, and employer-employee relations in the transition from slavery to wage labor.
Outlined the procedures for distributing clothing and provisions to freedmen and refugees. The circular aimed to ensure the equitable distribution of aid to the needy population.
Addressed education by establishing Bureau-sponsored schools for freed people. This circular emphasized the need for creating and supporting educational infrastructure.
Detailed the process of establishing courts for freedmen. It provided the structure for judicial oversight to protect freedmen from exploitation and injustice, especially in areas where local courts were hostile to African Americans.
Concerned with the management of abandoned lands in the South. This circular provided guidelines for leasing and managing lands that had been confiscated or abandoned during the Civil War.
Perhaps one of the most famous circulars, this directive ordered the redistribution of 40-acre plots of land to freedmen from confiscated Southern lands. It was based on General Sherman's earlier Special Field Orders No. 15 but was later revoked under President Andrew Johnson.
Addressed the return of land to former Confederate landowners, reversing the earlier efforts of land redistribution laid out in Circular No. 13. This circular led to much of the land being taken away from freedmen and returned to its original owners.
Established hospitals and medical facilities to provide healthcare for freedmen and refugees. The circular aimed to address the public health crisis caused by the Civil War and the lack of medical care for newly freed people.
Issued guidelines for registering marriages of freedmen. This was important for legalizing and recognizing the marriages of people who had previously been enslaved, as many enslaved people’s marriages were not formally recognized.
Addressed the legal assistance and advocacy that Bureau agents were expected to provide to freedmen, especially in situations involving contract disputes or violations of civil rights.
Provided further guidance on the management and enforcement of labor contracts, emphasizing the need to protect freedmen from unfair labor practices and exploitation by former slaveholders.
Concerned the regulation of apprenticeships for freedmen children, who were often bound to white employers in a system that resembled slavery. The circular provided rules to prevent abuse in these arrangements.
Focused on the ongoing legal issues regarding property, such as disputes over land ownership and tenancy among freedmen.
Provided instructions for the completion and filing of reports by Bureau agents, ensuring consistent and accurate documentation of their activities.
Outlined policies on the distribution of rations and aid in response to Southern poverty and famine, addressing the acute needs of freedmen and the broader Southern population.
Freedmen's Bureau Circulars
1865 - 1868
Huntsville (freedmen’s hospital)
Roll 20, Special and general orders and circular letters received, May 1865-Aug 1866
Mobile (freedmen’s hospital)
Roll 23, Misc record book, Sep 1865-Sep 1867
Montgomery (freedmen’s hospital)
Roll 26, Special orders and circular letters received, Jan-Nov 1867
Montgomery (home colony hospital)
Roll 27, Register of patients, Sep 1865-Jul 1866
Opelika
Roll 28, Circular letters issued and orders received, Jun-Oct 1868
Talladega (subassistant commissioner) –
Roll 33, General and special orders and circular letters received, Dec 1865-Nov 1867
Tuscaloosa
Roll 33, General and special orders and circular letters received, Jan 1866-May 1867