Volume II Part 36 (1/2)
The President of the United States was still opposing any attempt on the part of the supporters of the war to constrain him to approve of the introduction of Negroes into the army. But the Secretary of War, the Hon. Simon Cameron, had sent an order to Brig.-Gen. T. W. Sherman, directing him to accept the services of all loyal persons who desired to aid in the suppression of the Rebellion in and about Port Royal.
When Gen. David Hunter relieved Gen. Sherman, the latter turned over to him the instructions of the Secretary of War. There was no mention of color, nor was any cla.s.s of persons mentioned save ”loyal persons.”
Gen. Hunter was a gentleman of broad, liberal, and humane views, and seeing an opportunity open to employ Negroes as soldiers, in the spring of 1862 directed the organization of a regiment of blacks. He secured the best white officers for the regiment, and it soon obtained a fine condition of discipline. The news of a Union Negro regiment in South Carolina completely surprised the people at Was.h.i.+ngton. On the 9th of June, 1862, Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, introduced in the National House of Representatives a resolution of inquiry, calling upon Gen. Hunter to explain to Congress his unprecedented conduct in arming Negroes to fight the battles of the Union. Mr. Stanton was now at the head of the War Department, and the following correspondence took place:
”GENERAL HUNTER'S NEGRO REGIMENT.
”OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
”WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1862.
”_Hon. G. A. Grow, Speaker of the House of Representatives_:
”SIR: A resolution of the House of Representatives has been received, which pa.s.sed the ninth instant, to the following effect:
”'_Resolved_, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform this House if Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, has organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the defence of the Union, composed of black men (fugitive slaves), and appointed a Colonel and officers to command them.
”'2d. Was he authorized by the Department to organize and muster into the army of the United States, as soldiers, the fugitive or captive slaves?
”'3d. Has he been furnished with clothing, uniforms, etc., for such force?
”'4th. Has he been furnished, by order of the Department of War, with arms to be placed in the hands of the slaves?
”'5th. To report any orders given said Hunter, and correspondence between him and the Department.'”
”In answer to the foregoing resolution, I have the honor to inform the House;
”1st. That this Department has no official information whether Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, has or has not organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the defence of the Union, composed of black men, fugitive slaves, and appointed the Colonel and other officers to command them. In order to ascertain whether he has done so or not, a copy of the House resolution has been transmitted to Gen. Hunter, with instructions to make immediate report thereon.
”2d. Gen. Hunter was not authorized by the Department to organize and muster into the army of the United States the fugitive or captive slaves.
”3d. Gen. Hunter, upon his requisition as Commander of the South, has been furnished with clothing and arms for the force under his command, without instructions as to how they should be used.
”4th. He has not been furnished by order of the Department of War with arms to be placed within the hands of 'those slaves.'
”5th. In respect to so much of said resolution as directs the Secretary 'to report to the House my orders given said Hunter, and correspondence between him and the Department,' the President instructs me to answer that the report, at this time, of the orders given to and correspondence between Gen. Hunter and this Department would, in his opinion, be incompatible with the public welfare.
”Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ”EDWIN M. STANTON, ”_Secretary of War_.”
”WAR DEPARTMENT, } ”WAs.h.i.+NGTON, July 2, 1862. }
”SIR: On reference to the answer of this Department of the fourteenth ultimo to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the ninth of last month, calling for information respecting the organization by Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, of a regiment of volunteers for the defence of the Union, composed of black men, fugitive slaves, etc., it will be seen that the resolution had been referred to that officer with instructions to make an immediate report thereon. I have now the honor to transmit herewith the copy of a communication just received from Gen. Hunter, furnis.h.i.+ng information as to his action touching the various matters indicated in the resolution.
”I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
”EDWIN M. STANTON, ”_Secretary of War_.
”Hon. G. A. GROW, ”_Speaker of the House of Representatives_.”
”HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, } ”PORT ROYAL, S. C., June 23, 1862. }