Year: 1863

EANA- NAN a-NN-H


FRAszToHT, KY, Jan s. 1868,


On The morning Of the Sd instant, We
took the cars ct Louisville and returned
to this place, and are now eneamped on q
hill to the south Of the city.


Yesterday the regiment was paid, and
to-day the men are busily engaged in pre-
pairing packages Of money to send to Eths
dear ones at home


Some days ago you commented With
some severity upon the action Of Lieuten-
ant Colonel Sterling in fugitive slave
case. was, at the the time of the occur
renee, absent in command Of scouting
pa ty, and, consequently know nothing Of
the transaction, except 50 far as I am in
formed by those present. As nigh as
can learn, the facts are these: Demand
was made upon Colonel Sterling (in the
absence Of Colonel Easement, for the rem
ditiOn Of eontraband in the service Of
the Chaplain. The negro had been in
camp but few days, but in that short

time had demonstrated his utter worth
lsssness by frequent disturbances and bad
conduct generally. Nevertheless, Colonel
Sterling forbade the arrest Of the negro
within the lines. The Colonel then
started 10 ride away. for the purpose, as
was supposed, Of consulting the Chaplain,
who was absent in the city. After pro-
ceeding few rods, upoa hooking behin5,
he observed crowd gathering about the
negro and the claimant, with indications
Of violence. Thinking il unfortunate that
SO worthless negro should be the cause of
serious disturbance and forgetting for the
moment the principle involved, Colonel
Sterling rode back and ordered the negro
outside the lines, whittier he was followed
and seized by the claimant. l think no one
regrets the act more than does Colonel
Sterling himself, and he has since done
all in his power to ogrrect the error. A
few days subsequent to the above men
toned transaction, the Sheriff Of WoOdford
county, armed with "iegal process, ap-
peared in camp and demanded the surTen-
der Of q fugitive alleged to be the proper
ty Of citizen Of WoOdford county. Colo
mel Sterling, (Who was in command Of the
camp refused to permit the Sheriff to
serve the writ, and informed him that in
future no negroes could be taken from his
lines. For the refusal to respect the man
dates Of a Kentucky court, in violation Of
one Of the articles of war, Colonel Sterling
has been prosecuted, and is now under
heavy bonds TO appear in Court and an
swer the charge Of resisting legal pro-
cess"


Another case Of the same kind occurred
this morning. The former master Of
contraband in the employ Of Captain lib
bits, Of Company E, came into camp for
the purpose Of recovering his lost prop
,erty." Colonel Easement and Colonel
Aterling both told him the negro could not
- taken from camp contrary to his own
will. He expressed q desire to see the
boy" as he was much attached to him,
and thought he could induce him to return
to his former home, where he would be
"warmly welcomed by the entire family"
Colonel Sterling caused the negro to come
to headquarters, pledging him protection.
The stakeholder was lavish with sweet
words and professions of affection, but
George replied that he would much rather
work for Captain Tibbitfs for wages than
60 back and work for nothing, whereupon
Colonel Sterling again informed the slave
hunter that the negro could not be taken
from the camp. Thus ended the second
unsuccessful attempt to recover fugitives
in the camp of the l03d Ohio regiment, and
such feel confident will be the result Of
all future efforts Of the kind.


Truly yeurs, d.