New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-15
MEMOIRS OF GENERAL HUNTER.
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST LINCOLN-ARM-
ING HE FREEDMEN
IrRos a SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE rRrBUNE.l

lNO lnE FREEDMEN.
frRoa SPECIAL coRREsroNDENT OF TIE TRbUNE"l
WASHINGTON, Feb 14.-Gencral David Hun
ter who died here recently, LEFT among his pa
pers some valuable memoirs OF the late He was
stationed at Fort Leaven worth. Kansas. during the
Presidential campaign which resulted in the election OF
Mr.. Lincoln and he there became aware Of conspiracy
prevent the inauguration OF the Prcsidenteect He
communicated the facts to Mr. Lincoln, and invited
to accompany him to Washington. For six weeks he
spent every night I'm the East Room OF the White House,
where he received reports r volunteer guard of 100
gentlemen from all parts of the Union who stationed
about the grounds and the city Later he in COM
mand OF tho right division OF the Army at Bull Run
where he wounded. While in command OF the De-
plrtment of Kansas he furnished. his own RESPONSE
biy. aid to General Haleck which ackn owledgrd
later by that General as follows To you moie than
any other in this department we Indebted Ior
our success at Fort Donesn In strait for troops 70
reinforce General Grant appealed to you. You nobly
and generously placed your forces at my disposition
This enabled to win the victory. Receive my most
heartfelt thanks" While in Washington on leave OF ab-
in 1862 General Hunter detailed "a president
of the FIZ john Porter cOurt-maral and the friends
of that officer forgayc him for performing his
duty at that time. Some interesting papers b'arng on
that trial In possession Of tho dead GtnerdIs
One incident in General Hunters career had an I'M
pOrtant bearing the question OF employing cOIorcd
negroes. While I'm command Of South Carolina. Georgia
and Florida freeing the slaves, and
enlisted n regiment OF freedmen. A great
howl was raised by the Coppcrneads over
that act and in the newspapers Mr. Lincoln WAS made
to repudate 1t; but privately, he wrote 10 General Hun
ter. saying: 81 glad to the accounts of your
colored force Jacksonville, Florida ace the enemy
are driving them 1rrcey, to he expected II Ia
important the enemy that such force shall no. take
shape aud AM thrive In the south; an In precisely
the proportion isimpOrtanttou that 1t shdH Tue
regiment of cOlored troops which General Hunter organ
izel on his own responsibility proyea great success
but the General could get the Government 10 recog-
20 or pay these troops Fortunately this iunctdre
Mr. T;ckif- :aembrr of the House from Kentucky. who
thought with other Democrats %,t henous crime had
been committed By General Hunter. introduced denHu
ciatory resolutions the House oi
Representatives calling for Information "a
to whether General Hunter bad organized
a regiment of fugitive slaves TO this the General re-
piled: "So regiment OF fugitive slaves has been or l.
being organized department. There IS however,
a tine regiment OF oya per>ous whose late masters are
fugitive rebcs-men who everywhere fly before the ap-
pcarance of the National flag leaving their loyal ana
unhappy servants behind them. They are cnd"av"rIng
with cOinmcEdabIe acquire the dri drd dlsci
pine requisite TO 20 in full and effective pursuit Of their
fugacious and trat0rous propr,etors General Hunter
IN his reply said much more that was unptlat1'lc
to the Democrats anl conclude by expressing his hope
to have 10000 colOred troops organized
within few months. This brought the
whole subject before Congress. which then
authorized the employment Of thar coOtei troops
But he regiment first organized by General Hunter was
discharged without pay.
The Confederate Government issued a proclamation
August o. Is62. de daring that General Hunter II cap
tured he treated as an outlaw and that any of his OH
GERS concerned In srmns ncgrocs-it alo captnred-be
kew executed "a felous neral Hunter remained
.I,-.4 fn..V I'm lr IL
eiectual steps TO protect his officers one OF them. who
was captured. was about b. executed whom General
Hunter immediately notice to the Rebel authorities
that he woud at and place I'm close co fine
mrnt all citizens OF any influence within his lines ana
would Immediately execute three OF their number for
every one OF his officers Injured" That was the last
General Hunter heard Of any effort OF the rebels 10
treat his officers a Outaws