HDQRS. MILITARY
DEFENSES NORTH OF THE POTOMAC,
Washington, April 6,
1862.
Lieut. Col. JOHN D. SHAUL,
Commanding
Seventy-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers.
SIR: I am directed by General Doubleday to say in answer to
your letter of the 2d instant that all negroes coming into the lines of any of
the camps or forts under his command are to be treated as persons and not as
chattels.
Under no circumstances has the commander of a fort or camp
the power of surrendering persons claimed as fugitive slaves as it cannot be
done without determining their character.
The additional article of war recently passed by Congress*
positively prohibits this.
The question has been asked whether it would not be better
to exclude negroes altogether from the lines. The general is of the opinion
that they bring much valuable information which cannot be obtained from any
other source. They are acquainted with all the roads, paths, fords and other
natural features of the country and they make excellent guides. They also know
and frequently have exposed the haunts of secession spies and traitors and the
existence of rebel organizations. They will not therefore be excluded.
The general also directs me to say that civil process cannot
be served directly in the camps or forts of his command without full authority
be obtained from the commanding officer for that purpose.
I am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. P. HALSTED,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
__________
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Volume
1 (Serial No. 114), p. 815
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