The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-01
The loyal Army Rmd Slaves.

April "a 1862
To c. G. ShoIes, Esq, Of Wisconsin
DEAR SGR:-I have a subject on which TO
write that will interest you:
The glorious deeds lately done on the field
OF battle by some of the Wisconsin regiments
which had Just been mustered into the service
have extorted praise from US of the First"
and yet We must say that with our expressions
of joy, are mingled deep murmurings regarding
ourselves.
When we first joined Gen; McCook's Divis-
ion our Colonel was welcomed with his ''bully
regiment as it was termed. "That First Wis.
consin l can depend upon" said he whc had
no superior over him. Staff officers Of a regi-
ment that has lately Joined us from the noble
state Of Indiana have twice repeated in our
hearing, that the First Wisconsin, was the best
drilled Regt. that had passed through the city
Of Indianapolis Col. Which of the 32d Indi-
ana, who has twice led bis regt, into battle,a
conducted it off the field with glory, never rides
by pricate soldier of our Regt. without taking
him by the hand and saying ia his broken &C.
cent, II like you,-brave Colonel, brave Regt"
Any one Of the Regt. is readily recognized by
! the State button The 10Th Penn. in our brig
ade is a noble regiment; we think It's officers
! and privates superior to our own, and were sur
| prisea to learn from the Chaplain, that this is
just the opinion they entertain of u.s. But no
more of this. We have heard the cannon roa r
| in every direction from us,-battles fought and
won within day or two's march of u.s. Divis
ions that camped in our rear all winter pernit
their noble deeds nominated for the Tire.
Stars -" Sic aur ad GstYG" And we Where
are we ? And what are we doing Oh they
tickle cur vanity by telling US we are in the re-
SERGE. Division correspondents write to tbs
New York papers that Gen. Negley' Command
constitutes the Reserue Well, this reserve ha:
a large number of Contrabands seeking refuge
within its lines. Now comes the question, wi beth
er it requires such regiments as ours to eoncjLi
ate rebetS, and TO get sheir scoFn, and the scorn
of loyaL men,by returning their runaway slaves:
The negro drivers laugh in their sleeves to find
that the Loyal Union army Is used in this way!
| Why should they not : The chief business o
our officers at this post is to issue passes to
slave hunters, ia obedience to higher authori-
ty. The new Article of War forbidding off
GERS TO aid in returning fugitves, is carried ou
thus far, that we need not show the claimants
where they are, nor take hold of them and helE
to get them away. But, on the other hand
passes are given TO search our camps, and i
tha uarroes he Fn,7ud in than, q word Of svy,p
thy must not be expressed by us, nor finger
lifted to save! I will be candid and say that
without our direct aid it is difficult matter to
catch man fleeing for his life But this is be-
cause the men want freedom, and will run in
hopes Of securing IT.
Now, Sir, we the officers and privates of thi;
regiment, DO not like this work We came
here to fight the enemies Of our common coun
try, aud we want to do it Field officers have
ridden twenty-tour miles in a drenching raiI
and in the night too, to protest against thei
regt being used in this way The negro catch
ers say that General Stark weather's brigade dc
not cheer5uiLy obey orders. This unwillingness
on our part to do the dirtieSt of all work, is re-
garded by the negro claimants as 'bad usage
and in consequence reprmands have come dou7,
to US Let me say to YOU that whole acting
Brigader Generals Staff would have resignet
or called for Court Martial had not the order:
to them been qualified. And let me furthe
say that important designations will take place
as it is, unless we are soon led against the en-
emies Of our country in the field.
Respectfully Yours,
4 J Nc NAMARA,
C{hpn Lot Part Vic Vol