General Joseph Hooker directs his subordinates to send Black men into rebel territory to search for their families and gather military intelligence

General Joseph Hooker directs his subordinates to send Black men into rebel territory to search for their families and gather military intelligence

Capt. Joseph Dickinson (AAG) to Brig. Gen, Daniel E. Sickles ordering the sending out of all Black Marylanders who will be likely to gather information on the rebel forces on the south side of the Rappahanock. They have families on the other side of the river, and will be willing to encounter almost any peril to secure them.
A letter of the same date permits Mr. Posey, a Maryland enslaver, to enter the camp of the 70th New York to reclaim two of his enslaved workers.
A subsequent telegram in the folder describes Cornelius, an enslaved man, as reliable for supplying information about the rebel forces to the Union army.

3/24/1862

Camp Baker, Charles County, MD

Headquarters of the Second Division to the Commander of the Second Brigade; Headquarters of the Second Division to the Commander of the Seventieth New York; and Commander of the Second Division to the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac


Head Quarters, Hooker’s Division
Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md. March 24, 1862.
Brig. Gen’l. D. E. Sickles,
Com’dg. 2d Brigade,
I am directed by the Brigadier General Commanding the Division to request that you will send out to night all of the negroes who will be likely to gather valuable information concerning the position and number of the rebels on the north side of the Rappahannock. Not knowing but the two contrabands who were sent here on Saturday night last would be of service in this way directions were given for them to be returned to your camp. They have families on the other
side, and will be willing to encounter almost any peril for the chance of securing them. Can two batteries be embarked at Liverpool Point on steamers from the wharf, or other means now there? Can the horses walk on — for it will consume too much time to lift them on board? With this you will receive two maps which may be of service to you.
The General is looking for Officers of the proper Departments to receipt for the public property. Please have everything in readiness. The transportation allowed for your Head Quarters is three wagons. Very respectfully &c
(signed) Joseph Dickinson
Ass’t. Adjt. General.



Head Quarters, Hooker’s Division
Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md. March 24. 1862.
Col. Wm. Dwight,
Comd’g. 1st Reg’t. 2d Brigade,
Mr Posey a citizen of Maryland reports that two of his servants are in your Camp. If you have reason to think that this is the case you will allow Mr Posey to look for them, and if found, permit him to take them.
If any obstacle to their recovery should be thrown in his way by any one of your command, you will report them to these Head Quarters Very respectfully &c
(signed) Joseph Dickinson
Ass’t. Adjt. General.




Telegram [Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md.] March 24. 1862.
Brig. Gen’l. R. B. Marcy,

The negro boy Cornelius who was supposed to have been shot a few nights since, has just come in. His master lives on the Rappahannock where, after he was shot at and chased by the rebel pickets, he concealed himself until now. He states that all the rebel troops have crossed the Rappahannock, except a few cavalry companies — that all of the bridges are standing — that the rebels have suspended work on the defences by order of Gen’l. Holmes — and that they are preparing to fall back on the advance of our troops which is looked for daily. All of the residents on the north side of the river have abandoned their farms, and taken their servants with them. Cornelius is a reliable boy.
(signed) Joseph Hooker
Brig. Gen’l. Com’dg. Division.


Joseph Dickinson to Brig. Gen’l. D. E. Sickles, 24 Mar. 1862, Joseph Dickinson to Col. Wm. Dwight, 24 Mar. 1862, and Joseph Hooker to Brig. Gen’l. R. B. Marcy, 24 Mar. 1862, all in vol. 2/4 1AC, pp. 124-25, Letters Sent, ser. 3801, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 241 [C-4578]. A few days earlier, General Joseph Hooker had reported that fugitive slaves from Virginia were arriving at his division's camp (on the Maryland side of the lower Potomac River) “in such numbers… as to render it necessary for me to be advised of the disposition I shall make of them.” “To permit them to go at large in this secession district,” Hooker warned, “would, I have no doubt result in many of them being returned to their rebel masters, and I hope that it will not be permitted.” (Brig. Gen'l. Joseph Hooker to Brig. Gen'l. S. Williams, 18 Mar. 1862, H-204 1862, Letters Received, ser. 12, RG 94 [K-33].)