The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-01

Of slaves, they, now authorize, slave hunters
armed with pistols and military orders, i
traverse their camps IN search Of their prey
and, by threat Of military punishment, at
tempt to compel the soldiers, to remain qpi
escent witnesses Of the atrocities that ma,
be ,committed. There is no c9ntrovers,
about the fact, the evidence is overwhelmin,
and is to be found on every hand. Onl,
last week, Genera; Joseph Hooker, natiy
Of Massachusetts, in; command Of a divisio.
ofopr Army, issued an order, Of which tn
the following, is . copy :..e
!, HEApauARTERs, ,HooKER,s DIVISION. :.
CAMP BAKER. LOWER PoroMAc.,
To brigade and .Regimental Commander,
ofthis Dipis;on: - - aa'''s.e'ls = z
'Messfs. Naliy, Gray, Dummif,ston, Dent
adams, Speake. Price. Posey and Cohev
citizens Of Mary land. have negroes supposed
to be with, some. of the regiments of this ,di
vision the hrigadier general commanding
directs that they be permitted to visit all tht
camps Of his command, IN search of theii
property, andrif found THAT they be allowed
to take possession the same. without ans
interference whatever. Should any obstacle
be thrownin their way by any officer or sold
ier in the division. they will be At once RI.
ported by the regimental commanders to
THESE headquarters. sgp3p-sY n. g{fagsg ~
BY command Of Brigadier General Hnoke.
Il, - NJ, ) JOSEPH DICKINSON, =
~ /. Assistaat Adjutant General,
1t will be observed that thisorder a,,thori.
zes nine persons, citizens of Maryland, To
visit camps of Hooker's division, without
any judicial or other process than this hi.
tary order, and there search gsfor slaves
without any interfersnce whatever, sand,
should any obstacle he thrown in their w,y.,
by any officer or soldier in the divisio1,' -
they are threatened with an instantreport 10
Headquarters and q consequent court-mar-
tial and, punishment The appearance and
conduct Of this band of maranders produced
precisely the result that might have been
anticipated.IsIn describingit. Il use the LAM
guage ofthe!oaicer in command Of one Of
the resimental camps which they visited and
attempted to searche:i b safezssa Il .gsastesy
HEADQUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT, 4
Eschelsior Brigade, Camp Hall March 27.}
LIEUTENANT In compliance with verbal
directions from Brigadier General ID. E. Sick
les, to report as to the occurrence at this
camp on the aeernoon Of the 26th instant. +
beg leave to submit the following
sAtabout $3.50 o'clock, p. M, March 26,
1862. admission within our lines was de-
manded by party Of horsemen, (civians, }
ed the lieutenant commanding the guard
with an order Of entrance from Brigadier
General joseph Hooker, commanding ,divis-,
ion, (copy appended,) the order stating that
nine men should be admitted. I ordered
that the balance ofthe party should remain
without the lines which was done Upon
the appearance ofthe others, there was visi-
bic dissaii Sfaction and considerable muir
muring among the soldiers, to so great an
extent that almost feared for the safety Of
the slaveowners. At this time General Sick
les opportuney arrived, and instructed me
to order them outside the camp,y which
did, amidst the loud cheers Of our soldiers.
It is proper to add. that before entering our
lines, and within about seventy five or one
hundred yards of our camp, one,lof their
number discharged Two pistol shots at a me-
gro, who was running past them, witt an
evident intention Of taking his lfe TiiS
Justly enraged our men, All OF which is
submitted. " a,fa1 rs-Ef,tf =
Yonr, obedicnt servant, JOHN TOLEN.
lNaior Commanding, Second Regiment, 3. B
Lieutenant J, I, PALMER. Jr.,
A. p. G. and A. A, a. g.
Mr.. President. are such scenes as were
witnessed in this camp calculatedto promote
discipline and to inspire respect for the Off,
GERS in command, or affection for tn, Gov
ernment that tolerates them ? Doubtless,
such officers viii find methods to crafty
their tastes in this. direction, but trust that
they will not long be permitted to torment
better men than themselves, who happen. to
be their interiors in rank. Is it unreasona-
bic to ask the Government to see to it. that
the spirit of the law Of Congress shall not be
evaded by indirection and that examples of
passion and violence and murder shall not
be exhibited in our camps with the conni-
vance or under the authority of our military
officers 2 1880 ~.
The Senator from Ohio made to us, few.
days ago. "A most extraordinary statement Of
the condition Of affairs at the capital of his
own State. In one ofthe military ,csmpssin
the city OF: CoiumAus.4 are several hundred
rebel prisoners ofwar. Some Of them are at
tended by colored servants, claimed as slaves,
These servants have been transported at
expense. fed, clothed and deco,
rated by the Government and while the
rebel officers are allowed the freedom of the
city upon parole. the servants are strictly
guarded and confinedin camp by our own
soldiers. The free State Of Ohio IS virtdaffyy
by the order or by the. assent Of
i military. commander, and against the wish
IS Of the. people, into a slave State and that
order IS enforced by men in our employment
md under our pay. ! And this stateof things
does not exist in Columbus nlone. Much
Indignation was felt and expressed in the
State Of Illinois, where the same practice
vas ailswedsto prevail among the prisoners
captured at Fort Donelson. The greater
part, II not ell, of these prisoners, who had
slaves attending them at the Camp near
Chicago, were transferred soon after arri.
wing there, the Government paying the cost
Of transporting both whites and backs
Whether this transfer was prompted by a
knowledge Of the popular indignation that