Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-07-10
Gen. Hunters Reply as to his action
in South Carolina.

Gen. Hunters Reply as to his action
in South Carolina.
The following correspondence waslaid be-
fore the House to-day, the reading Of some
parts OF which occasioned much merrimeut
w' pr'A''~''' Mssa:.s.y wa:.s,Is saiy Ssi 3 e.
Sir Ion reference o,the answer Of thisI
| Department Of the 4th ult, to the resolution |
OF the House OF Representatives of the 9th
of last month, calling for information re.
specting the ofgsnizationsby Gen, Hunter Of
South Carolina of q regiment. Of Nv olun-
| teers for the defence Of the Union, compos-
ed Of black men--fugitive slaves" it will be
seen that the resolution had been referred
10 that officer with instructions to make i'm
mediate report thereon.
have now the honor TO transmit here
with the copy Of communication just re-
ceived from Gen. Hunter, furnishing iptor-
nation as to his action touching the various
matters indicated in the resolution.
| have the honor to We very ,esIec,iuy:
EDWIN N. STANTON, Secretary Of Wat
lion. @ A. GRow. Speaker House Of Representatives
HsADeuARrKRs DKpARrxKsr ov rus sorru,
Pon ROYAL, 3 q June %, ieo2. s
Hon. f. NJ STA sros Secretary OF War, ,wpshingtoD G
i SIR have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of communication from the Ad-
ljutant General Of the Army, dated Jhne l3,
1862, requesting me 70 furnish you with the
information necessary to answer certain res
} olutipns introduced in the House OF Repre-
} sentatives June Q, 1862, on motion Of the
Hon. Mr.. Wicklife Of Kentucky, their sub
stance being to inquire: tsLil
0 |. Whether had organized, or was or
] ganising, regiment OF fugitive slaves in
& this department .a4la
, 2. Whether any authority had been Civ
en- me from tho War Department TOR such
= organization and, ea'
{, 8. Whether had been furnished by or
/ der OF the War Department with clothing
!. uniforms, arms, equipments, &c, Tor suct
, u force rr1 s.yf .-.l
l. Only having received the letter concern
70 ing these inquiries at a late hour on Satur
lay night, I urge forward my answer il
time for the steamer sailing to-day Monday
"a this haste preventing me from entering a
= ,ninutely as could wisfQupon many point
~ of detail, such as the Paramount impor
:. tance of the subject callslor.
ir But in view Of linear termination Of tn
"a present session OF Congress, and tho wide
IA spread interest which must have been awak
IL eued by Mr.. Wickliffs's . resolution, and per
Q, fer sending even this imperfect answer {
ID waiting the period necessary for the collec
\. ton Of fuller and more comprehensive data
= To the first question, therefore, l repl
that no regiment OF fugitive slaves has bee
eris being organized in this Department
ns There 10, however. fine regiment OF PEI
at sons whose late masters are fugitive III
an bells s''--men who everywhere Fly before th
appearance ofthe national flag, leaving the
" servants behind them to shift ss best the
ne can for themselves. .g .rs
N. So far, indeed, are the loyal persons CON
NJ posing this regiment from seeking to avoi
the presence OF their late owners that the
are now one and all working with remark,
bic industry to place themselves in pos
~ ton to join in full and effective pursuit
ds their Jng1cious and traitorous proprietor
To the second question, have the hon,
to answer that the instructions given
Brig. Gen. T. w. Sherman by the Ho
Simon Cameron, late Secretary OF War al
turned over to mo by succession tor n
guidance, do distinctly suthorize me to Ell
ploy all loyal persons offering their servi
ro- in defense of the Union, and foi the su
~ 'n' pression Of this rebellion, in any manner
", might see 6t, or that the circumstanc
,Mse M might call for.
sr There ID no rsstristioe 90 TO tho chursos
~ w or color Of the persons to be employed,
ya' the nature of the employment, whether ci
or military, in which their services shou
~ :a be nsod. conclude, therefore, that ha
'hhs been authorised TO eulist fugitive slnves
.:s ny soldiers, could any such be found in the L
Uss n.n partment:
tSty No such characters, however, have ,
inc appeared within view of our most adval
A.. pickets, the loyal slaves everywhere renal
;;ls ing on their plantations to welcome U.s. ,
LUZ US, and supply US with good labor and
v" NJ" formation.
ne ;Ie. II il the masters who have in every
na' m stance been the fugitives, running aw
e'u from loyal slaves as we'll asloyal soldiers, q
" whom we have only partially been able
10 see, chiefly with their heads over rampar
gu. or rife in hand lodging behind trees in
'"h extreme distance.
In the absence Of any fugitive master
! yut the deserted slaves would be wholly wi
tne out remedy had not their time Of trea
ISIS given the right to pursue, capture, and br
back these persons, Of whose protect
lnss I.s they have been thus suddenly bereft.
\ A''nf To the third interrogation il is my pair
!. oi duty to reply that have never received
'nce specific authority for issues of unifor
arms, equipments, 30, to the troops
'nss question, my general instructions from
sr Cameron to employ them In any inannt
- A.. might uuu necdsdhry auu tho MILITARY
y 70 gencies Of the Department and the coui
,.Sss nhn being my only, and in my judgment, s.
who sh cient Qualification.
en 'ne Neither have had any specific autho
: ns for supplying those persous with shoy
spades and pick. axes, when employing Il
ss laborers, nor with boats and cars W
using them as hghter-men but these
that not points indicatsd In Mr.. Wioklifs's
,ren olution ~
the To me ii seemed that liberty to eml
Held them In any particular capacity, imp
ness, with il liberty also to supply them with
h. necessary tools and, acting upon this Il
land l have clothed, equipped, and armed
I our only loyal regiment yet raised in South
, and olina.
wing / must say in vindication Of my own
nct duet that bad IL not been Tor the inauy o
,6sli diversified and imperative claims on my
i hsd aud attention, much more satisfactor,
have suit might have been hoped for; and
\. in place Of only one a. At present. at
Eve or six we'll drilled, brave, aud thoro
n.;., y aoclimatsd regiments should by this
~ 't,s =, have been added 70 the loyal forces Of
.i Union.
u0T0l Il A. ly--l