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

| W ASHlNITONy u. N Ocl 81, 1905.
GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 320
WHEREAS, the exigencies 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 the 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:
lst None but able bodied persons shall be en-
listed.
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, 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 enistments notice thereof and of the recruiting
stations being published, n sufficient number of the
description Of persons aforesaid to meet the exigen-
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
his or her slave far enlistment into tho military ser
vice shall IL such slave be accented receive from
the recruiting officer certificate thereof. and be-
come entitled to compensation for the service or labor
of said slave not EXCEEDING the sum of three hundred
dollars. upon filing n valid deed of manumission
and Of releasc and MAKING rroof ~ !;
tie And the recrnitn, officer shall finnish m onv
claimant descriptiye list of anv nerson enlisted
and claimed under oath to be his or her slave and
allow any ne,claiming under oath that his or her
slave has been enlisted without his or her consent
the privilege of inspeetne the enlisted men for the
purpose of Identification.
by the President TO whom the rolls and recrnitinor
lists shall be furnished for pnblo information. and
on demand exhibited to any person claiming that
his or her slave has been enlisted AGAINST his or ber
will.
sth. IF any ncrson shall. within fan davis aftor
of anv nerson 90 enlisted tbe hoard shall nrooeod
to examine the proof of title and ifvalid shall
award iust eomnensation pnt nycoedinc, throo Inn,
dred doIlars for eacb slave enlisted 70 tbo
claimant and mon tho claimant GIing a Taiid dcod
of monumission md release of service tho hoard
shall rive tho claimant n certoin oortiaooto of tbo
snn aSyorded yhinb on ,resantation ,hoII 10 a;S
Nv tba Gh;oS " 10 pnroPp SA"i w pun
OH All onI;stn,onts oc ooiorod 4.oo,,. :; a..
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