Officers collect evidence that the commander of a white Maryland regiment interfered with Black enlistment
Dublin Core
Title
Officers collect evidence that the commander of a white Maryland regiment interfered with Black enlistment
Description
Service record of Col. James Wallace, 1st E.S. Md. Vol. Inf., containing testimony regarding the interference by Wallace of Black recruitment in Maryland.
Date
11/5/1863
Coverage
Salsbury, MD
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Headquarters of the Middle Department to the Headquarters of the First Separate Brigade; Testimony of Seven Witnesses in the Case of the Commander of a Maryland Regiment, Enclosed in Commander of the First Separate Brigade to the Commander of the Middle Department
Head Quarters First Separate Brigade 8th A. C.
Drummondtown Va Nov, 5th 1863.
To Lieut John E. Rastall
Salisbury Md
It has been reported to the Brig, Genl, Comdg, that Colonel Wallacei has been interfering with, and discouraging the enlistment of colored troops in the County of Somerset— You will at once take the testimony of Mr— Moore late enrolling officer, Mr Horner the baker in the village and any other testimony you may be able to obtain in regard to the matter, and forward the same by special picket to these Head Quarters!
The interference has reference to ordering recruits to return to their masters, but the Genl wishes the testimony to be General. By Command of Brig Genl Lockwood
Geo. V. Massey
A.A.A.G.
Head Quarters 1st Regiment E.S. Md Vols
Salisbury Md November 6th 1863.
Testimony taken before John E. Rastall, Adjutant 1st Regt, E.S. Md Vols, in pursuance of orders received from Brig General Lockwood by telegraph in the matter of the alleged “interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops” by Col. Wallace Comdg 1st E.S. Md Vols, —
C. Wilson Homes a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. I have no knowledge personally, but have heard Mr Collins, and R. H. Ellegood say that Wallace said those slaves should go home with their masters, and if they did not, he would send them home under a guard, and those two men referred me to Captains Stafford and Watkins I know of nothing Else.
{Signed} C. Wilson Homes.
William T. Moore — a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. — State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with, and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. Seventeen or Eighteen negroes came to me to enlist, all would have been taken, except one, as soldiers, and as I had no place for them to stay and they stated that they had money, I sent them out to the Barracks to remain until the boat arrived, next morning they came to me to know what to do, as Col, Wallace had driven them from the Barracks, and told them to go home, and that
2 — if they did not, he would send them under guard. Mr Showell (the master of a portion of them) persuaded them to go home, all went except two, and they (the two who would not go home) were hand-cuffed and carried to Snow Hill jail, that is the last I have heard of the negroes.
(Signed) Wm T. Moore.
Lewis Collier, as lawful witness was duly sworn.
Ques. State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of colored troops?
Answer. I know nothing of the matter.
(Signed) Lewis D. Collier.
R. H. Elligood, as lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question — State what you know of Col. Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. I had a conversation with Col. Wallace
Question — Was that conversation private, or public?
Answer. It was public, I was passing along the street and found Col. Wallace talking with Mr Seaborn upon the subject of the enlistment of negroes, I believe there was others around, after shaking hands with the Col. he went on conversing with Mr. Seaborn upon the subject of negro enlistment, speaking of the great inconvenience to the people by taking away the effective men, and leaving the state with slaves existing. Which
would deprive us of immigration I then replied that the best thing to do would be to go in for the emancipation of the slaves, the Col. objected to that, as the climate was such that emigrants would not come among us.
Ques. What did you understand by that conversation?
Ans. My impression was that he was condemning and speaking against the enlistment of slaves, and setting the minds of the people who heard him against the enlistment of Slaves; his argument going to show that it was subjecting the people to an inconvenience that could not be remedied.
{Signed} Robert H. Ellegood
Captain Stafford a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. Col. Wallace said in speaking of the negroes who were found in the Barracks at this place, when we arrived and who said they wished to volunteer, that he sent the negroes away in obedience to orders from Genl, Lockwood,ii and that he would have done the same thing without orders on his own responsibility. I understood that Col, Wallace had reference to an order issued in 1861 or 1862. in regard to negroes hanging around camp.
{Signed} Andrew Stafford
Capt Co ‘E’ 1st E. S. Md, Vols.
Captain Watkins, a lawful witness was duly Sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col Wallace, interfering with, or discouraging the enlistment of colored troops?
Answer. When I returned to ‘Camp Wallace’ on or about the 27th of October 1863. some 15 or 20 able bodied negroes reported themselves to me, and wanted to enlist in the government service I told them I was not authorized to enlist men of color, but to go around to the kitchens and stay until to-morrow morning and get something to eat, that Captain Stafford or Col Wallace would then be in command, next morning some of the boys reported that Col, Wallace had ordered the negroes to leave Camp. In conversation a day or so after, Col Wallace remarked to me, that he ordered the negroes to leave, and said it was no place for them, to be, or something to that amount. The negroes evidently wanted to enlist, and would have done so, if they had not been ordered off.
Ques. Has Col. Wallace in any other way than this discouraged the enlistment of men of color?
Ans. Can’t say that he has, for I have not been in the detachment with him for the last 3 or 4 months.
(Signed) Wm H. Watkins
Capt, Company “I”
Lieut. Blades, a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col. Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of colored troops?
Answer. The morning following our arrival here, on or about the 27th of October 1863, Col Wallace and myself were walking around the quarters, and came to a Kitchen with darkies in it, but I do not know how many, the Colonel stoped at the door, and asked one of them, what he was doing there. I dont know the answer he made the Col, the Colonel asked him who he belonged to, he told him but I could not hear the names, the Colonel told all of them to leave Camp, and not be seen back here again, and they did so, the men stated to me, that they were here to enlist but were left.
Ques, Did Colonel Wallace tell these negroes to go home?
Answer, I do not remember.
{Signed} S. W. Blades.
HEAD QUARTERS,
First Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps
Drummondtown, Va., Nov. 7. 1863
Colonel. It having been represented to me that Col. James Wallace, 1st Regm’t E. S. Md. Volunteers had been interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of negro troops in the State of Maryland, I regarded it to be my duty to notice it: And as Col Wallace is on detached service in Baltimore at present, I have directed the evidence of certain parties at Salisbury. Md. to be taken in relation to the same, and herewith forward a copy thereof for the information of the Major General Commanding, and for such action as the occasion may seem to him to require I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your Obt Servant
Henry H. Lockwood
Brig Genl Comd’g
Lieut Col Wm H Chesebrough,
A. A. Genl,
8th Army Corps
Baltimore, Md.
Geo. V. Massey to Lieut John E. Rastall, 5 Nov. 1863, vol. 84/156, p. 68, Letters Sent, ser. 584, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 11 [C-4188]; and Testimony of C. Wilson Homes et al., 6 Nov. 1863, enclosed in Brig Genl Henry H. Lockwood to Lieut Col Wm H Chesebrough, 7 Nov. 1863, all filed with service record of James Wallace, 1st Eastern Shore Maryland Infantry, Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations: Civil War, ser. 519, RG 94 [N-175].
Head Quarters First Separate Brigade 8th A. C.
Drummondtown Va Nov, 5th 1863.
To Lieut John E. Rastall
Salisbury Md
It has been reported to the Brig, Genl, Comdg, that Colonel Wallacei has been interfering with, and discouraging the enlistment of colored troops in the County of Somerset— You will at once take the testimony of Mr— Moore late enrolling officer, Mr Horner the baker in the village and any other testimony you may be able to obtain in regard to the matter, and forward the same by special picket to these Head Quarters!
The interference has reference to ordering recruits to return to their masters, but the Genl wishes the testimony to be General. By Command of Brig Genl Lockwood
Geo. V. Massey
A.A.A.G.
Head Quarters 1st Regiment E.S. Md Vols
Salisbury Md November 6th 1863.
Testimony taken before John E. Rastall, Adjutant 1st Regt, E.S. Md Vols, in pursuance of orders received from Brig General Lockwood by telegraph in the matter of the alleged “interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops” by Col. Wallace Comdg 1st E.S. Md Vols, —
C. Wilson Homes a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. I have no knowledge personally, but have heard Mr Collins, and R. H. Ellegood say that Wallace said those slaves should go home with their masters, and if they did not, he would send them home under a guard, and those two men referred me to Captains Stafford and Watkins I know of nothing Else.
{Signed} C. Wilson Homes.
William T. Moore — a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. — State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with, and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. Seventeen or Eighteen negroes came to me to enlist, all would have been taken, except one, as soldiers, and as I had no place for them to stay and they stated that they had money, I sent them out to the Barracks to remain until the boat arrived, next morning they came to me to know what to do, as Col, Wallace had driven them from the Barracks, and told them to go home, and that
2 — if they did not, he would send them under guard. Mr Showell (the master of a portion of them) persuaded them to go home, all went except two, and they (the two who would not go home) were hand-cuffed and carried to Snow Hill jail, that is the last I have heard of the negroes.
(Signed) Wm T. Moore.
Lewis Collier, as lawful witness was duly sworn.
Ques. State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of colored troops?
Answer. I know nothing of the matter.
(Signed) Lewis D. Collier.
R. H. Elligood, as lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question — State what you know of Col. Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. I had a conversation with Col. Wallace
Question — Was that conversation private, or public?
Answer. It was public, I was passing along the street and found Col. Wallace talking with Mr Seaborn upon the subject of the enlistment of negroes, I believe there was others around, after shaking hands with the Col. he went on conversing with Mr. Seaborn upon the subject of negro enlistment, speaking of the great inconvenience to the people by taking away the effective men, and leaving the state with slaves existing. Which
would deprive us of immigration I then replied that the best thing to do would be to go in for the emancipation of the slaves, the Col. objected to that, as the climate was such that emigrants would not come among us.
Ques. What did you understand by that conversation?
Ans. My impression was that he was condemning and speaking against the enlistment of slaves, and setting the minds of the people who heard him against the enlistment of Slaves; his argument going to show that it was subjecting the people to an inconvenience that could not be remedied.
{Signed} Robert H. Ellegood
Captain Stafford a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of Colored troops?
Answer. Col. Wallace said in speaking of the negroes who were found in the Barracks at this place, when we arrived and who said they wished to volunteer, that he sent the negroes away in obedience to orders from Genl, Lockwood,ii and that he would have done the same thing without orders on his own responsibility. I understood that Col, Wallace had reference to an order issued in 1861 or 1862. in regard to negroes hanging around camp.
{Signed} Andrew Stafford
Capt Co ‘E’ 1st E. S. Md, Vols.
Captain Watkins, a lawful witness was duly Sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col Wallace, interfering with, or discouraging the enlistment of colored troops?
Answer. When I returned to ‘Camp Wallace’ on or about the 27th of October 1863. some 15 or 20 able bodied negroes reported themselves to me, and wanted to enlist in the government service I told them I was not authorized to enlist men of color, but to go around to the kitchens and stay until to-morrow morning and get something to eat, that Captain Stafford or Col Wallace would then be in command, next morning some of the boys reported that Col, Wallace had ordered the negroes to leave Camp. In conversation a day or so after, Col Wallace remarked to me, that he ordered the negroes to leave, and said it was no place for them, to be, or something to that amount. The negroes evidently wanted to enlist, and would have done so, if they had not been ordered off.
Ques. Has Col. Wallace in any other way than this discouraged the enlistment of men of color?
Ans. Can’t say that he has, for I have not been in the detachment with him for the last 3 or 4 months.
(Signed) Wm H. Watkins
Capt, Company “I”
Lieut. Blades, a lawful witness was duly sworn.
Question. State what you know of Col. Wallace interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of colored troops?
Answer. The morning following our arrival here, on or about the 27th of October 1863, Col Wallace and myself were walking around the quarters, and came to a Kitchen with darkies in it, but I do not know how many, the Colonel stoped at the door, and asked one of them, what he was doing there. I dont know the answer he made the Col, the Colonel asked him who he belonged to, he told him but I could not hear the names, the Colonel told all of them to leave Camp, and not be seen back here again, and they did so, the men stated to me, that they were here to enlist but were left.
Ques, Did Colonel Wallace tell these negroes to go home?
Answer, I do not remember.
{Signed} S. W. Blades.
HEAD QUARTERS,
First Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps
Drummondtown, Va., Nov. 7. 1863
Colonel. It having been represented to me that Col. James Wallace, 1st Regm’t E. S. Md. Volunteers had been interfering with and discouraging the enlistment of negro troops in the State of Maryland, I regarded it to be my duty to notice it: And as Col Wallace is on detached service in Baltimore at present, I have directed the evidence of certain parties at Salisbury. Md. to be taken in relation to the same, and herewith forward a copy thereof for the information of the Major General Commanding, and for such action as the occasion may seem to him to require I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your Obt Servant
Henry H. Lockwood
Brig Genl Comd’g
Lieut Col Wm H Chesebrough,
A. A. Genl,
8th Army Corps
Baltimore, Md.
Geo. V. Massey to Lieut John E. Rastall, 5 Nov. 1863, vol. 84/156, p. 68, Letters Sent, ser. 584, RG 393 Pt. 2 No. 11 [C-4188]; and Testimony of C. Wilson Homes et al., 6 Nov. 1863, enclosed in Brig Genl Henry H. Lockwood to Lieut Col Wm H Chesebrough, 7 Nov. 1863, all filed with service record of James Wallace, 1st Eastern Shore Maryland Infantry, Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations: Civil War, ser. 519, RG 94 [N-175].
Citation
“Officers collect evidence that the commander of a white Maryland regiment interfered with Black enlistment,” Black Maryland in the Civil War—A Microedition of the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, accessed August 8, 2026, https://fssp.artinterp2.org/items/show/67.