The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-08
Enlistment Of Colored Troops.
OFFICIAL. -
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. Sd, 1863.

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Oct. Sd, 1863.
GENERAL ORDERS,
WHEREAS, the exigences of the war require 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 organizing Col
orcd 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.
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 rebellion, may be now enlisted the
owners who have not been engaged in, OF 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 enlistments 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-
istments may be made of slaves without requiring
consent of their owners, but they may receive COM
pensation herein provided for owners offering
their slaves for enlistment
9th. Any citizen of said States who shall offer
his her slave for enlistment into the military
vice. SHALL if such slave be accepted, receive from
the recruiting officer certificate thereof, and be-
come entitled to for the service labor
of said slave not exceeding the sum Of three hundred
dollars, upon filing valid deed of manumission
and Of release and making satisfactory proof of til
tle And the recruiting officer shall furnish to any
claimant a 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 her
slave has been enlisted without his her consent
the privilege of inspecting the enlisted men for the
purpose of identification.
9TH. 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 boen enlisted against his 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 valid deed
of manumission 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 coOrcd troops in the
State of Maryland otherwise than in accordance
with these regulations 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 the enemies of tho 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 oath
of allegiance to the Government of the United
States.
By order of the President
(Signed) E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.