Allwhoareprotectedshouldsharetheexpensesinproportiontotheinterestsinvolved。Iam，withrespect，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSFIFTHDIVISION，MEMPHIS，August7，1862。
CaptainFITCH，AssistantQuartermaster，Memphis，Tennessee。
SIR:Thedutiesdevolvingonthequartermasterofthispost，inadditiontohislegitimatefunctions，areveryimportantandonerous，andIamfullyawarethatthetaskismorethanshoulddevolveononeman。Iwillendeavortogetyouhelpinthepersonofsomecommissionedofficer，and，ifpossible，oneunderbond，ashemusthandlelargeamountsofmoneyintrust;but，forthepresent，wemostexecutethedutiesfallingtoourshareaswellaspossible。Onthesubjectofvacanthouses，GeneralGrant’sordersare:\"Takepossessionofallvacantstoresandhousesinthecity，andhavethemrentedatreasonablerates;renttobepaidmonthlyinadvance。Thesebuildings，withtheirtenants，canbeturnedovertoproprietorsonproofofloyalty;alsotakechargeofsuchashavebeenleasedoutbydisloyalowners。\"
IunderstandthatGeneralGranttakestherentsandprofitsofthisclassofrealpropertyundertherulesandlawsofwar，andnotundertheconfiscationactofCongress;thereforethequestionoftitleisnotinvolvedsimplythepossession，andtherentsandprofitsofhousesbelongingtoourenemies，whicharenotvacant，weholdintrustforthemortheGovernment，accordingtothefuturedecisionsofthepropertribunals。