_Union Generals offer to suppress Slave Insurrections.--Return of Slaves
coming into our Army._
At the very commencement of the Rebellion, the proslavery generals
in the field took the earliest opportunity of offering their services,
together with those under their commands, to suppress any slave
insurrection that might grow out of the unsettled condition of the
country. Major-Gen. B. F. Butler led off, by tendering his services
to Gov. Hicks of Maryland. About the same time, Major-Gen. Geo.
B. McClellan issued the following, “_To the Union Men of Western
Virginia_,” on entering that portion of the State with his troops:--“The
General Government cannot close its ears to the demands you have made
for assistance. I have ordered troops to cross the river. They come as
Your friends and brothers,--as enemies only to the armed rebels who are
preying upon you. Your homes, your families, your property, are safe
under our protection. All your rights shall be religiously respected.
Notwithstanding all that has been said by the traitors to induce you to
believe our advent among you will be signalled by an interference with
your slaves, understand one thing clearly: not only will we abstain
from all such interference, but we shall, on the contrary, _with an iron
hand_, crush any attempt at insurrection on their part.”
Slaves escaping from their masters were promptly returned by the
officers of the army. Gen. W. S. Harney, commanding in Missouri, in
responding to the claims of slave-holders for their blacks, said,--
“Already, since the commencement of these unhappy disturbances, slaves
have escaped from their owners, and have sought refuge in the camps
of United-States troops from the Northern States, and commanded by a
Northern general. _They were carefully sent Back to their owners._”
The correspondent of “The New-York Herald” gave publicity to the
following:--
“The guard on the bridge across the Anacostia arrested a negro who
attempted to pass the sentries on the Maryland side. He seemed to feel
confident that he was among friends, for he made no concealment of his
character and purpose. He said he had walked sixty miles, and was going
North. He was very much surprised and disappointed when he was taken
into custody, and informed that he would be sent back to his master. He
is now in the guard-house, and answers freely all questions relating to
his weary march. Of course, such an arrest excites much comment
among the men. Nearly all are restive under the thought of acting
as slave-catchers. The Seventy-first made a forced march, and the
privations they endured have been honorably mentioned in the country’s
history. This poor negro made a forced march, twice the length--in
perils often, in fasting,--hurrying toward the North for his
liberty! And the Seventy-first catches him at the end of his painful
journey,--the goal in sight,--and sends him back to the master who even
now may be in arms against us, or may take the slave, sell him for a
rifle, and use it on his friends in the Seventy-first New-York Regiment.
Humanity speaks louder here than it does in a large city; and the
men who in New York would dismiss the subject with a few words about
‘constitutional obligations’ are now the loudest in denouncing the
abuse of power which changes a regiment of gentlemen into a regiment of
negro-catchers.” At Pensacola, Slemmer did even more, putting in irons
fugitives who fled to him for protection, and returning them to their
masters to be scourged to death. Col. Dimmick, at Fortress Monroe, told
the rebel Virginians that he had not an Abolitionist in his command, and
that no molestation of their slave-system would be suffered.
Gen. D. C. Buell, commanding in Tennessee, said, in reply to a committee
of slave-holders demanding the return of their fugitives,--
“It has come to my knowledge that slaves sometimes make their way
improperly into our lines, and in some instances they may be enticed
there; but I think the number has been magnified by report. Several
applications have been made to me by persons whose servants have been
found in our camps; and, in every instance that I know of, the master
has removed his servant, and taken him away.
“I need hardly remind you that there will always be found some lawless
and mischievous persons in every army; but I assure you that the mass of
this army is law-abiding, and that it is neither its disposition nor its
policy to violate law or the rights of individuals in any particular.”
Yet, while Union soldiers were returning escaped slaves to rebels,
it was a notorious fact that the enemy were using negroes to build
fortifications, drive teams, and raise food for the army.
Black hands piled up the Sand-bags, and raised the batteries, which
drove Anderson out of Sumter. At Montgomery, the capital of the
confederacy, negroes were being drilled and armed for military duty.