Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-10

Ter, WHO uaue comprehensive ana
practical report, which was forwarded
to congress and was recognized by the
country as "A full Justification OF his
act. Mr. Wyckliff created scene In
the house by denouncing Gen. Hunter
and declaring that the enlistment of
negroes was an insult to every white
soldier in the army Nevertheless CON
gress authorized the president to enlist
persons of African descent" but pro
yided that they should be used as la
borers in the camps and forts, and were
not to be allowed to bear arms
Gen. Jim Lane of Kansas, who had
been commissioned TO recruit volun-
teers, took advantage of this authority
and assumed the responsibility of en-
listing an entire regiment of free col
ored men in that state Many of them
were runaway slaves from Missouri
and Arkansas Some had purchased
their own freedom. Others had been
rescued by the abolitionists. For a
long time the war department refused
officially to recognize Jim Lane mig
gers" but he knew he had the sympa-
thy of President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton, and marched them over the
border, where they took part in several
battles and demonstrated their courage
and efficiency,
The enlistment of negroes was speci-
fically prohibited by an army regula-
ton, but nobody knew anything about
it, and the paragraph was not discOv-
cred until the regulations were revised
several years afterward.
About the same time Gen. Butler,
who was commanding at New Orleans
began to organize the free negroes in
his department into companies, battal-
ions and regiments. They had pre-
viousIy been organized by the Confed-
crate authorities in Louisiana as state
militia. When Gen. Butler reported to
the war department what he had done
the secretary of war simply acknowi-
edged the receipt Of his communica-
ton and gave his act the sanction Of
silence. President Lincoln, in private
conversation, encouraged the enlist
ment Of colored troops. but purposely
avoided the formal recognition Of their
existence for fear of awakening pub
lie opinion in opposition to their recog.
milton. His experience during the pre-
vious year while Gen. Butler was com
handing in the Virginia peninsula con
corning the employment Of negroes
about the camps had taught him eau
ton. and he preferred that those who
sympathized with the advancement Of
the slaves should go on quietly TO de-
monstrate their capacity as soldiers be-
fore their existence was officially
recognized. It win be remembered that
Gen. Butler, In a correspondence that
is historical, took the ground that ne
groes, or escaped slaves, like horses
or mules, or any other property cap
tured from the enemy, were contra
band Of war.
Much to the annoyance Of the pres-
dent and Secretary Stanton. and even
more so to Gen Butler Gen Godfrey
Weitzel, who had been assigned to the
command Of a brigade Of negroes by
Gen. Butler refused to accept the de-
tail, and thus brought the matter
prominently before the public II
should be said, however, that Gen.
Weitzel considered 1t nm honor two
years later TO command the entire
corps Of negro troops.
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas who was adj
jutant general, was sent West by Sec
reta4y Stanton about this time. and
visited the headquarters Of the Union
army in several Of the Western and
Southern states, where ne privately ad-
vised that all colored men who pre-
sented themselves be enlisted on even
terms with the whites. but cautioned
recruiting officers not to cali attention
In their reports TO the fact.
Gen. Rufus Saxon was the first Of
ficer 10 receive official authority 10 en-
list negroes rs soldiers On the Goth Of
August, 1862, the secretary Of war or
dered him 10 proceed TO the Depart
ment of the South and organize 5000
troops OF African descent" which
were to be designated for service In
garrisons not in danger Of attack By the
enemy, to relieve white regiments
whose terms Of enlistment had expired.
But one of Cen Saxou's first acts after