The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18
Enlistment Of 0olored Troops.
OFFICIAL.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. Sd, 1868.


GENERAL ORDERS,
WHEREAS, the exigencies of the war require that
coored troops should be recruited in the States Of
Maryland, Missouri and Tennessee, it is
Ordered by the President,
That the Chief of the Bureau for organizing Col
ored Troops shall establish recruiting stations at
convenient places within said States, and give pub
lie notice thereof and be governed by the following
regulations;
list. None but able bodied persons shall be en-
listed.
I'd The State and County in which the enlist
ments are made shall be credited with the recruits
enlisted.
3d. All persons enlisted into the military service
shall forever thereafter be FREE.
5th FREQ persons, and slaves with the written
consent of their owners, and slaves belonging TO
those who have been engaged in, or given aid and
comfort to tho rebellion, may be now enlisted; the
owners who have not been engaged in, or gveE aid
to tho rebellion, being entitled to receive compensa
ton as hereinafter provided.
9TH. If within thirty days from the date of open
ing enlistments, notice thereof and of the recruiting
stations being published, sufficient number OF tho
description of persons aforesaid 20 meet the cXigen
cies of tho service should not be enlisted, then en-
listments may be made of slaves without requiring
consent of their owners, but they may receive com
pensaton horoin provided for owners Offering
their slaves for enlistment.
9Th ANY citizen of said Suites who shall offer
his or her slave for enlistment into the military SER
vice, shall, if such slave be accepted, receive from
the recruiting officer certificate thereof. and be-
come entitled to compensation for the service or labor
of said slave, not exceeding the of three hundred
| dollars, upon filing n valid deed of manumission
and Of release, and making salts factory proof OF III
to- And the recruiting officer shall furnish to any
claimant descriptive list of any person enlisted
| and claimed under oath to be his or her slave and
allow any claiming under oath that his or her
slave has been enlisted without his her consent
the privilege of inspecting the enlisted men for the
purpose of identification.
9TH. A board of three persons shall be appointed
by the President TO whom the rolls and recruiting
lists shall be furnished for public information and
on demand exhibited to any person claiming that
his her slave has been enlisted against his or her
will.
Sth. II any person shall, within ten days after
the filing of said rolls make claim for the service
of any person so enlisted, the board shall proceed
to examine the proof of title, and If valid shall
award Just compensation, not exceeding three nun
bred dollars for each slave enlisted belonging to the
claimant and upon the claimant filing Il valid deed
of manumssion and release of service, the board
shall give the claimant certain certificate of tho
sum awarded which, on presentation, shall be paid
by the Chief Of the Bureau.
9th All enistments Of coorcd troops in tho
State of Maryland otherwise than in accordance
with these regulations are forbidden.
10th. No person who is or has been engaged in
the rebellion against the Government of the United
States, or who in any way has given or shall give
aid or comfort CO the enemies of the Government
shall be permitted to present any claim or receive
compensation for the labor service of any slave
and all claimants shall file with their claims an oath
of allegiance to the Government Of the United
States.
BY order of the President.
(SiEned) Il. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
WAR DEFARTNeST,
! WASHINGTON CITY,
| 0cr 26th, 1868.
That the provisions of General Orders,
No. 1920, in relation to the enlistment of colorcd
troops be and they hereby extended to the State
of Delaware, to the order Of this Department.
(Signed,) L. ID. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
Executive DEPARTMENT,
| DOVER, Dec. 4, 1868.
In conformity with the above order, and to carry
the into effect, recruiting stations are hereby
established at the following places, to wit;
At Wilmington, in New Castle County.
At Smyrna, in Kent County.
At Milford, in Kent County.
At Georgetown, in Sussex County.
Enlistments viii hereafter be opened and recruit
ing officers designated to conduct the same.
n By order of his Excellency
WILLIAM CANNON,
Governor of Delaware.
SANUUL NJ. HARRISGToN, JR.,
Secretary of State.
Dec. IL, ls63.-lS.