he 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 loyal
persons whose late masters are fugitive rebels--men who
everywhere fly before the appearance of the national flag,
leaving their loyal and unhappy servants behind them, to
shift, as best they can, for themselves. So far, indeed, are
the loyal persons composing the regiment from seeking to
evade the presence of their late owners, that they are now,
one and all, endeavoring with commendable zeal to acquire
the drill and discipline requisite to place them 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 service in
defence of the Union, and for the suppression of this
rebellion,' in any manner I may see fit, or that
circumstances may 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 may be used. I conclude, therefore,
that I have been authorized to enlist 'fugitive slaves' as
soldiers, could any such fugitives be found in this
department. No such characters, however, have yet appeared
within view of our most advanced pickets,--the loyal negroes
everywhere remaining on their plantations to welcome us, aid
us, and supply us with food, labor and information. It is
the masters who have in every instance been the 'fugitives,'
running away from loyal slaves as well as loyal soldiers;
and these, as yet, we have only partially been able to
see--chiefly their heads over ramparts, or dodging behind
trees, rifles in hand, in the extreme distance. In the
absence of any 'fugitive master law,' the deserted slaves
would be wholly without remedy had not the crime of treason
given them right to pursue, capture and bring those persons
of whose benignant protection they have been thus suddenly
and cruelly bereft.

"To