The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-24

1862.
ded by armed detachments Of slave-hut,t-
ers, without the support Of any process
Of law, who there attempt to shoot, ruin,
and kill with impunity those whom they
claim to ba slaves, while our soldiers are
required to stand indifferently by and Wit
ness the inhnman work. There seems to
be purpose in some quarters to do by in
direction what cannot be done directly.
The object being to strye shareholders.
whether loyal or rebel, {and they are gen
orally rebels, there seems to be dispo-
sition on the part Of SOME officers to travel
around . law which they dare not break
through, Unable any longer to compel
the soldiers to engage in the search, cap
ture, and rendition Of slaves, they now
authorize slave-hunters, armed with pis-
tolls and military orders. to traverse their
camps in search of their prey, and, by
threat Of military punishment, attempt to
compel the soldiers to remain quiescent
witnesses of the atrocities that may be
committed There is no controversy
about the fact. the evidence is oycrwhelm-
ing and is to be found on every hand. -
Only last week, General Joseph Hooker, a
native of Massachusetts,, in command Of
division of our army, issued an order,
Of which the following is copy.
HEAparAHrHRs HookER,s D1v,sion O. np BAKxx,Y
LSwER PoTonAc March 20. 1862.
IT., = -, tx,7
ers Of this DirisioR
Messrs. Nally, Gray, Dummington,
Dent, Adams, Speake, Price, Posey, and
Cobey, citizens Of Maryland, have negroes
supposed 70 be with some Of the regiments
Of this division; the Brigadier General
commanding directs that they be permit
ted to visit oil the camps of his command,
in search Of their property, and if found.
that they be allowed to take possession Of
the sane, without my interference what
ever. Should any obstacle be thrown in
their way by any officer or soldier in the
division, they witt be At once reported by
the regimental COMMANDERS TO these
headquarters.
JOSEPH Dickinson,
Asst. Adjutant Gen.
1t will be observed that this order au
thorizes nine persons, citizens of Mary
land, to visit the camps of Hooker's di-
vision, without any Judicial or other pro-
cess other than this military order, and
there search for slaves .swithout any in
reference whatever" and "should any
obstacle be thrown in their way, by any
officer or soldier in the DIVISION" they
are threatened with an instant report to
headquarters and consequent court-mar-
tial and punishment The appearance
and conduct of THE band Of marauders
produced precisely the result that might
have been anticipated. In describing it,
use the language of the officer in COM
mand of one of the regimental camps
which they visited and attempted to
search
HEADQUARTERS SEeosp RksrMKsT,l
ExcxlsiOA bRiaADs, CAnp HALL, March ~.
LIEurExAsT: In compliance with ver-
bal directions from Brigadier General d.
E. Sickles, to report as to the occurrence
at this camp on the afternoon Of the Goth
instant, l beg leave to submit the follow
ing
At about $50 o'clock p. m, March 26,
1862, admission within our lines was de-
manded by party Of horsemen (civilians), },
numbering, perhaps fifteen. They pre-
sented the lieutenant commanding the
guard with an order of entrance from
Brigadier General Joseph Hooker, COM.
manding division {copy appendedD, the
order stating that nine men should be adj
mitted. ordered that the balance of the
party should remain without the lines,
which was done. Upon the appearance
of the others, there was visible dissatisfac-
tion and considerable murmuring among
the soldiers, to 80 great an extent that |
almost feared eoT TIC safely OF lhe slave
owners. At this time General Sickles
arrived. and instructed me to
order them outside the camp, which / did,
amid the loud cheers of our soldiers. 1t
is proper 10 add, that before entering our
liner, and within about seventy-fve or
hundred yards Of our camp, one Of their
number discharged two pistol shots at a
negro, who was running past them, with
an evident intention of taking his LIFE
This Justly enrngcd our men.
AL Of which is respectfully submitted.
Your obedient servant.
ta4aa JOHN TOLEN,
!. Maj. Com'd'g, Second Reg't., E. B.
j. L. PALMER, JR,
A d. G. and A. A. A. G.
Mr.. President: Are such scence MS
we're witnessed in this camp calculated to
promote discipline and to inspire respect
for the officers 10 command, or affection
for the Government that tolerates them /?
Doubtless, such officers will find methods
to crafty their tastes in this direction,
but trust that they will not long be per-
mitted to torment better men than them