The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-08-13
Negro Labor for Military Defence.

S6Ao Aooot AoE military OeIonC0.
Our State authorities have decided to extend
the impressment Of negro laborers for military
purposes, until recently confined to the lower
Districts, throughout the entire State. This,
the Governor and Council say is done because,
from communication with the Confederate au'
thorities, it appears that continuous supply,
for period OF at least six months, of labor be,
yo"d what the army can furnish, will be requir
cd for the completion Of the harbor distractions
and defences, and the Notifications aud other
works around Charleston.
The duty of devising a scheme for raising
labor, for the above purposes, upon an equita,
BILE basis, devolved, by resolution of the Conn.
Gil. upon Col James Chesnut, Chief of the
Military Department. He was reques ted to
take into consideration the policy of takino
two per cent Of our slave population, the own
ers OF the same making the selection. to furnish
able'bodicd men for this purpose, over the apes
oi lS and under As; and that this force thus
selected, be forthwith organized and ordered
INTO service as axc'men. spadcs-men and ditch,
ers, and also to aid and assist the corps of san.
pe's and miners, and to perform any other duty
70 which the commanders of our forces NAV
assign them. The force thus raised to be en-.
Titled to draw d soldiers ration, with clothing
ana the pay OF private per month"; which will
be received by their owners or agents.
The scheme submitted by Col. Chestnut is to
divide the State, where impressment has not
YET been made, into four divisions, and to inn
press one.third Of the negroes in each division
liable to road duty: the first division to work
from 10Th August to 10th September; the 2d
division to work from 10th September to 10th
October; the third division lin which is EN-.
braced the District Of Lsncaster) from leth
October to 10th November; the 4th division
from 10th November to 10th December, II
was estimated, on the basis of one,s,xth of tho
total number Of negroes. as per repor: of Comp,
trolier General for 1860, that one'thrd of the
number in each division will give an average
ot about 5000 hands
The number liable IN Lancaster District
under this basis, is estimated at 924 slaves and
frcc negroes. IL this estimate proves correct
there will be 30S slaves impressed from this
District
Coi. Chesnuts report was adopted by the
Council with the following notifications:
lst. The period of service for the hands f,rn.
ished from each class shall be four weeks from
the day OF arrival at the point where the seryi
ces are required 4; the expiration of the time for
each class TO be brought as nearly as prac,ica.
ble TO the 10th of each month.
I'd. Where any slave owner has two hands
liable to road duty, the Superintendent shall be
mn thnr zaH nj Ina a.
the two for period OF two weeks But i'm,
pressment under this regulation shall not be re.
sorted to unless, in the opinion of the Superin.
tendent, the requisite amount of labor cannot
be otherwise obtained
Sd. If the Superintendent should deem i,
necessary to resort to this character of impr,ss,
ment, then the same principle shall be oppiied
IN all cases where the owners have frnclions
over, alter furnishing one'thrd the number of
road hands.
4th. That the rt4uisi,ion now mad. is NO,
intended to. prevent the eracton of slav. Inhor
IN those districts hitherto subject to Impress,
mcnt, IN all cases where il has not been al
ready furnished to the extent Of one thi, d the
road hands.
A printed copy Of the Report and Resolutions
OF the Council were ordered to be sent to the
Clerk OF the Court and Sheriff of each of the
Districts named, and these officers are required
TO extend these circulars to the Commissioners
OF Roads OF their respective Districts, and said
Commissioners arc required, within one week
thereafter, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
to return to the Clerk Sheriff of their rcspec.
tive Districts the number of road hands. with
their owners names and places Of residence
and said Clerks and Sherfs are charged with
reporting forthwith the returns ns,ie to Pro,
lessor Frances S. Holmes, of Columbia.
The Clerks, Sheriffs and Commissioners of
Roads are required to give to Professor Holmes,
or his agent, such Aid aud assistance in obtain.
ing the negroes as lie may require.