Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-07-11
NEGRO REGIMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Explanation of General Hunter.


The following letter from Gen. Hun
ter has been laid before Congress by the
Secretary Of War:
HEADoUARTERs Dept OF THE Souri,,
Port Royal, s. C., June 20.
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of
War, Washington :-Sir-I have the
honor to acknowledge the receipt of
communication from the Adutant Gen
eral of the army, dated June 10, 1862,
requesting me to furnish you with the
information necessary to answer certain
resolutions introduced in the House of
Representatives on Juno 0, 1862, on
motion of Hon. Mr.. Wickliffe, of Ken
lucky, their substance being to inquire
!. Whether | had organized, or was
organizing, a regiment of fugitive slaves
in this department?
z. Whether any authority had been
given to me from the War Department
for such organization and
3. Whether / had been furnished, by
order of the War Department, with
clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments,
&C.. for such force?
Only having received the letter con.
tanning these inquiries at late hour on
Saturday night, | urge forward my an
swer in time for the steamer sailing to-
day (Monday.) This haste prevents me
from entering as minutely as | could
wish upon many points Of detail such as
the paramount importance of the subject
calls for; but, in view of the near termi-
nation of the present session Of Congress,
and the widespread interest Ebich must
have been awakened by Mr.iWickliffe's
resolution, | prefer sending this imper-
feet answer, to waiting the period neces-
sary for the collection of fuller and more
comprehensive data.
To the first question, therefore, | re-
ply that no regiment of fugitive slaves
has been or is being organized in this
department There is, however, fine
regiment Of persons whose late masters
are fugitive rebels" men who every
where fly before the appearance Of the
National flag, leaving their servants be-
hind them, to shift, as best they can, for
themselves. So far, indeed, are the
loyal persons composing this regiment
from seeking to avoid the presence of
their late owners that they are now, one
and all, working with remarkable indus
try to place themselves 10 position to
JOIN in full and effective pursuit Of their
fugacious and traitorous proprictors.
TO the second question, | have the |
honor to answer that the instructions
given to Brigadier General 4. w. Sher.
man by the Hon. Simon Cameron, late
Secretary Of War, and turned over 10 me
by succession, for my guidance, distinct
ly authorize me TO employ all loyal per-
sons Offering their services in defence Of /
the Union, and for the suppression Of
this rebellion, in any manner | might
see fit, or that the circumstances might
call for. There is no restriction as to
the character or color Of the persons to
be employed, or the nature Of the en-
whether civil or military, in
which their services shall be used. u
conclude, therefore, that ] have been
authorized to enlist fugitive slaves as
soldiers, could any such be found in this
department.
No such characters, however, have yet
appeared within view Of our most adj /
vanced pickots, the loyal slaves every
where remaining on their plantations to
welcome us, aid US, and supply us with
food, labor, and information IL is the
masters who have, in every instance,
been the fugitives, running away from
the loyal slaves as we'll as from the loyal
soldiers, and whom We have only par
tally been able to SEQ, 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 DO wholly /
without remedy, had not the crime Of
treason given them the right to pursue,
capture, and bring back those persons Of
whose protection they have thus sudden
ly been bereft.
To the third interrogatory, II is my
painful duty to reply that / have never
received any specific authority for issues
Of clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments.
and so forth, 10 the troops 10 question.
My general instructions from Mr.. Came
ron to employ them in any manner /
might find necessary, and the military
exlgencies Of the department being my
only, but in my judgment, sufficient jus
LITIGATION. Neither have bad any spe-
Gifts authority for supplying tbcse per. !