NEAR VICKSBURG, June 22, 1863.
Brig. Gen. R.
TAYLOR,
Commanding
Confederate Forces, Delhi, La.:
GENERAL: Upon the
evidence of a white man, a citizen of the South, I learn that a white captain
and some negroes, captured at Milliken's Bend, La., in the late skirmish at
that place, were hanged soon after at Richmond. He also informs me that a white
sergeant, captured by Harrison's cavalry at Perkins' plantation, was hung.
My forces captured
some 6 or 8 prisoners in the same skirmish, who have been treated as prisoners
of war, notwithstanding they were caught fighting under the "black flag of
no quarter."
I feel no
inclination to retaliate for the offenses of irresponsible persons, but if it
is the policy of any general intrusted with the command of any troops to show
"no quarter," or to punish with death prisoners taken in battle, I
will accept the issue. It may be you propose a different line of policy toward
black troops and officers commanding them, to that practiced toward white
troops. If so, I can assure you that these colored troops are regularly
mustered into the service of the United States. The Government and all officers
serving under the Government are bound to give the same protection to these
troops that they do to any other troops.
Col. Kilby Smith, of
the United States volunteer service, and Col. John Riggin, assistant
aide-de-camp, U.S. Army, go as bearers of this, and will return any reply you
may wish to make.
Hoping there may be
some mistake in the evidence furnished me, or that the act of hanging had no
official sanction, and that the parties guilty of it will be duly punished, I
remain, your obedient servant,
U.S. GRANT.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 425-6
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