Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-09

tion of the Hon. Mr.. Wicklitfe, of Ken
lucky, their substance being to inquire
lst, whether had organized or was organ
izing regiment of fugitive slaves in this
department; I'd, whether any authority had
been given to me from the War Department
for such organization, and, Sd, whether !
had been furnished by order of the War
Department with clothing, uniforms, arms,
equipments, &C., for such force. Only
having received the letter covering these
inquiries, at late hour Saturday night, l
urge forward my answer in time for the
steamer sailing to-day Monday, this haste
preventing me from entering as minutely
as ! could wish upon many points of de-
tail, such as the paramount importance of
the subject calls for. But, in view of the
near termination of the present session of
Congress, and the wide spread interest
which must have been awakened by Mr.
| Wickliife's resolution, l prefer sending
even this imperfect answer to waiting the
period necessary for the collection of fuller
aud more comprehensive data.
To the first question, therefore, l reply
that no regiment of fugitive slaves has
been or is being organized in this depart
ment. There is, however, a fine regiment
of persons whose late masters are fugitive
rebels, men who everywhere fly before the
RH
their servants behind to shift as best they
can for themselves. 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 join in full aud
effective pursuit of their ungracious aud
traitorous propretOrs.
To the second question, / have the honor
to answer that the instruction given to
Brig, Gen. T.IW. Sherman By Hon. Simeon
Cameron, late Secretary of War, aud turn
ed over to me. by succession for my guild
ance, do distinctly authorize me to employ
all loyal persons Offering their services in
defense of the Union and for the suppress
sion of this rebellion in any manner /
might see fit, or that the circumstances
might call for. There is no instruction as
to the character or color of the persons to
be employed or the nature of the employ.
ment, whether civil or military, iu which
their services shall be used. conclude,
therefore, that l have been authorized to
enlist fugitive slaves as soldiers, could any
such be ionnd in the department. No such
characters, however, have yet appeared
within view of our most advanced pickets.
The loyal slaves everywhere remained on
their plantations to welcome us, aid us,
huh US VIII lOOus lHUOT uuu luiOT~
nation. 1t is the masters who have in
every instance been the fngitives, running
away from loyal slaves as we'll as loyal sol
diers, and whom we have been only parti-
ally able to see, chiefly with their heads
over ramparts or rifle in hand lodging be-
hind trees in the extreme distance.
To the third interrogatory, it is my pain
full duty to reply that never have received
any specific authority for issues of cloth
ing, uniforms, arms, equipments, &C., to
the troops in question my general instruc-
tiOns from Mr. Cameron TO employ them in
any manner | might find necessary, and
the military exigencies of the department,
and country, being my only, but, in ;ny
: Judgment, sufficient justification. Neither
have had any specific authority for sup
plying those persons with shovels, spades,
aud pick-axes, when employed as laborers;
nor with boats and oars when using them
us lighter men; but these are not points
indicated in Mr.. Wickliffe's resolution.
To me ii seemed that liberty to employ
men implied also liberty to supply them
with the necessary tools, and acting upon
this faith, have clothed, equipped aud
armed the only loyal regiment government
has raised in South Carolina must say
IN vindicatiou of my own conduct, that if
} it had not been for the many other diver
Slneu anu imperative claims on my time
and attention, much more satisfactory re-
suit might have been hoped for, and that
| in place of only one, as at present, at least
: five or six well-drilled, brave, aud thor
oughly acelimated should, by this time,
have been added to the loyal forces of the
/ Union.
. The experiment of arming the blacks, so
far as have made it, has been u complete
aud marvellous success. They are sober,
docile, attentive and enthusiastic, display
ing great natural capacity for acquiring the
, duties of the soldier. They are eager, be-
, yond all things, to take the field and be led
into action, aud il is the unanimous opin-
ion Of the officers who have bad charge OF
them that in the peculiarities of the cli-
mate and country they will prove invalua-
BILE auxtliaries, fully equal to the similar
rights so long and successfully used in the
West India Islands.
In conclusion. must say that it is my
hope, there appearing no possibility OF 9th
! er reintorcements, owing to the exigeuey
of the campaign in the Peninsula, TO have
organized by the end of next fall, aud to be
able to present the Government with f=om
$4,000 to $4,000 of these hardy and devct-
ed soldiers.
Trusting this letter may form part ol
: your answer tO-Mr. Week.-Mrs. resolution, ]
have the honor to be most respectfully,
your obedient servant,
DAVID HUNTER,
Msj-Gen. Commanding.
Another Speech by Mr.. Train.