Letter

H. G. Wright to L. H. Pelouze, March 13, 1862

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, EXPED’Y CORPS,
Fernandina, Fla., March 13, 1862.

Capt. Louw H. PELOUZE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant- General :

CAPTAIN: I have to report, in regard to the slates found here and those who have since come in, that I have not attempted to interfere with the rights of the owner so long as he remained within our lines and conducted himself in a quiet and orderly manner, but that I have refused permission to remove any slave from the limits of the command on any plea whatever.

I have conceived that the property of citizens in slaves should be

Cmr. XV.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 245

protected to the extent referred to, and shall continue the same policy in regard to them unless I receive instructions to the contrary. Very respectfu’ly,

your obedient servant,

Brigadier- General, Commanding.
[Indorsement.]
Approved, by order of Brigadier-General Sherman:

Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
MAROH 15, 1862.

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, N. Alabama, S.W. Virginia, 1861–62. Location: Fernandina, Fla.. Summary: Brigadier General H. G. Wright reports maintaining protection of slave owners' rights within Union lines in Florida during 1862, refusing removal of slaves without orders to the contrary.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 6 View original source ↗