_Headquarters, Department of Washington,
June 25, 1861._
Fugitive slaves will, under no pretext whatever, be permitted to
reside or in any way harbored in quarters and camps of troops serving
in this Department. Neither will such slaves be allowed to accompany
troops on the march. Commanders of troops will be held responsible
for the strict observance of this order.
By order of
BRIG-GEN. MANSFIELD.
In a few days after receiving this order, I was informed that a colored
man had come inside of my lines who did not belong to the camp, and in
accordance with the above I ordered the officer of the day to send the man
outside the lines, as I should have done to any white man, or any person
there without permission. A correspondent of the _Traveller_, from the
First Massachusetts Regiment, wrote a most pitiful and affecting story
regarding it, but I can only say in reply that his statement was
_incorrect_ in nearly every particular. On the 29th of June, I received a
letter from Hon. Charles Sumner, requesting me to call at his office in
Washington, which I did, and on arriving there was presented by him with a
letter from Gov. Andrew, of which the following is a copy:--