The national Republican., 1862-07-03
IMPORTANT LNTTER FROM onH.
RRAL HUNTDR.

lMfOE6VANT Rh&V1A SsS-
EaAL AUNTnR.
The following intsrsStins communication
from Major General Hunter, Of the Department
Of South Carolina, In reply toa resolution In
troducsd by Mr.. wiotlifs, Of Kentucky, and
adopted il the House Of Representatives on
the 9Th ultimo, calling for Z" information re-
spectlng the organization BY General Hunter,
Of the Department Of South Carolina, Of re
giment Of volunteers fof the defence Of the
Union, composed Of black men Fugitive
slaves)," was transmitted to the House Of
Representatives, yesterday, BY The Secretary
Of war: .
HEADQUARTERS DEP ARrxrNT OF THE sourH,
Ponr ROYAL, 8. O., June 23, 1867.
Secretary Of War, Washington, DO.
/ Sra have the honor to acknowledge the
i receipt Of q communication from the AdiutAnt
General of the army, dated June Is, 1861, re-
| quss,ing me TO furnish you with the informa-
| ton necessary to answer certain resolutions
introduced In the House of Representatives,
June ., 1862, on motion of the Hon. Mr.. Wick
life, Of Kentucky, their substance being to In
ist. whether had organized or was organ.
zing regiment Of "fugitive slaves"in this de-
i partment?
I'd. whether any authority had been given
to me from the War Department for such cr-
ID. whether had been furnished, by order
Of the War Department, with clothing, uni
forms. arms, equipments, &c., for such a
force,
Only having received the letter covering these
inquiries at . late hour on Saturday night,
urge forward my answer In time for the steamer
sailing to-day, Monday ).this haste preventing
me from entering rs minutely as could wish
~. A.
mount importance Of the subject calls for. But,
| in view of the near termination OF the presen,
session of Congress, and the widespread in.
terest which must have been awakened by Mr..
wicklife's resolutions. ! prefer sending even
this imperfect answer to waiting the period
necessary for the cole lton of fuller and more
comprehensive data.
To the first question, therefore, / reply that
no regiment of Fugitive Slaves" has been, or
/ il being organized in this Department There
| is, however, n fine regiment Of persons whose
late masters arc Fugitive Rebels, men who
| everywhere fly before the appearance of the
| National Flag, leaving their servants behind
| them to shift as best they can for Themselves.
So far, indeed, are the loyal persons composing
this regiment from seeking TO avoid the pre-
/ sence Of their late owners, that they are now
| one and all, working with remarkable industry
to place themselves in q position to go in full
/ and effective pursuit Of their fugacious and
| traitOrous proprietors.
To the second question, have the honor to
answer that the instructions given to Brig. Gen.
I. W. Sherman, BY the Hon. Simon Cameron,
late Secretary of War, and turned over to me
| by succession for my guidance, do distinctly
| authorize me ~ employ all loyal persons offer.
ing their services in defence Of the Union and
for the suppression of this rebellion in any man
ner might see fit, or that the circumstances
| might call for. Thore is no restriction rs to
| the character or color vf the persons TO be
| employed. or the nature of the employment,
whether civil or military, in which their ser
vices should be used. | conclude, therefore,
that have been authorized to en st " fugitive
| slaves" ~ soldiers, oouh any such be found In
this department. No such characters, however,
have yet appeared within view Of our most
advanced pickets; the lryal slaves every where
| remaining on their plantations 10 welcome us,
aid us, and supply-us with food, labor, and in
l formation ltis the masters who have in every
| instance been the "fugitves," running away
from loyal slaves rs well as loyal soldiers, and
| whom we have only partially been able TO see
chiefly their heads over ramparts, or, rifle in
i hand, lodging behind trees-in the extreme
distance. In the absence Of any fugitive
m aster law" the deserted slaves would be
wholly without remedy, had not the crime OF
treason given them the right to pursue, cap.
ture, and bring back those persons OF whose
protection they have been thus suddenly be.
reft.
To the third intorrogatory, ii Ia my painful
| duty TO reply that never have received any
specific authority for issues Of clothing, uni
forms, arms, equipments, and ~ forth, to the
troops in question-my general instructions
MI a. ere 70 emPSy them hem IN IN sny
bning my only but, in my judgment, sufficient
justifcation. Neither have had any specific
authority fer supplying these persons with
shovels, spades, and pickaxe,, when employ.
ing them hs laborers, nor with boats and oars
Il when usirg them AZ lghtermen; but these are
not points included in Mr.. Wckfie's resolution.
To- me it seemed that liberty to employ men in
any particular capacity, implied with it lib
erty, also, to supply them with the necessary
tools; and acting upon this faith, I have clothed
equipped, and armed the only loyal regiment
yot raised in South Carolina.
Emust say, in vindCatiOn of my own con.
duct, that had ii not been for the many other
diversified and imperative claims on my time
and attention, much more satisfactory result
might have been hoped tor; and that in place
OF only one, as at present, at least Ave or six
well.drilled, brave and thoroughly acclimatod
regiments should, by this time, have been ad.
ded TO the loyal forces of the Union.
The experiment OF arming the blacks, as far
as have made 1t, has been = complete and
even marvellous success. They are sober, do.
cile, attentive and enthusiastic, displa ying
great natural capacities for acquiring the du.
ties of the soldier. They are eager beyond all
things to take the field and be led into action;
| who have had charge of them, that In the pc
| Cullarities Of this climate and country they
| will prove invaluable auxliariss, fully equal
10 the similar regiments 30 long and suoce essful.
used by the British authorities in the West
| India Islands.
In conclusion, would say it is my hope
| there appearing no possibility of other rein
forcements owing to the exigencies of the cam.
psign in the Peninsula, to have organized by
| the end of next fall, and be able to present to
the Government. from forty eight to fifty thou.
sand OF these hardy and devoted soldiers.
| Trusting that this letter may form part of
| your answer to Mr.. Wcklife's resolutions.
| have the bonor to be, most respectfully,
your very obedient servant,
| d. HUNTER, Major General Commanding.