Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-03
LATEST NEWS.
Cen Hunters ..Negro BrIgade.n
BY ELEGRAPH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY


WAsH1NGToN. July 2.-The secretary of
war sent the following to the house to-day,
dated at Port Royal, June 23d:-
TO Hon. &. " Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
Sir; | have the honor to acknowledge the
recent of communication from the adjutant
general of the army, dated June 18th, 1862,
requesting me to furnish you with the infor-
nation necessary to answer certain resolu-
tions introduced in the house of representa-
tives June 9th, 1862, on motion of Hon. Mr.
Wicklitfe of Kentucky, their substance being
to inquire, first, whether l had organized or
was organizing a regiment of fugitive slaves
in this departments second, whether any au-
thority had been given to me from the war de-
partment for such organization; third, wheth-
er | 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 a late hour, Saturday night,
| urged forward my answer in time for the
steamer sailing to-day, Monday. This haste
prevented 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 terminal
ton of the present session of congress, and
the wide spread interest which must have been
awakened by Mr.. Wicklitfes resolution, l
prefer sending even this imperfect answer to
waiting the period necessary for the collec-
ton of fuller and more comprehensive data.
To the first question, therefore, | reply that
no regiment of fugitive slaves has been or is
organized in this department. There is, how
ever, fine regiment Of persons whose late
masters are fugitive rebels men who every
were 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 comprising 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 a full and
effective pursuit Of their fugacious and traitor
GUS proprietors.
To the second question, | have the honor
to answer that the instructions given to Brig.
Gen. I. W. Sherman by Hon. Simon Gamer
on, late secretary of war, and turned over to
me by succession for my guidance, do dis
tinctly authorize me to employ all loyal per-
sons offering their services in defence of the
Union, and for the suppression of this rebel
lion IN any manner l might see fit, or that
circumstances might call for. There is no
restriction as to the character or color of the
persons to be employed, or the nature of the
employment whether civil or military, in
which their services shall be used. | have
been authorized to enlist fugitive slaves as
soldiers, could any such be found in the de-
partment. No such characters, however,
have yet appeared within view of our most
advanced pickets, the loyal slaves everywhere
remaining on their plantations to welcome us,
aid us, and supply us with food, labor and in
formation. 1t is the masters who have in
every instance been the fugitives, running
away from loyal slaves as well as from loyal
soldiers, and whom we have only partially
been able to see, chiefly with their heads over
ramparts, or rifle in hand, lodging behind
trees in the extreme distance.
To the third interrogatory it is my painful
duty to reply that l never have received any
specific authority for issues of clothing, uni
forms, arms, and equipments to the troops in
question. My general instructions from Mr..
Cameron to employ them in any manner l
might find necessary, and the military ext
gencies of the department and of the country
being my only, but, in my judgment, sufficient
justification. Neither have l had any specific
authority for supplying those persons with
shoyels, spades, and pickaXes, when employ
ing them as laborers, nor with boats and oars
when using them as lighter men, but these
latter are not the points indicated in Mr..
Wicklife's resolution. To me, it seemed that
liberty to employ men in any particular capa-
city implied liberty also to supply them with
the necessary tools, and acting upon this faith,
l have clothed, equipped, and armed the only
loyal regiment yet raised in South Carolina.
l must say in vindicatiou of my own conduct
that had it not been for the many other diver
sitied and imperative claims on my time and
attention, much more satisfactory result
might have been hoped for, and that in place
of only one, as at present, at least five or six
well drilled, brave, and thoroughly acchmat-
ed regiments 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 COM
plete and even marvellous success. They
are sober, docile, attentive and enthusiastic
displaying great natural capacities for ac-
quiring abe duties of the soldier. They are
eager beyond all things to take the field, and
be led into action, and it is the unanimous
opinion of the officers who have had charge
of them, that in the popularity of this climate
and country, they will prove invaluable auxil-
laries fully equal to the similar regiments, so
long and successfully used by the British au-
thorities in the West India Islands.
In conclusion, would say it is my hope,
there appearing no possibility of other rein
forcements owing to the exigencies of the
campaign in the peninsula, to have organized
by the end of next fall and to be able to pre-
sent to the government from As, 200 to $4,000
of these hardy and devoted soldiers. Trust
ing that this letter may form part of your
answer to Mr.. Wicklitfe's resolution, L have
the honor to be most respectfully, your obed-
lent servant, (Signed) d. HUNTER.
Major General commanding.