A Black recruiter explains that enslaved Marylanders want to join the Union Army, but only if they are paid and treated equitably

A Black recruiter explains that enslaved Marylanders want to join the Union Army, but only if they are paid and treated equitably

G.A. Hackett to Col. Lawrence (AAG) relating his experiences in recruiting Black soldiers (slave and free) in and around the area of Middle River, Baltimore County. Following up on Gen. Wallace’s advice that recruiting expeditions should take place among the rebel slaveholders, Hackett discovers that slaves were eager to join the Union army. But only after assurances that they would not be used as breast-work, that the government wouldn’t deceive them concerning wages and that they would not be returned to their masters. Hackett declares that, ’’Some of their masters who were much attached to their slaves, were unwilling to believe that they had assented (to enlistment), until they question them in the presence of Lt. Frick...” "Some of them were told by their masters to make themselves either younger or older than the required age, as the case may be." "One of their masters called them to one side and told them they should be free as soon as they got to Baltimore." "But they refused to rely on their master’s promises any longer.” Page four of the letter contains a list of fourteen slaves and freemen who enlisted. Hackett talked to some Black recruits who declare that, "plenty of men could be found, and that they would bring, by their appearance in uniform the men around them like bees to the hive."

7/6/1864

Baltimore Co, MD

Reports to Headquarters of the Middle Department from a Black Recruiting Agent and Colonel Bowman


Balto July 6th/64
Sir. At a conversation, about the 26th of June with General Wallace at that time General Wallace stated that the most effectual mode of procuring recruits was the expeditions in the country among the rebels, where they were in abundance, for the Army of the United States; and at that time written a communication to Col. Bowman, favoring this scheme with his approbation, and ,et the Col.s views, and the Colonel then orderd the preparations to go on, which expedition set out a few days after, to Middle River Neck to procure all the recruits, either free or slave, by their own volition and admission, when the necessary questions were propounded to them. Are you loyal men to the Government--? Are you willing to be in obedience to the call of the President for colored volunteers to put down the rebellion, and to exterminate the Rebels, so that you will be free men those of you that are slaves, and receive $100 Bounty and $40 worth of clothing, and your freedom, and be men, as other men, enjoying all the rights and privileges under the Government, that can be granted to you. If free men, they will receive $300 Bounty, $200 cash and $100 in monthly installments until the whole $300 is paid, with wages and clothes as above mentioned. To all of which they answer, they are willing and would be glad to go, if their masters could not get them back. I assured them their masters could not take them back, if they were competent on examination to bear arms, and that their masters would be paid for them. They then offered the objection that they were to be made breastworks off, and to be put in the front, that the Government was deceiving them in the promise of bounty, wages, and freedom, and that they could be brought back again if they ran away. But as soon as we removed all these impressions, the men assented and said they would cheerfully, willingly go, in the presence of their rebel masters and mistresses. Some of their masters who were much attached to their slaves were unwilling to believe that they had assented, until they questioned them in the presence of Lieut. Frick; and other witnesses whom we have. Some of them were told by their masters to make themselves either younger or older than the required age, as the case might be By a close investigation we ascertained this fact.-- That strong active men of 21 had been represented as being only 16, and that strong healthy men of 40 had been represented as being 50 years old, and they were apprized that we were expected there and they were to make use of this deception to frustrate our object. One of their masters, called them on one side and told them they should be free as soon as they got to Baltimore, but they refused to rely on their master's promises any longer, and said they were willing to join the Union Army. If permitted to go in the Rebel camps, that is to say that part of the country which is wholly occupied by the rebels, we can get a thousand men in 30 days, strong, hearty, able-bodied men who wish to go, and only want the opportunity. As a specimen of that class of people we can get, we have now at Camp Birney, 14 fine, hearty-looking men, who are all cheerful and willing to go, and nothing could change their minds; except two, who are disappointed after giving their consent to embark in the army, and who thought the doctors would not pass them and they would be rejected. They said they would enter the army if their health permitted them, thinking they would be rejected. I saw them yesterday, on the 4th and conversed with them. They desired to go upon the next expedition, saying that they knew where plenty of men could be found, and that they would bring, by their appearance in uniform. the men around them like bees to the hive. The names are as follows.--
Age Residence
Winfield Scott 20 Balto Co Slave
Elias Dosey 20 " " free
Sandy Bias 22 " " "
Jerome Preston 33 " " Slave
Thomas Preston 19 " " "
Henry Preston 20 " " "
Elias Allinder 23 " " "
Jacob Lee 21 " " "
John Jackson 19 " " free
Damon Brown 43 " " "
Emory Walker 19 " " Slave
George Linch 36 " " free
Jos Griffith 24 " " "
Andrew Brown Slave
The witnesses are as follows, who will corroborate the whole statement. Lieut. Frick. U.S.A. Recruiting officer, B. M. Hawley, Henry Carrol, and, in addition, several soldiers that were present and will testify to the whole conversations. I remain Your Obd't Serv't
G. A. Hackett




No 24 Holliday St [Baltimore, Md.] June 30 [1864].
General I have the honor to acknowledge the rect of your note of this PM papers enclosed, which I have not examined. I have been all day busy with the subject. As you know I hesitated about the expedition complained of, and but for your note by the black man Hackett I would not have allowed it to go out. But I am satisfied if you will just give me a few days at it, the thing will all evaporate. I have seen the recruits all, in the presence of complainants and only two out of 14 have expressed any desire to go back. I will not send them away, and if you say so, you can see them all yourself.
I understand these people very well. Three of the men of whom most complaint is made declared they did not wish to be released, and two of them are very superior black men, almost white. I will send out no more parties. Very respy Yr obt st.
S. M. Bowman


G. A. Hackett to Col. Lawrence, 6 July 1864, H-162 1864, Letters Received, ser. 2343 Middle Dept. and 8th Army Corps, RG 393 Pt. 1 [C-4137]; Col. S. M. Bowman to Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace, 30 June 1864, B-309 1864, Letters Received, ser. 2343, Middle Dept. and 8th Army Corps, RG 393 Pt. 1 [C-4l32].