Daily national Republican., 1863-03-26
Order OF General Hunter In Relation IN
Drafting Negroes.
HEADo'Rs DEPT OF THE sorru

HEADQ'Rs Dept OF THE SoUTH,
Hilton Head, Port Royal, S. c., March q.
General OrGerS No. II: IN view of the neccs-
sties Of the military situation, the impossibIlty
Of obtaining from Government all the troops
required for service in this department, and the
paramount importance Tin view of existing
complication of foreign policy of at once
placing strong garrisons Of thoroughly accli-
mated troops In the Southern forts and posts of
this department. In order that the troops now
there may be used in the more active field ope-
rations for which they are better suited-such
forts and posts being peculiarly liable to the
Tavages Of climatic and epidemic dlseases-all
the able-bodied male negroes between the ages
OF eighteen and fifty, within the military lines
OF the Department Of the South, who are not.
on the day Of the date of this order. regularly
and permanently employed in the quartermAs-
ter and commissary departments, or as the pri.
vate servants Of otiicerr, within the allowance
made by the Army Regulations, are hereby
drafted into the military service Of the United
States, to serve as non-commissioned officers
and soldiers In the various regiments and brig
ades now organized and In process of being
organized by Brig. Gen. Rufus Saxton, specially
authorized to raise said troops bp order of the
War Department.
Until other arrangements can be made, the
families OF all negroes thus drafted wifi be
provided for by orders which General Saxton
has authority to issue but 1t is hoped and
confidently believed that In the present scarcity
OF labor in the department, few such families
will be thrown upon the Government for SUD-
port.
In the organization Of this garrison force,
the Major General commanding would appeai
earnestly TO the patriotism and common sense
OF the men Of this command, while acting, that
every facility be afforded to the raising OF these
subordinate troops, who will DO Of service to
the country, not merely by such soldlerly pro-
tciency as they may themselves attain under
tho tUtllage Of white officers, In the various de-
tails OF garrison duty, but who will also, man
for man, and regiment for regiment, have the
practical effect Of doubling the white forces al
the command OF Government for the more ac-
tive operations In the field, by releasing an
equal number Of white men and regiments from
the weary and often pestilential, though Indis-
POnsable duty Of manning the works along the
southern seacoast.
Suddenly released from the cruel restraints
of chattel slavery, and still pursued into free
dom by the curse Of that ignorance which
slavery fostered as its surest weapon and most
effective shield, the major general commanding
believes that the discipline Of military life win
be the very safest and quickest school in which
these enfranChsed bondsmen can be elevated
TO the level Of our higher intelligence and cul-
tivatloni aud that their enrolment in regular
military organizations, and the giving them in
this manner a legitimate vent 10 their natural
desire to provo themselves worthy Of freedom,
cannot fail to have the further good effect Of
rendering less likely mere servlle insurrection,
unrestrained by tho comities and usages Of
civilized warfare.
To all officers In the department who have
thoroughly at heart the desire Of suppressing
as rapidly as possible the cruel evils of civil
war, the organization Of this garrison force of
fers an opportunity not TO be lost for securing
the promotion TO commission of all such non
commissioned officers and privates as they con-
slider deserving. All Recommendation for such
promotions will be carefully considered at these
headquarters and in making such recommen-
datlons, regimental and company officers will
take into serious account the moral character
OF the person recommended, assuring them
selves that he 10 one who can bear his sudden
promotion without giddineSs, and that his con
duct will he snch as 10 furnish a steady earnest,
and reliable example 10 he placed before men
whose characters, In the novelty Of freedom,
have yet 10 be formed. By command of
Major General DAVID HUKTER.
CHAs. 6. HALPRE, Asst Adj't General.