ment of
'fugitive slaves' in this department?

"Second. Whether any authority had been given to me from the War
Department for such organization? and

"Third. Whether I had been furnished, by order of the War
Department, with clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, etc., for
such a force?

"Only having received the letter covering these inquiries at a
late hour on Saturday night, I urge forward my answer in time for
the steamer sailing to-day (Monday)--this haste preventing me
from entering as minutely as I could wish upon many points of
detail, such as the paramount importance of the subject calls
for. But, in view of the near termination of the present session
of Congress, and the widespread interest which must have been
awakened by Mr. Wickliffe's resolutions, I prefer sending even
this imperfect answer to waiting the period necessary for the
collection of fuller and more comprehensive data.

"To the first question, therefore, I reply that no regiment of
'fugitive slaves' has been or is being organized in this
department. There is, however, a fine regiment of persons whose
late masters are 'fugitive rebels,'--men who everywhere fly
before the appearance of the national flag, leaving their
servants behind them to shift as best they can for themselves. So
far, indeed, are the loyal persons composing this regiment from
seeking to avoid the presence of their late owners, that they are
now, one and all, working with remarkable industry to place
themselves in a position to go in full and effective pursuit of
their fugacious and traitorous proprietors.

"To the second question I have the honor to answer that the
instructions given to Brig.-Gen. T. W. Sherman, by the Hon. Simon
Cameron, late Secretary of War, and turned over to me by
succession for my guidance, do distinctly authorize me to employ
all loyal persons offering their services in defence of the Union
and for the suppression of this rebellion in any manner I might
see fit, or that the circumstances might call for. There is no
restriction as to the character or color of the persons to be
employed, or the nature of the employment, whether civil or
military, in which their services should be used. I conclude,
therefore, that I have been authorized to enlist 'fugitive
sla