A Black recruiter explains that enslaved Marylanders want to join the Union Army, but only if they are paid and treated equitably
description: 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."
date: 7/6/1864
coverage: Baltimore Co, MD