The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-25
Enlistment of Colored Troops.
OFFICIAL.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GESERAL's OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. Sd, 1868.


GRxBRAL ORDERS,
WHEREAS, the exigcncics of the war require that
colored troops should be recruited in tho States of
Maryland, Missouri and Tennessee, it is
Ordered by the President,
That the Chief of the Bureau for organizing Col
orod 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. Tho State and County in which the enlist
ments are made shall be credited with the recruits
enlisted
Sd. All persons enlisted into the military service
shall forever thereafter be FREE.
4th. Free persons, and slaves with the written
consent of thor 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 givea aid
to the rebellion, being entitled to receive compensa-
ton as hereinafter provided.
9th. If within thirty days from the date of open
ing enitments notice thereof and of the recruiting
stations being published, sufficient number of the
description of persons aforesaid to meet the exigen
cies Of the service should not be enlisted then en-
listments may be made of slaves without requiring
consent of their owners, but they may receive
pensation as herein provided for owners offering
| their slaves for enlistment.
9th. Any citizen of said States who shall offer
his or her slave for enlistment into the military
vice shall, if such slave be accepted receive from
the recruiting officer certificate thereof, and be-
entitled to compensation for the service labor
of said slave not exceeding the of three hundred
dollars, rlrol1-6ii,.ss valA 14ad- of -mannnissinr
and of release and making salts iactory proof of ii
tie. 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 one claiming under oath that his or hei
slave has been enlisted without his or her consent
the privilege Of inspecting the enlisted men for the
purpose of identification.
7th. A board Of three persons shall beappointed
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 or her slave has boon enlisted against his or her
will.
sth. If 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 hun
dred dollars for each slave enlisted belonging to the
claimant and upon the claimant filing a valid deed
of manumisson and release of service, the board
shall give the claimant certain certificate of the
sum awarded which, on presentation, shall be paid
by the Chief of the Bureau.
9th. All enlistments of colored troops in the
State of Maryland otherwise than in accordance
with these regulations are forbidden.
10th. No person who is or has been engaged il
the rebellion against the Government of the United
states, or who III any way has given or shall glF'
| aid or comfort the enemies of the Government
shall be permitted to present any claim or receive
compensation for the labor or service of any slave
and all claimants shall file with their claims oatl
of allegiance to the Government of the United
States.
By order of the President.
(Sgncd) E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Wan DErARrMcxr,
WASHINGTON CITY,
ocT 26th, 1868.
ORDERED,
That the provisions of General Orders
No. 329, in relation to the enlistment of coloret
troops be and they hereby extended to the STATE
of Delaware subject to the order of this Department
(Signed,) L. d. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General
STATE OF DELAWARE,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Dover, Dec. A. 1868.
In conformity with the above order, and to carr,
the into effect recruiting stations are hereb.
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.
By order of his Exceency
i WILLIAM CANNON,
Governor of Delaware.
SAMUEL NJ HARRINGTON, JR,
Secretary of State
Dec II, 1s63.-1s.