, 1862-01-04

Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune ]
PAnucAH, Ky, Dec. 81. 1851.
wish to submit to you the following facts !;
Three Lleutenants of the 4lst regiment Illinois
Volunteers, Col. J. G. Pugh commanding, at
different times gave up fugitive slaves who
had placed themselves under their care as the
pickcts, and the custody OF their owners, and
consented to receive as pay or hire therefor,
6ums varying from one hundred and thirty to
twenty dollars each. In one case, the negroes
two Of them) were dccoyed from the camp
lines under pret ense Of being put over On tho
Illinois side, and there delivered to their ms
ter As was afterward learned, the owner
took them Immediately and sold them to
the far South.
It would seem incredible that officers in the
U. ). army would thus prostitute themselves
to the level OF Stare traders but it is sadly true,
l fear this evil is not confined to our regiment,
ments and at other posts.
You may ask what have we done in the cases
That you may know all the circumstances, I
will tell you The facts were fully known to
the Colonel, but he did nothing, though called
on by several officers and urged for his own
honor and tae honor of his regiment, for the
reputation OF the army and the country, to
take active measures to have the offenders dis
missed the service. We would speak indig-
nantly of tho outrage and that was all. 4
paper was then addressed 10 Gen Smith ex-
pressing, on the part Of members Of the regi-
n1ent, unHliungness to serve in the same
regiment with s'oss trading officers, and desiring
him to take some steps toward freeing us
from their presence. Nearly every officer in
the regiment would have signed it. The
Colonel refused; and tie Lieut.. Colonel also,
on the ground that it wasn't military. That
q ~ =. fS~..
Paine was next consulted, hosuggestedau auoth-
sr similar, only the paper to bcadd1esscd to the
Secretary Of War. With thia, however, the
Colonel Konld haye nothing to do wished the
Pro}set q: success; 6, but wouldn't co-operate:
would ike to know them" aWelI. ono Of
those Ieutenants ls near neighbor Of mine;
lives not 150 yards from my door, in Decatur,
and # should sign It I should get into per
sona1 difficulty, which wish to avoid" IL!
lGnat aeavsns' 6ssi =, tT What reasoaD "Is your
sir"--
Ger. Smith tinally, in response to further
appeal, requested that specific charges be made
out against the officers; and al the same
time demanding Of Col. Pugh how such 2
without Rone instiga4ion and action on his
part. The charges, mmes, Witnesses and all,
were promptly submitted Back came tho
papers, charges and Ill, with the order that
Col Pugh &fonsd instigate and give his report.
General Smith Was bound that he
:heata a1,,s at some way: Colonel Pagh has
Gen Smith, in the mean time, was very in
dignant at the conduct Of tho Iieutenants, and
determined that they should be brought to
justice. He didn't come here to catch mig
gers. be said, and didn't mean his ofaceFs
Should engage in such t'dirty work v as that
The nance of the officers referred tn are. !.
| Lieuts. Tuzney, Cox and Woodward Let me
| add that Col Pugh deserves reproof more for
! want Of actitss than want Of proper indigna-
| ton. He is good Republican.