Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-03

communication from Major General Hunter
OF the Department Of South Carolina, In reply to
resolution introduced by Mr.. Wickliffe, Of XIV,
and adopted In the House Of Representatives on
the 9th ult., calling for information respecting
the organization by Gen. Hunter, Of the Depart
ment Of South Carolina, OF a regiment Of volun-
teers for the defence Of the Union, composed OF
black men, Fugitive slaves )'' was transmitted
to the House Of Representatives yesterday by the
Secretary Of War. The letter says:
No regiment Of tfugitive slaves" has been or
Is being organized In this department. There is,
however, fine regiment Of persons whose late
masters are fugitive rebels" 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 industry to place themselves In
position to 60 IN full and effective pursuit of
their fugacious ana tfaitorous proprietors
Gen. Hunter says that under the instructions
given for hisguidance he 10 distinctly authorized
10 employ all loyel persons Offering their rervices
In defence OF the Union and for the suppression
OF this rebellion In any manner he might see At,
or thatth circumstances might call for, and as
there IL no restriction as - the character or color
OF the persons to be employed, or the nature of
the employment, he concluded he could employ
the loyal blacks who remained upon the plant a
lions. In the absence OF any ssfugitiye master
law, +" the deserted slaves would be wholly with
out remedy, had not the crime OF treason given
them the right to pursue, capture, and bring bsck
those persons OF whose protection they have been
thus suddenly bereft.
To the third resolution of inquiry as to whether
he had been furnished, by cider Of the w ar De-
pariment, with clothing, uniforms, arms, tquip-
ments, &c, for force Of blacks, he considered
that his general Instructions and the exigencies cf
the department was sufficient justification. He
bad no specific authority for supplying these
persons with shoveis, spades, and pickaxes, when
employing them as laborers, nor with boats and
oars when using them as Iightermen; and A.
seemed 10 him that liberty to employ men In any
particular capacity, implied with 1t liberty, also
to supply them with the necessary tools; and
acting upon this faith he clothed, equip ped, and
armed the only loyal regiment yet raised in South
Carolina.
In vindicstion Of his own conduct he saws that
had II not been for the many other diversified and
imperative claims on his time and attention a
much more satisfactory result might have been
hoped forj and that Ia place Of only one as at
present, ct least Eve or six welIdrIled brave and
time, have been added to the loyal forces Of the
Union.
The experiment Of arming the blacks, he an =
nounces to be a complete and even marvellous
success They are sober, docile, attentive and
enthusiastic, displaying great natural capacities
for acquiring the duties OF the toldier. Ihey are
eager beyond all things to take the field and be
led into action; and IL 10 the unanimous opinion
Of the officers who have had charge Of them,
that In the peculiaities Of his climate and coun-
Try they prove Invaluable alphabetically ual
to the similar regiments so Icng and successfully
used by the British authorities in the West Iudia
Islands.
In conclusion, he hopes to have organized by
end OF next fall, and De able to present to the
Government, from forty eight to fly thousand OF
these hardy and devoted soldiers.