The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-11
The Negro Regiment OF South Caroline
Explanation Of Gen. Hunter.

We published brief telegraphic alb
stract of General Hunters reply to the res.
olution adopted by the House Of Represen.
tatives. The following is the document in
full, as transmitted to the House by the
Secretary of War, the reading of which, it
is stated, created much merriment:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
PORT ROYAL, s. c., June %.
Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War,
Washington. D. c.:
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of q communication from the
Adjutant General of the Army, dated June
ID, 1862, requesting me to furnish you with
the information necessary to answer certain
resolutions introduced in the House of Rep
resentatives on June 9, 1862, on motion of
Hon. Mr.. Wicklife, of Kentucky, their
substance being to inquire
l. Whether l had organized, or was or.
ganizing, regiment of fugitive slaves in
this department?
2. Whether any authority had been given
to me from the War Department for such
organization and
3. Whether I had been furnished, by or.
der of the War Department, with clothing,
uniforms, arms, equipments, &C., for such a
force.
Only having received the letter containing
these inquiries at late hour on Saturday
night, urge forward my answer in time
for the steamer sailing to-day monday.
This haste prevents me from entering as
infinitely as could wish upon many points
of detail, 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 widespread interest which
must have been awakened by Mr.. Wick.
liffe's resolution, I prefer sending even this
imperfect answer to waiting the period ne.
cessary for the collection of fuller and more
comprehensive data.
To the first question, therefore, I 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
appearance of the national flag, leaving their
servants behind them 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 10 full and
effective pursuit of their fugacious and
traitorous proprietors.
To the second question I have the honor
70 hot sno<r 70
Brigadier General T. w. Sherman, by the
Hon. Simon Cameron, late Secretary Of
War, and turned over to me by succession.
for my guidance, do distinctly authorize me
to employ all loyal persons Offering their
services 10 defence of the Union, and for
the suppression of this rebellion, in any
manner might see fit, or that the circum.
nces might call for. There is no restric-
on as to the character or color of the per.
sons to be employed, or the nature of the
employment, whether civil or military, in
which their services shall be used. con-
clude, therefore, that have heen authorized
to enlist fugitive slaves as soldiers, could
any such be found in this department.
No such characters, however. have yet
appeared within the view Of our most
advanced pickets, the loyal slaves every
where remaining on their plantations to
welcome US, aid Us, and supply Us with food
labor and information. 1t is the masters
who have, in every instance, been the fugi.
tives, running away from the loyal slaves as
well as the loyal soldiers, and whom we
have only partially been able to see, chiefly
their heads over ramparts, or rifle in hand,
lodging behind trees in the extreme dis.
lance. In the absence of any fugitive
(master) law, the deserted slaves would be
wholly without remedy, had not the crime
of treason given them the right to pursue,
capture and bring back, those persons of
whose protection they have thus been sud
denly bereft.
To the third interregatory, it is my pain
full duty to reply that I have never received
any specific authority for issues of clothing,
uniforms, arms, equipments, and 80 forth, to
the troops in question my general instruc-
tions from Mr.. Cameron to employ them in
any manner might find necessary, and the
military exigcncies of the department, being
my only, but in my judgment sufficient JUS
LITIGATION. Neither have had any specific
oueuoIAty III supplying SuSo0 PeASono "1'n
shovels, spades. and pickaxes, upon employ
ing them as laborers- with boats and oars,
when using them as lighter men but these
are not points included in Mr.. Wicklifte's
resolution.
To me it seemed that the liberty to en-
ploy men in any particular capacity implied
with it liberty, ALEC, to supply them with
the necessary tools, and acting upon this
faith, I have clothed, equipped and armed
the only loyal regiment yet raised in South
Carolina. must say, in vindication of my
own conduct that, had it not been for the
many other diversified and imperative claims
on my time and attention, much more sat-
isfactory result might have been hoped for,
and that in place of only one, as at present,
at least FIVE or six we'll drilled, brave
and thoroughly acclimated regiments
should by this time, have been added
to the loyal forces of the Union. The
experiment of armipg blacks, SO far as l
have made it, has been a complete and even
marvellous success. They are sober, docile,
attentive and enthusiastic, displaying great
natural capacities for acquiring the duties