"WAR DEPARTMENT, } "WASHINGTON, July 2, 1862. } "SIR: On reference to the answer of this Department of the fourteenth ultimo to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the ninth of last month, calling for information respecting the organization by Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, of a regiment of volunteers for the defence of the Union, composed of black men, fugitive slaves, etc., it will be seen that the resolution had been referred to that officer with instructions to make an immediate report thereon. I have now the honor to transmit herewith the copy of a communication just received from Gen. Hunter, furnishing information as to his action touching the various matters indicated in the resolution. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "EDWIN M. STANTON, "_Secretary of War_. "Hon. G. A. GROW, "_Speaker of the House of Representatives_." "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, } "PORT ROYAL, S. C., June 23, 1862. } "Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, _Secretary of War_, Washington. "SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from the Adjutant-General of the army, dated June thirteenth, 1862, requesting me to furnish you with the information necessary to answer certain resolutions introduced in the House of Representatives, June ninth, 1862, on motion of the Hon. Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, their substance being to inquire: "First. Whether I had organized or was organizing a regiment of 'fugitive slaves' in this department? "Second. Whether any authority had been given to me from the War Department for such organization? and "Third. Whether I had been furnished, by order of the War Department, with clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, etc., for such a force? "Only having received the letter covering these inquiries at a late hour on Saturday 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 widespread interest which must have been awakened by Mr. Wickliffe's resolutions, I prefer sending even this imperfect answer to waiting the period necessary for the collection of fuller and more comprehensive data.