Adjutant- General to Edwin M. Stanton, October 5, 1865

Hon. Edwin M. Stanton,

Secretary of War:

Sir: Your special instructions to me dated March 25, 1863, requii that I should proceed to the Mississipxn River and inspect the trooj operating in the field against the rebel forces, to examine into a operations in cotton connected with the troops, and to announce t the army the policy of the General Government respecting the negi race held in bondage in the States in rebellion.

I reported to you from time to time the condition of the troops an their determination to meet and beat the enemy. On the 23d of Jur I reported to you in relation to operations in cotton, showing wh^ frauds I had detected, and the difiieulties I had to contend with i obtaining correct information whereby the guilty persons might I brought to trial. My operations in this respect were of little practic: value, and I only excited opposition ; and I discovered that this opp’ sition acted injuriously upon the third and most important part < my duties — your instructions respecting the blacks. The presei report is intended to give the results in the organization of colore troops. You undoubtedly recollect that the determination to sen me on this duty was a sudden one, and the purpose was only unfold( to me the day prior to the date of the instructions, and you urg( expedition in the matter. The subject was new to me, and I enter( upon the duty by no means certain of what I might be able to effec Still, as more of my military service was performed in the slave State and I was perfectly familiar with plantation life— I felt that I kne the peculiarities of the colored race— I could, with the blessing Divine Providence, at least do something to alleviate the conditu of the numerous thousands who would come within our military lin for protection.

At Cairo, Ill. , I first came in contact with what were then call< contrabands — over 1,500 men, women, and children huddled togeth in insufficient quarters, the helpless drawing rations from the Gover ment, and the able-bodied men employed in the various departmen of the Government as laborers to the extent they were require Compensation, $10 per month and one ration per day. I found t mortality of the place had been very great, especially among t children— measles, diarrhea, and pneumonia being the prevails diseases — and this subsequently I found to be the case at all oth points visited by me where large numbers were collected. Cairo w not a proper place for them, and they were soon removed to Island Is 10, in the Mississippi River, below this place. March 29 I review the troops and announced to some extent the policy of the Govei ment, and having up to the 1st of April carefully considered the wh( subject, I on that day communicated to you my views. These vie were subsequently enlarged as I came in more immediate contact wi large bodies of troops and thousands of negroes. With but very exceptions I had the troops paraded, and after a review had tm brought together in mass and announced the purpose of my missic manders as they might desire to make an address on the policy I had bnounced. In this way the views and opinions of many general and her officers were communicated directly to the troops. With a ngle exception (the regiment from Chicago, Ill.) the policy was ost enthusiastically received by the troops. The prejudice against )lored troops was quite general, and it required in the first instance 1 my efforts to counteract it ; but finally it was overcome, and the acks themselves subsequently by their coolness and determination L battle fought themselves into their present high standing as ^>ldiers.

1 1 found the treatment of the blacks varied very materially at the differht military stations and by the operating columns. Some command¬ o’s received them gladljq others indifferently, whilst in very many ‘ ises they were refused admission within our lines and driven off by le pickets. They were thus obliged in numerous cases to return into ‘ avery. This resulted from the fact that no policy in regard to them iid been made known, but as soon as I had announced by your : ithority the views of the President and yourself, all opposition to leir reception ceased. In this connection I may state that the genJ*al-in-chief of these armies (Lieutenant-General Grant) early took ‘ eps to provide for the welfare of this unfortunate race, and detailed “iimane clergymen as superintendents of contrabands to see to their ‘ elfare. The general on all occasions gave me his hearty support,

‘ id was ever ready to second my views. The policy, as I announced \ was that all officers and enlisted men were required to treat the ; lacks kindly and encourage their seeking the protection of the troops, ‘► be fed and clothed as far as possible until they could be able to f rovide for themselves; the able-bodied men to be organized into regiI ents, except such laborers as were required in the several staff corps Td departments — cooks for the troops and servants for the officers.

I awice of the United States.

F April 2 I addressed the troops at Columbus, Ky. April 4 explained I le plan to Major-General Hurlbut, commanding at Memphis, Tenn., Lid at his request authorized him to raise six companies of artillerists [‘» man the heavy guns in position at that place; also to organize bntrabands for work in the Quartermaster’s Department. April (3 ! idressed some 7,000 troops at Helena, Ark., commanded by Majoreneral Prentiss. April 9 addressed Generals McArthur’s and ‘ ogan’s divisions, of Major-General McPherson’s corps. April 12, at : -illiken’s Bend, La., joined the headquarters of the commanding gen- ‘ ‘al (Lieutenant-General Grant). At this time, as we had possession i ; the west bank of the Mississippi River, and could collect the l ^groes, I became satisfied that 20,000 troops could be organized if fecessary, and first made arrangements for 10,000 and afterward for iiother 10,000. In cases where I could not personally visit troops ! berating at a distance I invariably made known to the generals in ^ )mmand by communications what was desired, and urged upon them ‘ le utmost zeal in carrying out the policy of the Government. In ‘ ‘gard to officering these regiments, I authorized commanding generals : ; corps and divisions to assemble boards of officers to examine appliints desiring commissions, and to be particularly careful to select ‘ 3ne but those whose hearts were in the work, and who would devote ‘ lemselves to elevate the blacks and endeavor to early bring them geants could. The best class of ofdcers, as a general thing, did not offer themselves, owing to the prejudice existing against colored troops and a number merely wanted higher positions; still, some good and zealous officers were obtained. Afterward, when the prejudice against this species of troops had been overcome, a higher class of officers presented themselves, and in larger numbers than could be appointed. By means also of frequent inspections by myself and two officers of my staff, the careless and indifferent officers were gotten rid of and more zealous ones appointed.

I remained with the troops until they crossed the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, Miss., May 1, and afterward visited the army on the Big Black River May 5, and then returned up the river to Memphis, Tenn., to visit the corps of Major-General Hurlbut. Visited the por¬ tions of his corps as far as Corinth by a circuitous route by railroad of some 160 miles, and addressed the troops at seven different stations on the first day, twice co the troops and contrabands at Corinth sec¬ ond day, and to the troops at six different stations on the third day, returning to Memphis. The weather was excessively hot, and the exposure and exertion, together with previous exposure, prostrated me with sickness, and I was ordered by my physician to leave the country. After several days of sickness at Memphis I proceeded to Louisville, Ky., where I was compelled to remain in hospital over two weeks. Before leaving Louisville (June 13) I authorized Col. William A. Pile to raise troops under my instructions in the State of Missouri. He rendered good service, and was subsequently rewarded by the appointment of brigadier-general. Also, June 15 I addressed a com¬ munication to Major-General Rosecrans, commanding Department of the Cumberland, at Murfreesborough, Tenn., and urged him to carry out the views of the Government, which I fully set forth to him.

August 2, having measurably recovered my health, I left for the Southwest, and at Cincinnati, Ohio, August 5, authorized Major-Gen¬ eral Burnside, commanding Department of the Ohio, on his entering Tennessee, to organize colored troops. Likewise gave similar author¬ ity to Major-General Schofield, who was about starting on an expedi¬ tion into Arkansas. After the fall of Vicksburg I accompanied the commanding general to New Orleans, La., to organize troops in the Department of the Gulf, commanded by Major-General Banks. I found, however, that the regiments of the Corps d’Afrique, twentynine in number, had been organized on the basis of 500, and, except to authorize one regiment of cavalry, I directed that the regiments should be filled up to the maximum standard of 1,000 before othei regiments would be authorized. This will account for there being no additional regiments raised in that department except the one referred to. The recruits obtained now brought these regiments up to that standard. Maj. George L. Stearns, assistant adjutant-general, havini! been ordered to Nashville, Tenn., to superintend the organization ol colored troops, reported to me. I found that he entered into th< duty with great zeal and rendered good service.

In the middle of December I was compelled to leave the Mississippi River in consequence of sickness. The year’s operations may be summed up as follows : %

Enlisted

The above numbers are ^ taken from returns in the AdjutantGeneral’s Office, and are below the number actually enlisted, as the loss in battle, by death, and by desertion could not have been less than 5,000. This may seem a large estimate, but it is known that raw troops early contract disease, especially the measles, and it is further known that when the blacks become sick, not having the vitality of the white race, they sink under disease, and the percentage of mor¬ tality is very great. The able-bodied men were largely employed in the several staff departments, especially at the principal depots ; also by the troops themselves as cooks and servants, and some commanders organized them into pioneer parties without being mustered into the service of the United States. Many, induced by high wages, took employment on the transports; others, again, readily found employ¬ ment as wood-choppers, also as laborers in the towns on the river. Admiral Porter stated to me that in the naval fleet under his command he had 1,000 negroes. I state these facts to show why a larger num¬ ber of colored men were not enlisted.

Col. A. Cummings, Nineteenth Regiment Penusylvania Cavalry, by your directions, reported to me in Philadelphia January 4, 1864, for duty, and I ordered him to Little Rock, Ark. , to superintend the recruiting service in that State. He exerted himself, but as the negroes had to a great extent been sent to Texas, comparatively few were obtained; still, some regiments were organized. He was sub¬ sequently made a brigadier-general.

” While at Louisville, Ky., in the month of January, 1864, I satisfied myself that from 5,000 to 7,000 negroes of Kentucky had passed the border of that State into Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Tennessee, and ‘ that many of them had enlisted into various organizations, some into regiments being raised in the Eastern States; also that the entire ‘ slave population of the State was in a state of ferment. This ‘ induced me to proceed to Frankfort, the capital, to present my views to Governor Bramlette. This I did, and fully set forth my opinions, urging them with what ability I possessed. I represented that slavery was forever at an end, to which the Governor assented, and that as the negroes were constantly passing the borders of the State, and it could not be prevented, I urged that I might take the able-bodied men and organize them into troops, whereby the owners of the negroes would receive certificates of their muster and the State receive credit on the quota for the draft. The Governor, while generally assenting to my positions, urged that I would not establish recruiting stations t in the State, but desist from my purpose, stating that the subject was desire the General Government to interfere, and that as they desired to manage the institution in their own way, he especially deprecated any agitation at that time, stating, also, that Kentucky would come up to the measure of her duty in this respect, and hy legal enactment provide for the extinction of slavery. I remarked that under their present laws some four or five years would be necessary to fully accomplish this measure. I conversed with most, and perhaps nearly, all the members of the Legislature, which was then in session, all of whom took the ground advocated by the Governor, and some of them even requested that I should remove my recruiting stations in Ten¬ nessee on the borders of Kentucky to a distance, which of course I refused to do. Finding this feeling so prevalent in the State, I with¬ drew from it without then doing anything. My action in this case I reported to you from Louisville under date of February 1. The first recruiting in Kentucky commenced at Paducah under Second Lieut. J. Cunningham, Second Illinois Artillery, in February, pursuant to a request made to you by the member of Congress from the First District, in which Paducah is situated. The lieutenant was author¬ ized to raise a regiment of artillery to man the works at that place.

Brigadier-General Chetlain reported to me, and I assigned him as superintendent of the recruiting service in West Tennessee; after¬ ward in the entire State. He proved a most valuable officer, for I found him to possess intelligence and zeal, with a rare qualification for the organization of troops. He never failed on any duty to which he was assigned, either as a superintendent or as an inspector, to which latter duty I also assigned him, and I am gratified that he was subse¬ quently rewarded by the brevet of major-general.

February 9, Major Stearns having relinquished his position in Ten¬ nessee as superintendent of the recruiting service, I appointed Capt. R. D. Mussey, who had acted as his assistant. The superintendent was subsequently made the colonel of the One hundredth Regiment of Colored Troops, and continued to perform the duties of superintend¬ ent until recruiting had ceased, and he rendered most efficient service. He, too, has been properly rewarded by having conferred upon him the brevet of brigadier-general.

Having returned to Louisville, Ky., in June, I became satisfied that the time had fully arrived for the organization of colored troops in that State, as the negroes were rapidly coming to our military sta¬ tions (my purpose of doing so I mentioned to you in Washington and received your verbal sanction). Accordingly the 13th of June, by my Order No. 20 of that date, I directed that recruiting should commence throughout the entire State, and designated a camp of reception in each Congressional district where the negroes would be received and organized into regiments. I designated BrigadierGeneral Chetlain as the superintendent, who entered upon the duty, and continued in its performance until July 6, when he was relieved at the request of Major-General Burbridge, commanding in Kentucky, made both to you and myself, who desired the superintendence, as he had, as I well knew, taken special interest in this measure, advocat¬ ing it on all proper occasions, and with benefit to the service, as he was then the owner of many blacks.

Under these circumstances it was perfectly proper that the change should be made, but 1 nevertheless regretted it, believing that his higher duties of commander in Kentucky would prevent his personal attention to the superintendency. The result proved as I had anticiI pated, for he very soon delegated the duties to another officer; first to Lieutenant-Colonel Hammond, and afterward to Colonel Brisbin, the latter of whom I placed at the head of the Fifth U. S. Colored Cavalry. The reports of these officers came to me through MajorGeneral Burbridge, but they had nothing to do with the establishment of the system, but only carried out what had been ordered.

At this time 1 found it next to impossible to obtain the necessary medical officers for the colored regiments. The grade of surgeon could readily be filled by the promotion of assistant surgeons of vol¬ unteers, but few, except an occasional contract medical officer, would take the position of assistant surgeon. As the sanitary condition of the men required a greater number of medical officers, I ordered on the 8th of July Surg. B. W. Sargent, on my staff, to proceed to the Eastern States and endeavor to procure from the graduates of the medical schools as many physicians as possible, the number then required being some 120. By his energy and activity he procured quite a number, who, having passed the medical board at Boston and elsewhere, were duly appointed, and the service was greatly benefited by this measure.

July 16 Brigadier-General Pile was relieved as superintendent in Missouri and assigned to duty in the field, and Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing, jr., stationed at Saint Louis, was charged with the duty, who performed it satisfactorily and with ability.

May 1, 1865, pursuant to your instructions, I directed the discon¬ tinuance of all recruiting of colored men in the Deparments of the Missouri and Arkansas and the Military Divisions of the Mississippi and West Mississippi, and also consolidated some of the incomplete regiments, thus discontinuing three regiments in Kentucky, one in Tennessee, and two in Arkansas. Before this order could be received by the troops operating in the field three additional regiments were organized from the negroes gathered by Major-General Wilson on his march through Georgia under the standing instructions, and these regiments were retained in service.

Very many of the regiments were filled to the maximum standard, and others to the minimum of 800, when ordered to stations on the Mississippi River and elsewhere, or sent to the field; but as recruit¬ ing for them was continued, and nearly all received recruits after organization, it is proper to estimate their numbers at the maximum standard, up to which in mass they undoubtedly came.

The whole of my operations in the West and Southwest in the organization of colored troops may be given as follows :

Enlisted men.

Missouri1 re<>:iment of infantry .

Kentucky :

Total

Two regiments were organized in Kansas from negroes, I under¬ stood, obtained from Arkansas, thongh not under my superintendence.

It may be proper to state that, while each State named above is credited with certain regiments, the men did not always come from there, and the companies of a regiment were sometimes made up in two different States. A regiment of 1,000 men was recruited at Evansville, Ind., from Kentucky negroes, and the latter State received credit for them on her quota of the draft. This regiment is not enumerated in the tabular statement.

Enlisted men.

I have the honor to ‘oe,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,