| Location | New Town, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Names Mentioned | General Henry H. Lockwood, James Murray, W. E. W. Ross |
| Date | December 14, 1864 |
| Document Title | Postmaster at New Town, Maryland, to the Commander of the Middle Department and 8th Army Corps |
| Document Description | James Murray to Major Genl. Lew. Wallace, 14 Dec. 1864 , M-866 1864, Letters Received, ser. 2343, Middle Dept. & 8th Army Corps, RG 393 Pt. 1 [C-8894). In this letter, James Murray, who had been helping to care for around eleven formerly enslaved people, wrote to Major General Lewis Wallace regarding his ban on interfering with illegal apprenticeships that had increased in frequency after Marylandâs abolition of Slavery. He notes the bias of the Orphans Court judge, from ignoring the wishes of a childâs parent, to only approving the apprenticing of black children to white families. In addition, Murray asks General Wallace what to do about the families he was helping prior to the order of non-interference with apprenticeships, as he could not afford the care, housing, and provisioning of eleven people on his own. Attached is two endorsements discussing sending the eleven recently freed men, women, and children to Baltimore to receive help from the Freedmanâs Bureau branch there. (From the The Wartime Genesis of Free Labor, 528-531.) |
| Transcription | Postmaster at New Town Md, December 14th, 1864 Dear Sir: I am affraid I Shall weary you, and yet I must write. Humanity compells me to do so. While Genl Lockwood was here adjusting the difficulties relative to the Coloured People, Some of the Slaves Owners, after the Profitable Boys and Girls were taken away from them, turned off the old women, the Mothers with their helpless Children, and they of course had to be provided for. Genl Lockwood applied to me, to provide Quarters, and Provision for all such cases as come to my knowledge. I have Secured Houses for two or Three Families and am providing them with provisions. Yesterday I received a Telegraph dispatch from Genl Lockwood at Salisbury, informing me that Indirect Information was received by him, that orders were at Cambridge awaiting him, Countermanding your, orders relative to apprentices, and that I need not provide for any more, than what I had on my hands at present and you of course would pay the Bill. Now Sir: I am apprehensive that, some persons have been trying to influence the Authorities at Washington to do this thing, and thereby through difficulties in the way of the coloured people, being self sustaining, and consequently bring the Emancipation cause into disrepute. What other object can they have. The course persud by you is one of Humanity, and Justice. And if the authorities at Washington think that there is any mistake in the Testimony before you, which has caused you to Isue your order, in this matter, I would here state if the taking of Children from Parents after they were Freed, when they had hired them out to other persons for 50 cts pr day and ten dollars pr month is Testimony needed, It can be furnished as clear as the beams of light that dart forth from the great orb of day. While the Orphans Court and the Register of Wills have authorized and incouraged this verry thing, The Register of Wills Doctr. Hubbell after he had an Interview (as I was informed) with you on this Subject, came home and cited (to appear before him or the orphans court) a Coloured woman and her son aged sixteen years, whom she had hired out for 50 cts pr day or ten dollars pr month, after the Mother remonstrated and was nearly Knocked down by the man claiming the Boy, the Orphans Court with the Register Bound this Boy to his former Master. The Orphans Court has said that they would not bind out any Coloured Boy or Girl to any one but a white person. The chief Judge of the Orphans Court told me that they would not take Security for the Maintenance of Coloured Children but that they must have homes with white persons, If I could have an interview with the President or Secretary of War, upon this Subject I think I could Set all doubt aside which might be in their minds, relative to the inhumanity of White people towards the Freed Coloured people. The facts which I have mentioned we can prove, and more than I have mentioned. Now My Dear Sir: What am I to do with these poor Creatures who come to me almost daily for assistance, Whose Husbands and Sons are in the Army or have fallen upon the battlefield, defending our rights. It is a hard matter for me to turn them away empty, and yet in many instances I have it to do. I am poor myself and not able to assist them to any extent, and the Slave owner would rejoice could they see all the attempts to promote the down trodden Slave thwarted, and those who befriend them brought into disrepute. There are many cases of need, that ought to be assisted if it could be done without too much expence and trouble to the Government. If all such cases could be attended to here with as little or less expence than at the Freedmans Home in Baltimore, How would It do to let Them Stay with their Friends, which I am sure they would greatly prefer. I make this statement for your consideration, and if in your Judgement, you would approve of the plan, Government Stores could be dealt out to them, or they could be furnished here, at as low rates as any one can buy them for the cash. Will you be so kind as to let me hear from you soon in answer to this with great respect I remain yours Truly James Murray [Endorsement] Head-Quarters, Middle Department, EIGHTH ARMY CORPS. Baltimore, Md. , Dec. 16th 1864. Respectfully referred to Brig. Genl. H. H. Lockwood, Comm'd'g 3d Sep. Brigade, for immediate report, of the number of persons and their age, sex and condition, now in charge of Mr. Murray, and whether it is understood that the expense of their maintenance is to be paid by the Government, if so, Genl. Lockwood will take immediate action to ascertain whether those people can be supported on the Eastern Shore, where they will be near their families and former homes, without expense to the Government. If they cannot be so supported, Genl. Lockwood will cause them to be brought to this City, and will give timely notice of their arrival to Lt. Col. W. E. W. Ross, in charge of Freedmans Bureau, so that he can arrange with the Secretary of the Freedmens Association for their reception, and direct Mr. Murray to send in his bill at once. This paper to be ret'd with report By Command of Major Genl. Wallace Saml B Lawrence A.A.G. [Endorsment] Head Quarters 3rd Sep. Brig. 8th A.C. Baltimore Dec. 19th 1864 Respectfully returned to Dept. Hd. Qrs. With the information that there are now in Mr. Murrays care at Salisbury, three (3) old person, six (6) boys & two (2) girls. These people cannot be supported on the E.S. without expense to the Govmt. and I have consequently ordered them all to be sent to this city as soon as possible. The boat from Newtown is advertised to leave there to-morrow and I presume they will come up on it. Mr. Murray has been directed also to forward the bill of his expenses and to receive no more of these people. Henry H Lockwood Brig. Genl. |
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