Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1864-01-05
Enlistment of Colored Troops.
OFFICIAL.


WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJuTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. G. Oct. Sd, 1863.
GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 1923.
WHEREAS the exigencies Of the war re-
quire that colored 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 organi-
2ng Colored Troops shall establish recuit-
ing stations at convenient places within said
States, and give public notice thereof and
be governed by the following regulations
LIST. None but able bodied persons shall
be enlisted.
I'd. The State and County in which the
enlistments 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 their owners, and slaves
belonging to those who have been engaged
in, or given aid and comfort to the rebel
lion, may be now enlisted the owners who
have not been engaged in, or given aid to the
rebellion, being entitled to receive compen-
sation as hereinafter provided.
9th. IT within thirty days from the date
ofopening enlistments, notice thereof and of
the recruiting stations being published,
sufficient number of the description of per-
sons aforesaid to meet the exgencies of the
service should not be enlisted, then enlist
ments may be made of slaves without reuui-
ring consent of their owners, but they may
receive compensation 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
,nfI ehon 81. L
cepted, receive from the recruiting officer a
certificate thereof, and become entitled to
compensation for the service or labor ofsaid
slave, not exceeding the sum of three hun
dred dollars, upon filing u valid deed of
manumssion and of release, and making sat
isfactory proof Of title. And the recruiting
officer shall furnish TO any claimant des-
criptive 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 her slave has been enlisted without
his or her consent the privilege of inspecting
the enlisted men for the purpose of identi-
jcHtiOn.
It'll. a hoard of three persons shall be ap-
pointed by the President TO whom the rolls
and recruiting lists shall be furnished
for public Information, and on demand ex-
hibted to any person Claiming that his or
her slave has been enlisted against his or
her will.
9Th. 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 proof1E
title, and if valid shall award Just compen-
sation, not exceeding three hundred dollars,
for each slave enlisted belonging to the
claimant, and upon the claimant filing u
valid deed ofmanumission and release of SER
vice, the board shall give the claimant GER
tlicate of the sum awarded which, on presen-
tatiop, shall be paid by the Chief of the
Bureau.
9th. All enlistments of colored troops in
the State OF Maryland otherwise than in &C
cordance with these regulations are forbid
den.
10th. No person who is or has been en-
gagged in the rebellion against the Govern
ment of the United Suites, or who in any
way has given or shall give aid or comfort
to 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 an oath of allegiance to the Govern
ment of the United States.
By order of the President.
(Signed,) II. ID. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.