Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-11-04

| the owner to reclaim him would be as clear
now as in 1912, the Constitution of the
United States being unchanged in this par
ticular, and that instrument having been
interpreted IN the judicial decisions, legis-
lative and diplomatic acts and correspon
dence of the United States as imposing upon
that government tic duty of protecting in
all eases coming within the scope of its au-
thority, the owners of slaves as we'll as Of
any other kind of property recognized as
such by the several States.
The Confederate Government, bound by
the same consti4 utional obligations, consid
ers, as that of the United States did, tina,
the capture or abduction Of negro slave
does not preclude the lawful owner from re
claiming him when captured, and | Instruct
ed to say that all such slaves, when proper
ly identified as belonging to citizens of any
Of the Confederate States, or to persons en-
joying the protection of their laws, will be
restored, ike other recapturcd private prop.
Ecrty, to those entitled to them.
Having endeavored to explain the gener-
| 81 policy Of the Confederate Governmen,
with regard to the subject, beg leave to
state the facts concerning the particular
transactions referred to in the il closed com
Munlcatious.
The negroes recently captured by our
forces We're sent to Richmond with other
Federal prisoners. After their arrival i,
was discovered that number of them were
slaves belonging to citizens or residents Of
some of the Confederate States, and Of this
class fifty nine, as learn, were sent, with
other negroes. to work on the fortifcation:
around Richmond until their owners should
appear and claim them AS soon as was
informed Of the fact, less than two days af
forwards. not wishing to employ them here,
| ordered them to he sent to tbs rear.
| By misrepresentation of the engineer
| officer III charge, they were transferred to
our lines South Of james river, but, when
appraised Of the error. repeated the order
for their removal. Ifany negroes were in
cluded among this number. who we're not
identified as the slaves Of citizens or resi-.
dents of some of the Confederate States,
they were SO included without the knowl
edge or authority of the War Department,
as already explained, and the mistake,
when discovered, would have been correct
ed.
It only remains for me 10 say that negroes
employed upon our fort tcations are not al
lowed to be placed where they will be e1-
p' sed to FIRE. and there is no foundation for
any statement to the contrary
The author of the communications refer.
red to has considered himself justified (by
the report Of two deserters, who do not al
!ege that the negroes in question were ex
posed to any danger,) i'll lacipg cur pri.-
oners at labor in the canal at Dutch Gap,
under the Gre of our batteries
LII view of the explanations Of the prac
tice Of the Confederate Government above
gwen and Of the statement of facts I have
made, | have now, in accordance with my
instructions, respectfully to inquire wheth-
er the course pursued towards our prison.
ers, rs set forth in the accompanying let
ters, has your sanction and whether it will
! be maintained
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) L f LEE, Gen |.
UDo' Rs ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES !
October 30 1864. {
Gen + LEE,C S. A. Commanding Army
| Northern Virginia:
Notwithstanding from your letter
OF the l9ih, that the colored prisoners who
we're employed at work in the trenches near
Fort Glmer have been Withdrawn, [ have
directed the withdrawal of the Confed
prisoners employed in the Dutch Gap canal
l shall always regret the necessity for retail
ating for wrongs done our soldiers; but
regard it my duty to protect all persons
received into the army Of the TN ted States
regardless of color or nationality. When
acknowledged soldiers of the Government
are captured, they must be treated as pris-
oners of war, or snch trestment as they
receive will inflicted upon an equal mmbcr
Of prisoners held by US
/ have nothing to do with t|le dicussion
Of the slavery question. therefore decline
answering the arguments addicted to show
the right to return to former owners such
negroes as are. captured from our army
La answer to the question at the conclusion
ofyour letter, Have to state, that all prison
ers of war falling into my hands shall receive
the kindest possible treatment, consistent
with securing them, unless have good
authority for believing any number of our
men are being treated otherwise. Then,
painful as it may be to me, | shall inhict
ike treatment on an equal number Of Con
federote prisoners.
Hoping that it may never become my
duty to order retaliation upon any iran held
as prisoner of war,
| have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant,
Z S Grant.
Lieutenant General.
Trssor vpo,1 THY Foe A corrcsnon