The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-07-18


Wan DEPARTMENT, }
WASHINGTON CRY, d O.
July Cd, 1862 }
| SIR: On reference to the auswe
OF this Department, on the l4tb ult
to ths resolution OF the House q
Representatives Of the 9th of las
month, calling for Information re
epecting the organization by Genera
f1unter, OF the Department OF Soutl
Carolina, Of q regiment Of volunteer
for the defense Of the Union. com
posed Of black meu-fugitive slavee
1t will be seen that the resolution
had been referred to that officer
with instructions to make immedi
ate report thereon. | have now tn,
honor to transmit herewith the cop,
of q communication just received
rom Gen. Hunter, furnishing in.
formation as to his action touching
the various matters indicated in tt,
resolution.
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient eervant.
EDWIN M, STANTON. Sec. OF War
Hon. G. A. Grow, Speaker II. Of Il
HsaDauARrsRs, DEP'r OF THE sourH, }
PoRT ROYAL, S. G. June %. 1861. !
Ion. r. III. Stanton, Sec. of Var
Washington, ID. 9.
SIR: ] have the honor TO &C
knowledge the receipt Of a commu-
nication from tho Adiutant General
OF the army, dated June 10. 1862,
requesting me to furnish you with
the Information necessary to answer
certain resolutions introduced into
the House OF Representatives June
8. 1862 on motion Of Honorable Mr..
Wickiitfe OF Kentucky, their sub.
stance being to inquire
"1. Whether | had organized,
or was organizing a regiment OF fu-
gitive slaves in this Department.
2. Whether any authority had
been given TO me from the War De.
partment for such organ zstiop; and
3. Whether any authority had
been furnished by order of the War
Department with clothing, uniforms
arms, equipments, &C., for such a
force"
Only having received the letter
covering these inquiries at a late
hour Saturday night, | urge forward
my answer in time for the steamer
...ilina 10 dny tMonday.) this haste
preventing IN. from entering as mi L.
uutely as could wish upon many
points Of detail, such IA the para
mount importance Of the subject
calls for. But in view OF the near
termination Of the present session OF
Congress, and the widespread in q.
terest which must have been awaken.
ed by Mr.. Wickliffe's resolution, |
prefer sending even this imperfect
answer, to waiting the period neces,
sary for the collection OF fuller and
more comprehensive data.
To the first question, thu rcfore, !
reply that no regiment of fugitive
slaves has been. or is being organ
ICED in this Department. There is.
however, fine regiment of persons
whose late masters are Fugitive
rebels" men who everywhere fly be.
fore 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 regi.
ment from seeking to avoid the pres
ence OF their late owners. that they
arc now, one and all, working with
remarkable industry to place them
selves in position to join in full and
effective pursuit of their Jiigacious
and traitorous proprietors.
To the second question have the
honorto answer that the instructions
given to Brigadier General 7. W.
Sherman by Hon. Simon Cameron,
late Secretary OF War, and turned
over to me by succession Tor my
guidance, do distinctly authorize me
to employ all loyal persons offering
their service in defense oftho Union
and for the suppression Of this rebel
lion in any manner | might see fit
or that the circumstances nigh,
coll Tor. There is no restriction at
to the character or color OF the per
sons to 30 employed, or the nature
OF the employment, whether civil OF
military, in which their services
shall be used. conclude, therefore
that have been authorized to enlis
fugitive slaves as soldiers, coulC
any such be found In the Depart
ment, No such characters, how
ever, have yet appeared within view
of our most advanced pickets, tn,
loyal slaves everywhere remainin,
on their plantations to welcome us
and supply us with food, labor ant
information. 1t 10 the masters VIII
have, in every instance, been the fu
gitives, running away from loys
slaves as we'll as loyal soldiers, an
whom we have only partially bee
able to see, chiefly with their head
over ramparts, or, rifle in hand
lodging behind trees in the extrem
distance.
In the absence Of any fugitiv
master law, the deserted slave woul