Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-05-16
Return of Fugitive Slaves----GenerNS
SGhenck and Donn Plat.
HEADQUARTERS. SCHEScK's BRIGADE
'USTA1N DEPARTMENT, 9.
CAMP LEE, April &c.

S1R:--I am instructed by Gensral
Schenck to reply to your letter of the
18th inst, in which you state that two
boys, servants meaning blaeks-slayes)
have been employed by the officers of
the Fifth Regiment Virginia Volunteer
Infantry, belonging to this brigade; that
the boys desire to return to you, and
that yon request the General to take
measures for having them restored or
sent back. 49,. ...... -,
The General has ssnt for the bays,
found them, examined and carefully ip-
terrogated them himself, and asesrtains
from their account Of themselves, that
they left Of their own accord, and pre-
fer remaining where they are. He will
not, therefore, interfere between You
and them = a.Ss T,.f-F - rTHiEEa
By your own admission, these bo.s
are not claimed by you as property sof
your own, but are represented; as be-
longing to your son, James Armstrong,
who, some time since, for reasons con-
neoted with his relations to the present
disturbed qcouditi2a, Of our xcopntry,
abandoned his farm or hossshald. ,leav-
ing servants behind him, If he had re
mained at home, as a true and loyal Cit
izen, it is not probable that they would
have followed his example, or sought
place or employment elsewhere But
this fact does Lot material lyf affect tho
question. The decision of. the General
would have been the same If the boys
were claimed as your own slaves. ssisf
B You are, aware, it seems, of the exist-
ence of a law. recently passed ybys Con-
gress, prohibiting the. use of Fourg SOL
diers in returning 70 their masters fugi-
tive slaves from Service This law you
must expect him to obey under hisseise
of duty as!an officer, and heswiIl ebsysit
cheeriully, because it tcommends itself
to his judgment: and. conscience as ne
cessary and awholesome enactment. It
is3neither reasonabl e,tof expect oufs ar
mics, nor, in faet. possible for theniyao
carry along on the marchdthsl proper
civil agents and process. TO enforce the
statutory provisions in relation to fngi
tives. Our military forces have all their
time and attention more appropriately
occupied in the suppression of aicatse-
less and infamous rebelions ginstigated
and sustained generally b.. the yeryrmen
who, while they thus interrupt the due
enforcement and execution Of the laws
by the regularly constituted itribunais
and ministers, aree cla,norous for ahslp
for that peculiar speciesl of property
which can have little possible protection
outside OF the Constitution and Union,
which they. are treachcrously seeking TO
overthrow, al.0ls asa nYEsisab 81
~ The General cap,Hsa,s,ing' this, brig,
ade will, therefore, as has. beea statedto
you, not interfere with the military
force at his command between the
claimant and the fugitive slave. He
will neither, allow. the onsA class nor tha
ether as loafers about his camps. But
if either of them. coming Voluntarily
within his lines, can hs .prohtably EN-
'ployed, within the scope Of military re-
strictions and usage, as guides, servants.
laborersi orin any oIher.available cspac.
itx, he Yill not hesitate to so fepgage
them or pefm:s them to be engaged
Tie will punish any officer or private
soldier Of bis command who may be
caught either enticing or forcing asslare
TO leave bis loyal master;sbuts heswill
not leud his soldiers to be established
as guards TO prevent the escape, Of fugi-
tises from bondage seeking their liberty
egoIn his canips, too, he is'resolved there
shall be no disturbance. accasionedsiby
this peculiar relation and the claims DO
which it gives rise.g Ii the master, and
the runaway, in case the latter he f"und
at any time within our lines, can Quietly
ssgree to their mutuaI satisfaction, Chat
the old relation between them. shall; be-
restored, the GeneralTYiIl uotpermitlin-
reference to prevent ,snch a nicable, ad
justMent Of the question. But be will
not allow force to be used, either by the
master to reclaim his power or by his
officers or soldiGrs TO resist the demand.
Such couauct he would punish on either
side, as he would any other scene Of dis
erder sabverstve Of military rule aud
good disoiplius. '-1- ''i'
by order of Brigadier General Sehepck.
Very respectfully, yours, Fsatas
,.... =. -, DOM FIAT'r, A. A. G.,
Hon. WM. Arms rRoSG,