OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 4, vol 2, Part 1 (Blockade Runners) p. 1047 RICHMOND, VA., December 7, 1863. THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES: [Excerpt] CONDUCT OF ENEMY. Nor as less unrelenting warfare been waged by these pretended friends of human rights and liberties against the unfortunate negroes. Wherever the enemy have been able to gain access they have forced into the ranks of their army every able-bodied man that they could seize, and have either left the aged, the women, and the children to perish by starvation, or have gathered them into camps where they have been wasted by a frightful mortality. Without clothing or shelter, often without food, incapable without supervision of taking the most ordinary precautions against disease, these helpless dependents, accustomed to have their wants supplies by the foresight of their masters, are being rapidly exterminated wherever brought in contact with the invaders. By the Northern man, on whose deep-rooted prejudices no kindly restraining influence is exercised, they are treated with aversion and neglect. There is little hazard in predicting that in all localities where the enemy have gained a temporary foothold the negroes, who under our care increased six-fold in number since their importation into the colonies by Great Britain, will have been reduced by mortality during the war to no more than one-half their previous number. Information on this subject is derived not only from our own observation and from the reports of the negroes who succeed in escaping from the enemy, but full confirmation is afforded by statements published in the Northern journals by humane persons engaged in making appeals to the charitable for aid in preventing the ravages of disease, exposure, and starvation among the negro women and children who are crowded into encampments. [Excerpt] JEFFERSON DAVIS

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign) p. 1315-1316 CAMP FORTY-NINTH GEORGIA REGIMENT, Near Petersburg, March 15, 1865. Colonel W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: The undersigned, commissioned officers of this regiment, having maturely considered the following plan for recruiting this regiment, and having freely consulted with the enlisted men, who almost unanimously agree to it, respectfully submit it, through you, to the commanding general for his consideration: First. That our companies be permitted to fill up their ranks with negroes to the maximum number under the recent law of Congress... [Excerpt] When in former years, for pecuniary purposes, we did not consider it disgraceful to labor with negroes in the field or at the same work bench, we certainly will not look upon it in any other light at this time, when an end so glorious as our independence to be achieved. We sincerely believe that the adoption throughout our army of the course indicated in the above plan, or something similar to it, will insure a speedy availability of the negro element in our midst for military purposes and create, or rather cement, a reciprocal attachment between the men now in service and the negroes highly beneficial to the service, and which could probably not be otherwise obtained. We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants, J. T. Jordan, colonel; J. B. Duggan, major; M. Newman, adjutant; L. E. Veal, first lieutenant Company A; L. L. Williams, captain Companies B and G; J. F. Duggan, captain Company C; L. M. Andrews, captain Company D; C. R. Walden, lieutenant Company E; A. G. Brooks, lieutenant Company F; S. J. Jordan, lieutenant Company H; Wm. T. Mullally, captain Company I; R. S. Anderson, captain Company G.

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 2, vol 6, Part 1 (Prisoners of War) p. 187 Charleston, S. C., August 7, 1863. Brigadier General THOMAS JORDAN, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: I visited this morning the prisoners' hospital in Queen street, opened exclusively for the wounded Federals captured on Morris Island on the 11th and 18th of July last... The number of wounded prisoners actually in hospital is as follows: One commissioned officer, Captain Payne; two sergeants, one of whom is a negro; one corporal; thirty-five privates, twenty-five of whom are negroes and ten only white, the whole making an aggregate of thirty-nine wounded prisoners. The hospital is apparently well managed, the room being kept as clean as can expected under present circumstances. The beds and bedding are of a rough, but good material. The patients, white and black, appear to be well cared for and treated with due kindness and humanity. Mosquite nets are needed. Assistant Surgeon Ancrum informs me that from forty-five to fifty would be required for the present. A negro by the name of Charles Stanton, wounded when taken to hospital, but now well, is doing duty as nurse for the wounded negroes...

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 2, vol 7, Part 1 (Prisoners of War) p 1010 - 1012 HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, October 19, 1864. Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT, Commanding U. S. Armies: GENERAL: In accordance with instructions from the Honorable Secretary of War of the Confederate States I have the honor to call your attention to the subject of two communications recently addressed by Major General B. F. Butler, an officer under your command, to the Honorable Robert Ould, commissioner for the exchange of prisoners... Before stating the facts with reference to the particular negroes alluded to, I beg leave to explain the policy pursued by the Confederate Government toward this class of persons when captured by its forces. All negroes in the military or naval service of the United States taken by us who are not identified as the property of citizens or residents of any of the Confederate States are regarded as prisoners of war, being held to be proper subjects of exchange, as I recently had the honor to inform you. No labor is exacted from such prisoners by the Confederate authorities. Negroes who owe service or labor to citizens or residents of the Confederate States, and who through compulsion, persuasion, or of their own accord, leave their owners and are placed in the military or naval service of the United States, occupy a different position. The right to the service or labor of negro slaves in the Confederate States is the same now as when those States were members of the Federal Union...It has been uniformly held that the capture or abduction of a slave does not impair the right of the owner to such slave, but that the right attaches to him immediately upon recapture. Such was the practice of the American States during their struggle for independence...The Government under which they were then associated restored to the owners slaves abducted by the British forces and subsequently recaptured by the American armies... It only remains for me to say that the negroes employed upon our fortifications are not allowed to be placed where they will be exposed to fire, and there is no foundation for any statement to the contrary. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General.

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