White officials in Queen Anne's County challenge the recruitment of free people of color as temporary slaves

White officials in Queen Anne's County challenge the recruitment of free people of color as temporary slaves

William T. Chamgbers to Col. William Birney reporting arrest of Col. J.P. Creager for recruiting among free people of color on the grounds that "when a free colored man hires himself for a year, or short period of time, he is a slave for the length of time he hires himself, and that I have no right to recruit him, though it may be his desire to volunteer." Notes that John Singer, a free person of color, was arrested for enlisting and thus violating his contract "without reasonable and proper cause."

8/22/1863

Centreville, Queen Anne's Co, MD

Civilian Recruiting Agent to the Superintendent of Maryland Black Recruitment


Centreville, Queen Anns County Md. August 24" 1863
Dear Sir: Since the arrest and imprisonment of Col. J. P. Creager, there is a strong opposition on the part of the citizens and civil authorities in this (Queen Anns) county against recruiting any more colored men. They assert and contend that, when a free colored man hires himself for a year, or a shorter period of time, he is a slave for the length of time he hires himself, and that I have no right to recruit him, though it may be his desire to volunteer.
One recruit, John Singer, a free col,d man, in the employ of H. S. Mitchell, was arrested and taken from me at the Steamboat Landing at Queens Town, on a States writ, because, as the writ says, "he left his home and quit the service of H. S. Mitchell before the expiration of the time the hiring was to terminate, without reasonable and proper cause." Now this said John Singer left his home for the sole pupose of Volunteering and was on the way to Birney Barracks with me when he was arrested by order of one certain C. I. B. Mitchell.
H. S. Mitchell and C. I. B. Mitchell are both notorious secessionests, and I am menaced with arrest by this class of persons, and have not the least doubt but that they will make the attempt if I am not sustained by proper military authority; and, unless some steps are taken by the Military to stop this strong opposition, it will be useless for me to try to obtain any more recruits. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Wm T. Chambers


[Endorsement] Head Qrs. Recruiting for U.S. Colored Troops, Aug. 25, 1863. Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Secretary of War. The opposition to enlistment of Colored Troops is managed from Annapolis, is purely political and is designed to obstruct and hinder all recruiting of the kind. The arrest of Creager, a recruiting agent was the first step. Demands for return of slaves are the second. The third is the prevention by illegal writs of the enlistment of free blacks. I am advised by eminent counsel that the writ referred to within is illegal.
If these efforts are not ended by speedy action of the War Dept, recruiting for colored troops must be abandoned in the state of Maryland.
If I might suggest the remedy, it would be the support by the military authority, of my recruiting agents and the payment to loyal owners of a bounty for slaves enlisted. William Birney, Colonel Comg. 4th U.S.C.T. & Mustering & Recruiting Officer.


Wm. J. Chambers to Col. Wm. Birney, 24 Aug. 1863, C-134 1863, Letters Received, ser. 360, Colored Troops Division, RG 94 [B-616]. Chambers had written to the Secretary of War two days earlier, protesting the injustice of a recruitment policy that drafted and recruited free blacks, while prohibiting slave enlistment. He contended that in Queen Anne's County, the nonslaveholders, who were nearly all loyal unionists, suffered because their hired free black laborers were taken, while the slaveholders, who opposed the national government, benefited from retention of their bondsmen. Asking that the War Department "speedily order the recruiting of slaves," Chambers argued that "if you will allow the slaves to go, you strike a deeper blow against the rebellion than can be given in any other way." (William T. Chambers to Edwin M. Stanton, 22 Aug. 1863, C-125 1863, Letters Received, ser. 360, Colored Troops Division, RG 94 [B-27].)