Opening the text

History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as CitizensWilliams, George Washington

History

History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens

Name: History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens
Author: Williams, George Washington

Williams, George Washington

African Americans -- History; Liberia; Sierra Leone

"I am in the utmost doubt what to do with this species of
     property. Up to this time I have had come within my lines men and
     women, with their children,--entire families,--each family
     belonging to the same owner. I have therefore determined to
     employ--as I can do very profitably--the able-bodied persons in
     the party, issuing proper food for the support of all; charging
     against their services the expense of care and sustenance of the
     non-laborers; keeping a strict and accurate account, as well of
     the services as of the expenditures; having the worth of the
     services and the cost of the expenditures determined by a board
     of survey hereafter to be detailed. I know of no other manner in
     which to dispose of this subject and the questions connected
     therewith. As a matter of property, to the insurgents it will be
     of very great moment--the number that I now have amounting, as I
     am informed, to what in good times would be of the value of
     $60,000.

     "Twelve of these negroes, I am informed, have escaped from the
     erection of the batteries on Sewell's Point, which fired upon my
     expedition as it passed by out of range. As a means of offense,
     therefore, in the enemy's hands, these negroes, when able-bodied,
     are of great importance. Without them the batteries could not
     have been erected; at least, for many weeks. As a military
     question it would seem to be a measure of necessity, and deprives
     their masters of their services.

     "How can this be done? As a political question, and a question of
     humanity, can I receive the services of a father and a mother and
     not take the children? Of the humanitarian aspect, I have no
     doubt; of the political one, I have no right to judge. I
     therefore submit all this to your better judgment, and, as these
     questions have a political aspect, I have ventured--and I trust I
     am not wrong in so doing--to duplicate the parts of my dispatch
     relating to this subject, and forward them to the Secretary of
     War.

                                   "Your obedient servant,
                                                "BENJ. F. BUTLER.

     "Lt.-General SCOTT."[81]

The letter of Gen. Butler was laid before the Secretary of War, who
answered it as follows:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as CitizensWilliams, George Washington

History

History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens

Williams, George Washington

African Americans -- History; Liberia; Sierra Leone

"I am in the utmost doubt what to do with this species of
     property. Up to this time I have had come within my lines men and
     women, with their children,--entire families,--each family
     belonging to the same owner. I have therefore determined to
     employ--as I can do very profitably--the able-bodied persons in
     the party, issuing proper food for the support of all; charging
     against their services the expense of care and sustenance of the
     non-laborers; keeping a strict and accurate account, as well of
     the services as of the expenditures; having the worth of the
     services and the cost of the expenditures determined by a board
     of survey hereafter to be detailed. I know of no other manner in
     which to dispose of this subject and the questions connected
     therewith. As a matter of property, to the insurgents it will be
     of very great moment--the number that I now have amounting, as I
     am informed, to what in good times would be of the value of
     $60,000.

     "Twelve of these negroes, I am informed, have escaped from the
     erection of the batteries on Sewell's Point, which fired upon my
     expedition as it passed by out of range. As a means of offense,
     therefore, in the enemy's hands, these negroes, when able-bodied,
     are of great importance. Without them the batteries could not
     have been erected; at least, for many weeks. As a military
     question it would seem to be a measure of necessity, and deprives
     their masters of their services.

     "How can this be done? As a political question, and a question of
     humanity, can I receive the services of a father and a mother and
     not take the children? Of the humanitarian aspect, I have no
     doubt; of the political one, I have no right to judge. I
     therefore submit all this to your better judgment, and, as these
     questions have a political aspect, I have ventured--and I trust I
     am not wrong in so doing--to duplicate the parts of my dispatch
     relating to this subject, and forward them to the Secretary of
     War.

                                   "Your obedient servant,
                                                "BENJ. F. BUTLER.

     "Lt.-General SCOTT."[81]

The letter of Gen. Butler was laid before the Secretary of War, who
answered it as follows:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens

History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2: Negroes as Slaves, as Soldiers, and as Citizens

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