The Civil Rights Act was generally in force, the "Black Laws" had been suspended, and the Freedmen's Bureau was everywhere caring for the Negroes.

What disorder existed was of recent origin and in the main was due to the unsettling effects of the debates in Congress and to the organization of the Negroes for political purposes.
* The first five generals appointed were Schofield, Sickles.
Pope, Ord, and Sheridan.

None of these remained in his district until reconstruction was completed.

To Schofield's command in the first district succeeded in turn Stoneman, Webb, and Canby; Sickles gave way to Canby, and Pope to Meade; Ord in the fourth district was followed by Gillem, McDowell, and Ames; Sheridan, in the fifth, was succeeded by Griffen, Mower, Hancock, Buchanan, Reynolds, and Canby.

Some of the generals were radical; others, moderate and tactful.
The most extreme were Sheridan, Pope, and Sickles.