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or, using the tactics taught them by your enemies, to fight with you in the field. By steady attention to the laws of health, you have stayed the pestilence, and, humble instruments in the hands of God, you have demonstrated the necessity that His creatures should obey His laws, and reaping His blessing in this most unhealthy climate, you have preserved your ranks

of the same length of service. You have met double numbers of the enemy, and defeated him in the open field; but I need not further enlarge upon this topic. You were sent here to do that. I commend you to your commander. You are worthy of his love. Farewell, my comrades! again farewell !"

country. Without a murmur you sustained an encampment on a sand-bar, so desolate that banishment to it, with every care and comfort possible, has been the most dreaded punishment inflicted upon your bitterest and most insulting enemies. You had so little transportation, that but a handful could advance to compel submission by the Queen City of the Rebellion, while others waded breast-fuller than those of any other battalions deep in the marshes which surround St. Philip, and forced the surrender of a fort deemed impregnable to land attack by the most skillful engineers of your country and her enemy. At your occupation, order, law, quiet, and peace sprang to this city, filled with the bravos of all nations, where for a score of years, during the profoundest peace, human life was scarcely safe at noonday. By your discipline you illustrated the best traits of the American soldier, and enchained the admiration of those that came to scoff. Landing with a military chest containing but seventy-five dollars, from the hoards of a rebel government you have given to your country's treasury nearly $500,000, and so supplied yourselves with the needs of your service that your expedition has cost your Government less by four-fifths than any other. You have fed the starving poor, the wives and children of your enemies, 30 converting enemies into friends, that they have sent their representatives to Congress by a vote greater than your entire numbers, from districts in which, when you entered, you were tauntingly told that there was no one to raise your flag.' By your practical philanthropy you have won the confidence of the oppressed race' and the slave. Hailing you as deliverers, they are ready to aid you as willing servants, faithful laborers,

On his arrival at the North, at the beginning of January 1863, General Butler was enthusiastically received; nor, judging from the spirit displayed in his ovations in the various cities, was his equanimity disturbed by the revengeful Philippic leveled against him by President Jefferson Davis in his extraordinary retaliatory proclamation of December 23d, in which General Butler's military acts at New Orleans were denounced, he was described as "a felon deserving of capital punishment, no longer to be considered or treated simply as a public enemy of the Confederate States of America, but as an outlaw and common enemy of mankind," and it was ordered "that in the event of his capture, the officer in command of the capturing force do cause him to be immediately executed by hanging," and, moreover, "that no commissioned officer of the United States, taken captive, shall be released on parole, before exchange, until the said Butler shall have met with due punishment for his crimes."

CHAPTER LXX V.

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH-GENERAL MITCHEL-MILITARY AFFAIRS, APRIL-

OCTOBER, 1862.

MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID HUNTER suc-| Carolina, was thought by the President ceeded General Sherman in command of far too radical and sweeping to issue the Department of the South, compris- from the local commander of a departing the States of South Carolina, Geor- ment, and was accordingly pronounced gia, and Florida, on the 31st of March. void. Within the more limited jurisdicHe was accompanied by General Ben- tion within the lines of his army, howham, who, since the pursuit of Floyd in ever, the policy of General Hunter with Western Virginia, had not been em- regard to slavery was not interfered ployed in active operations in the field, with. There he availed himself of every and to whom now was assigned the com- means to elevate the condition of the mand of the district embracing the ex- colored population and make them availtreme northern part of Florida, South able for the support of the army in the Carolina, and Georgia, with his head- cultivation of the fields and in preparaquarters at Port Royal. This was called tion for military service in the field. the Northern District. Two others were The former, as we have seen, had been formed, the Southern and Western Dis- already provided for under the administricts; the former under command of tration of General Sherman, and the laBrigadier-General J. M. Brannan, in- bors of the superintendent, Mr. Pierce.* cluding the eastern and southern por- The latter, General Hunter, foreseeing its tions of Florida; the latter the western importance as an element in the further region, with headquarters at Fort Pick- conduct of the struggle in which the naens, under command of Brigadier-Gen- tion was forced, gave particular atteneral L. G. Arnold. The first prominent tion to. In advance of general public event in the department, the capture of opinion in the North on the subject, he Fort Pulaski, in the concluding opera- held that the negro, properly instructed, tions attending which, and the final sur- would form a most available fighting render, both Generals Hunter and Ben- man, and he accordingly early lent his ham bore a part, we have already mi- efforts in the department to make him nutely described, with the attendant na- such. Free papers or deeds of emancival operations on the coast of Florida.* pation were issued by him in accordance The next stirring incident in the depart- with the act of Congress liberating slaves ment, the notable order of General Hun- of rebels, in the following terms:-" It ter, of May 9th, respecting slavery, has having been proven to the entire satisalso been noticed in connection with the faction of the general commanding the national movements on that subject in Department of the South, that the bearCongress, and the course of President er, named Lincoln. That order which was preceded by a proclamation of martial law throughout his department, declared the absolute emancipation of slaves in the States of Georgia, Florida, and South

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heretofore held in involuntary servitude, has been directly employed to aid and assist those in rebellion against the United States of America: Now, be it known to all that, agreeably to the laws, I declare the

* Ante p. 118.

said person free and forever absolved from all claims to his services. Both he and his wife and his children have full right to go north, south, east, or west, as they may decide." Accompanying these guarantees of freedom came an appeal to the negroes to enlist in military service. An incident which occurred in May, a few days after the issue of the order, was undoubtedly calculated to stimulate his resolution in the matter. This was the daring and courageous adventure of a party of the colored population of Charleston in escaping from that city and bringing out from under the batteries of the forts and delivering to the Union blockading squadron a rebel gunboat which was employed in military service in the bay. This was the Planter, a high-pressure side-wheel steamer, armed with one 32-pounder and one 24-pound howitzer, and beside this armament, having on board at the time of the conveyance, four large guns, which she was engaged in transporting to Fort Ripley, then in process of construction in the harbor. The leader in this spoliation of the enemy was a negro born in Charleston, named Robert Small, who had been serving for some six weeks on board the vessel as a pilot. It is said that he first conceived the idea of carrying off the vessel from a joke of one of his companions. "He immediately," writes a correspondent, who narrates the circumstances from his own lips, "cautioned the crew against alluding to the matter in any way on board the boat, but asked them, if they wanted to talk it up in sober earnestness, to meet at his house, where they would devise and determine upon a plan to place themselves under the protection of the Stars and Stripes instead of the stars and bars. Various plans were proposed; but finally the whole arrangement of the escape was left to the discretion and sagacity of Robert, his companions promising to obey him and be ready at a moment's notice to accom

pany him. For three days he kept the provisions of the party secreted in the hold, awaiting an opportunity to slip away. At length, on Monday evening, the white officers of the vessel went on shore to spend the night, intending to start on the following morning for Fort Ripley and to be absent from the city for some days. The families of the contrabands were notified and came stealthily on board. At about three o'clock the fires were lit under the boilers, and the vessel steamed quietly away down the harbor. The tide was against her, and Fort Sumter was not reached till broad daylight. However, the boat passed directly under its walls, giving the usual signal-two long pulls and a jerk at the whistle cord-as she passed the sentinel. Once out of range of the rebel guns, the white flag was raised, and the Planter steamed directly for the blockading steamer Augusta. Captain Parrott, of the latter vessel, as you may imagine, received them cordially, heard their report, placed acting Master Watson, of his ship, in charge of the Planter and sent the confederate gunboat and crew forward to Commodore Dupont. The families of the crew have been sent to Beaufort, where General Stevens will make suitable provision for them. The crew will be taken care of by Commodore Dupont."* There were eight contrabands on board the vessel beside five colored women and three children.

In reporting the affair to Secretary Welles, flag-officer Dupont remarked: "The bringing out this steamer, under all the circumstances, would have done credit to any one," and especially commends the intelligence. of the chief performer. "This man, Robert Small," says he, "is superior to any who have yet come into the lines, intelligent as many of them have been. His information has been most interesting, and portions

* Hilton Head Correspondence New York Herald, May 14, 1862.

GENERAL HUNTER ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF AFRICANS.

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of it of the utmost importance. The gress, angry speeches were made by steamer is quite a valuable acquisition border state conservative members, and to the squadron by her good machinery a resolution was passed in the House of and very light draught. I shall con- Representatives, inquiring of the Secre tinue to employ Robert as a pilot on tary of War for information on the matboard the Planter for the inland waters, ter. The Secretary responded that he with which he appears to be very famil- had no official information, and transiar. I do not know whether, in the mitted the resolution to General Hunter views of the government, the vessel will to answer for himself. The general acbe considered a prize, but if so, I re- cordingly replied to Secretary Stanton spectfully submit to the department the on the 23d of June, in the following reclaims of this man Robert and his asso- port, which was laid before the House: ciates." In accordance with this sugges- Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge tion a bill was introduced into the Sen- the receipt of a communication from the ate at Washington, on the 19th of May, Adjutant-General of the Army, dated and promptly passed in that body and June 13, 1862, requesting me to furnish the House of Representatives, ordering you with the information necessary to the Planter with all the property on answer certain resolutions introduced in board of her at the time of her delivery the House of Representatives June 9, to be appraised, and one half of the sum 1862, on motion of the Hon. Mr. Wickthus awarded to be equitably apportion- liffe, of Kentucky, their substance being ed between Small and his associates. to inquire: 1. Whether I had organTo secure to the parties the benefit of ized, or was organizing, a regiment of this grant the Secretary of the Navy fugitive slaves in this department; 2. was authorized to invest the sums thus Whether any authority had been given awarded to the several individuals, in me from the War Department for such United States securities, the interest to organization; and, 3. Whether I had be paid semi-annually until such time as been furnished by order of the War Dehe might deem it expedient to pay the partment with clothing, uniforms, arms, principal sum.** Small continued to be equipments, etc., for such a force. Only employed as a pilot, and rendered much having received the letter concerning service in the subsequent naval opera- these inquiries at a late hour on Saturtions in and about Charleston. day night, I urge forward my answer in time for the steamer sailing to-day (Monday), this haste preventing me from entering as minutely as I could wish upon many points of detail, such as the paramount importance of the subject calls for. But in view of the near termination of the present session of Congress, and the wide spread interest which must have been awakened by Mr. Wickliffe's resolution, I prefer sending even this imperfect answer to waiting the period necessary for the collection of fuller and more comprehensive data.

A deed like this could only have been prompted by that love of freedom which is the natural instinct of all men, and the example of Robert Small doubtless had its effect upon his colored brethren at Port Royal, to whom General Hunter was now appealing to enlist to serve their country; and protect themselves from the risk of further bondage. Various feelings were of course excited by the attempt to arm the negro, and it met with much prejudice and opposition on the spot as well as among the conservative classes at the North. The subject of course excited the attention of Con

Act for the Benefit of Robert Small and others, approved May 30, 1862.

To the first question, therefore, I reply that no regiment of fugitive slaves has been or is being organized in this department. There is, however, a fine

regiment of persons whose late masters are fugitive rebels'-men who everywhere fly before the appearance of the national flag, leaving their servants behind them to shift as best they can for themselves. So far, indeed, are the loyal persons composing this regiment from seeking to avoid the presence of their late owners, that they are now one and all working with remarkable industry to place themselves in a position to join in full and effective pursuit of their fugacious and traitorous proprietors. To the second question I have the honor to answer that the instructions given to Brigadier-General T. W. Sherman by the Hon. Simon Cameron, late Secretary of War, and turned over to me by succession for my guidance, do distinctly authorize me to employ all loyal persons offering their service in defence of the Union, and for the suppression of this rebellion, in any manner I might see fit, or that the circumstances might call for. There is no restriction as to the character or color of the persons to be employed, or the nature of the employment, whether civil or military, in which their services should be used. I conclude, therefore, that I have been authorized to enlist fugitive slaves as soldiers, could any such be found in the department. No such characters, however, have yet appeared within view of our most advanced pickets, the loyal slaves everywhere remaining on their plantations to welcome us, aid us, and supply us with good labor and information. It is the masters who have in every instance been the fugitives, running away from loyal slaves as well as loyal soldiers, and whom we have only partially been able to see, chiefly with their heads over ramparts, or rifle in hand dodging behind trees in the extreme distance. In the absence of any fugitive-master law, the deserted slaves would be wholly without remedy, had not their crime of treason given the right to pursue, capture, and bring back

these persons, of whose protection they have been thus suddenly bereft.

"To the third interrogation it is my painful duty to reply that I have never received any specific authority for issues of uniforms, arms, equipments, etc., to the troops in question, my general instructions from Mr. Cameron to employ them in any manner I might find necessary, and the military exigencies of the department and the country, being my only, and in my judgment, sufficient justification. Neither have I had any specific authority for supplying those persons with shovels, spades and pick-axes when employing them as laborers, nor with boats and oars when using them as lighter-men; but these are not points indicated in Mr. Wicliffe's resolution. To me it seemed that liberty to employ them in any particular capacity implied with it liberty also to supply them with the necessary tools; and, acting upon this faith, I have clothed, equipped, and armed the only loyal regiment yet raised in South Carolina. I must say, in vindication of my own conduct, that, had it not been for the many other diversified and imperative claims on my time and attention, a much more satisfactory result might have been looked for; and that in place of only one, as at present, at least five or six well-drilled, brave and thoroughly acclimated regiments should by this time have been added to the loyal forces of the Union. The experiment of arming the blacks, so far as I have made it, has been a complete and even marvelous success. They are sober, docile, attentive and enthusiastic, displaying great natural capacities for acquiring the duties of the soldier. They are eager, beyond all things, to take the field and be led into action; and it is the unanimous opinion of the officers who have had charge of them, that in the peculiarities of the climate and country they will prove invaluable auxiliaries, fully equal to the similar regiments so long and successfully used by the Brit

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