The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-22
Enlistment Of Colored Troops.
OFFICIAL.
War DEPARTMENT,
ADJuTANT GEEERAL's OFFICE,
WAsHMaToS, D. c., Oct. Sd, lses.
GEszRAL ORDERS,
No 400


~A'l No. ss S.'A
WHEREAs, the exigenciss of the war require that
coored troops should be recruited in the States of
Maryland, Missouri and Tennessee, it is
Ordered by the President,
That the Chief OF thu bureau for organizing Col
ored Troops shall establish recruiting stations at
convenient places within said States, and give pub
lie notice thereof and be governed by the following
regulations:
ist 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.
3D. 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 enlistedj the
owners who have not been engaged in, or giveS aid
to the rebellion, being entitled to receive compensa
ton as hereinafter provided.
9th. If within thirty days from the date of open
ing enstments, notice thereof and Of the recruiting
stations being published, sufficient number Of the
description Of persons aforesaid to meet the exgen
cies of the service should not be enlisted, then
listments may be made of slaves without requiring
consent of their owners, but they may receive COM
pensation as herein provided for owners offering
their slaves for enlistment.
9th. Any citizen of said States who shall offer
vice, SHALL if such slave be accepted, receive from
the recruiting officer certificate thereof, and be-
entitled to for the service or labor
of said slave not exceeding the OF three hundred
dollars, upon filing valid deed of manumlssion
and of release and making salts factory proof OF IT,
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 claiming under oath that his or her
slave has been enlisted without his or her consent
the privilege of inspecting the enlisted men Tor the
purpose of identification.
eth. A 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 OF her slave has been 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 enlisted, the board shall proceed
to examine the proof of title, and if valid shall
award Just compensation, not exceeding three hun
bred dollars for each slave enlisted belonging to the
claimant, aud 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, 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 in
the rebellion against the Government of the United
/
| aid or comfort &C 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 Government of the United
| States.
By order of the President.
(Signed) ED. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
| WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON CITY,
0cT Goth, 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 Stat
of Delaware subject to the order of this Department
(Signed,) Z. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
Executive pRrARTMEsT,
Dover, Dec. 4, 1868.
In conformity with the above order, and to carry
the same into effect, recruiting stations are hereby
established at the following places, to wit:
At Wilmington, III New Castle County.
At Smyrna, in Kent County.
At Milford, in Kent County.
AT Georgetown, in Sussex County.
Enlistments will hereafter be opened and recruit
ing officers designated to conduct tho same.
By order of his Excellency
WILLIAM CANNON,
Governor of Delaware
SAMuuL NJ. HARRINGTON, JR,
Secretary of State.
Dec IL, 1863