The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-11-28
NOVEMBER %, 1862,
The Ioffersopiap DeMcefat
JULIUS o, CONVERSE, Editor,
CniRDOy, OnlO, FRIDAY. NOV. 2S, 1862.
Col. Utlty Refuses to Turn Slave.
Catcher,

we nnu IN inc Racine .1drOcdte OF the
5th inst, q letter from Georgetown. Kv.,
describing the manner in which Col. VIM.
l.. Utoy, Of tho 22d Wisconsin Regiment.
deals with tho contraband question. We
arc proud of tho fact, which We hereby state,
that Col. Utley, like Col. Paine, of tho Ith
Wisconsin, who was put under arrest fow
months since, for refusing to turn slave.
catcher, is a natgo Of O.d Gcauga. lIo
has, for several years, however, been citi.
zen of Wisconsin, in which State he has
held many positions of honor and trust
The letter says:
When about to leave Camp Wells, an or.
der was received from Gen. Gilmore to Leave
behind all contrabands who might be within
our mes. The Col. did not icol himself
called upon to guard tho negro property OF
Shareholders, nor did ho lead a regiment OF
soldiers from Wisconsin to DO employed in
sending back fugitivos from bondage The
consequence was that several fresh yoluu.
teors entered the ranks just as VIC woro
leaving the premises of noted "sccosb." on
whose ground wS had been oucampod.
After pitching our fonts ut Camp Jones.
JONES Oct. Is, 1862
COLONEL You will at once send to nv
quarters, the four contrabands. John"
Abe, George, and Dick" known 20 be-.
long to good loyal citzcns. They arc in
your regiment, or were this morning.
Your obodient servant,
q A. GILMORE, Brig Gen.
To Col w. l.. UTLEY, Commanding 22I
WIS. Volunteers.
To this order tho Col returned the fol-
lowing answer:
HEADQUARTERS 22d RECT WIS Vol, }
October Is, 1862.
Gen. Q. n Gilmore;
DEAR SIR-l have just received your or
der to deliver up certain cOntrabands, said
TO DO in my regiment. Permit mo to cav
that recognize your authority to command
me III all mattors pertaining to tho military
and to tho movements of tho army; but do
not consider this rs belonging to that de-
partment. rocogUize no authority on the
SUBJECT ot delivering up GOntrabunGs, sayU
that OF the President of tho United States
You are no doubt. cOnversaut with tho
proclamation of tho President, of Sent. 22J
1852, and with tho lay of Congress upon
that subject. In conclusion, | will say Tint
l had nothing to do with thoir coming into
camp, and shall have nothing to do with
sending them out.
Very respectfully, your obedt serv't.
WIN. l.. UTLEY.
The Colonel was Immediately called upon
to report himself at headquarters. This
order he complied with Tho interview wns
short and somewhat spicy. Said tho Gen
erAl, 81 sent you an order this ovcninp. "
Tho Col. replied, Yes sir, and refused To
obey it," The General thought he mus, be
oboycd, and said he should dispose of tho
matter at onco." Tho Colonel thought il,
would not bo settled in remarkably sum
mary manner. The General finally said
that no should repeat the order in the
morning. To this tho Colonel roplicd
"Gonoral, to savo you tho trouble and folly
o! such course, lot NO say shall refuse
to comply, in tho same positive manner"
Tho morning camo, but the ordcr was
not rocoivod. Instead of an arrest, tho Col.
onol was put in command of tho brigade.
with orders to protect tho supply train to
march to Georgetown.
Since pitching our fonts whore thoy now
are, tho Colonel called on the General, and
was informed that tho act of Congress and
the Proclamation CT tho President had boon
moro carefully examined since the affair at
Camp Jonos, and that different policy
would DO instituted No moro nipgorb
wonId bo returned but that th0so coming
into our lines would DO organized into a
brigade by themselves for appropriate ser
vices.
Regiments from Ohio and Michigan, firm.
~ sustained Col urIoy in tho position whioA
no took. Tho affair has created cousdora
hIe oxcItomonI, occasioncd considerable dis
cnSslon, aud promises more profit to tho
country than many bloody victories A
triumph of principle is triumph indeed,