The recruiting of colored troops.
There has been issued from the
Adjutant-General's office an order relative to the mode in which colored troops are to be recruited in the
Confederacy.
We copy that portion of it showing the working of the system:
The recruiting service, under this act, will be conducted under the supervision of the
Adjutant and
Inspector-General, according to the regulations for the recruiting service of the regular army, in so far as they are applicable, and except when special directions may be given by the War Department.
There will be assigned or appointed for each State, an officer who will be charged with the collection, enrollment and disposition of all the recruits that may be obtained under the first section of this act. One or more general depots will be established in each State, and announced in orders, and a suitable number of officers will be detailed for duty in the staff departments of the depots.
There will be assigned at each general depot a quartermaster, commissary and surgeon, and the headquarters of the
Superintendent will be at the principal depot in the
State.
The proper officers to aid the
Superintendent in enlisting, mustering and organizing the recruits will be assigned by orders from this office, or by the
General-in- Chief.
The enlistment of colored persons under this act will be made upon printed forms, to be furnished for the purpose similar to those established for the regular service.
They will be executed in duplicate, one copy to be returned to this office for file.
No slave will be accepted as a recruit unless with his owner's consent and with the approbation of his master, by a written instrument, conferring, as far as he may, the rights of a freed man, and which shall be filed with the
Superintendent.
The enlistments will be made for the war, and the effect of the enlistment will be to place the slave in the military service conformably to this act. The recruits will be organized at the camps in squads and companies, and will be subject to the order of the
General-in-Chief, under the second section of this act.
The Superintendent in each State will cause a report to be made on the first Monday of every month, showing the expenses of the previous month; the number of recruits at the various depots in the
State; the number that have been sent away, and the destination of each.
His report will show the names of all slaves recruited, with their age, description, and the names of their masters.
One copy will be sent to the
General-in-Chief and one to the
Adjutant and
Inspector- General.
The appointment of officers to the companies to be formed of the recruits aforesaid will be made by the
President.
To facilitate the raising of volunteer companies, officers recruiting therefore are authorized to muster their men into service as enrolled.
As soon as enrolled and mustered, the men will be sent, with descriptive lists, to the depots of rendezvous, at which they will be instructed until assigned for service in the field.
When the organization of any company remains incomplete at the expiration of the time specified for its organization, the companies or detachments already mustered into service will be assigned to other organizations, at the discretion of the
General-in-Chief.
It is not the intention of the
President to grant any authority for raising regiments or brigades.
The only organizations to be perfected at the depots or camps of instructions are those of companies, and, in exceptional cases, when the slaves are of one estate, of battalions consisting of four companies; and the only authorities to be issued will be for the raising of companies or the afore said special battalions of four companies.
All larger organizations will be left for future action, as experience may determine.
All officers who may be employed in the recruiting service, under the provisions of this act, or who may be appointed to the command of the troops raised under it, or who may hold any staff appointment in connection with them, are enjoined to a provident, considerate and humane attention to whatever concerns the health, comfort, instruction and discipline of these troops, and to the uniform observance of kindness, forbearance and indulgence in their treatment of them, and especially that they will protect them from injustice and oppression.
