Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-07-09
General Hunters Explanation.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE SoUTH,
Port ROudL. s. g. June %

War, Washington, d. G.
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of communication from the
Adjutant General of the army, dated June
18th 1862, requesting me to furnish you
with the information necessary to answer
certain resolutions introduced in the House
OF Representatives on June 9th, 1862, on
motion Of Hon. Mr.. Wickiiffe, of Ken
tucky, their substance being to inquire
First Whether | had organized, or was
organizing, regiment of fugitive slaves in
this Department?
Second. Whether any authority had
been given me from the War Department
for such organization, and
Third. Whether / had been furnished,
by order of the War Department, with
clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, &C.,
for such force.
Only having received the letter contain
ing these inquiries at late hour on Sat-
urday night, urge forward my answer in
time for the steamer sailing to day (Mon-
day. This haste prevents me from enter
/ ing, as minutely as [ could wish, upon
many points Of detail, such as the para
mount Importance Of the subject demands :;
but IN view of the near termination Of the
present session Of Congress, and the wide
! spread interest which must have been
] awakened by Mr.. Wickliffes resolution,
prefer sending this imperfect answer to
waiting the period necessary for the collec-
tion Of fuller and more comprehensive data
To the first question, therefore, I reply
that no regiment Of fugitive slaves has
been or is being organized in this Depart
ment There is, however, fine regiment
| Of persons whose late masters are 4" fugitive
rebels men who everywhere fly before
the appearance Of the National fag, leaving
their servants behind them to shift as best
they can for themselves. SO far, indeed,
are the loyal persons composing this reg-
ment from seeking to avoid the presence OF
their late owners, that they are now, one
and all, working with remarkable industry
to place themselves in a position to join in
full aud effective pursuit Of these tugtives
and traltorous proprlctors.
To the second question, have the honor
to answer that the instructions given to
Brigadier General I. W. Sherman by the
Hon. Simon Cameron, late Secretary War,
and turned over to me by success :ion for
my guidance, do distinctly authorize me to
employ all loyal persons Offering their SER
vices in defence Of the Union, and for the
suppression Of this rebellion, in any man.
ner might see fit, or that the circum-
stances might call for. There is no re-
striction as to the character or color of the
persons to be employed, or the nature of
the employment, whether civil or military,
in which their services shall be used. [
conclude, therefore, that lave been au-
thorized to enlist fugitive slaves as soldiers,
could any such be found in this Depart.
ment. No such characters, however, have
yet appeared within the view of our most
advanced pickets the loyal slaves every
where remaining on their plantations to
welcome US, aid us and supply US with food,
labor and information.
1t is the masters who have in every in
stance been the fugitives, running away
from the loyal slaves as we'll as the soldiers,
and whom we have only partially been able
to see, chiefly their heads over ramparts,
or, rife in hand, lodging behind trees in
the extreme distance.
In the absence of any fugitive (master)
law, deserted slaves would be wholly with
out remedy, had not the crime Of treason
given them the right to pursue, capture
and bring back those persons Of whose pro-
lection they have been thus suddenly be-
reft.
To the third interrogatory it is my pain
ful duty to reply that [ have never receiv-
ed any specific authority for issues of
clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, &c,
for the troops in question, my general in
structions from Mr. Cameron, to employ
them in any manner might find necessary,
and the military exigencies of the Depart
ment being my only, but in my judgement,
sufficient justification.
Neither have had any specific authority
for supplying those persons with shovels,
spades and pickaxes when employing them
as laborers, or boats and oars when using
them as lighter men but these are not
points included in Mr. Wickliffe's restric-
/ tions.
To me it seemed that the liberty to en-
ploy men in any particular capacity implied
with it liberty also to supply them with the
necessary tools, and acting upon this faith,
I have clothed, equipped and armed the
only loyal regiment yet raised in South
Carolina
l must say in vindication OF my own