| Location | – |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Names Mentioned | John E. Wool |
| Date | January 29, 1862 |
| Document Title | Lewis C. Lockwood to Senator Henry Wilson |
| Document Description | Lewis C. Lockwood, an antislavery clergymen, writes to his U.S. senator in Massachusetts and others to describe the vulnerability and mistreatment of the fugitive enslaved men employed by the Union army at Fort Monroe. He likens the treatment of the âcontrabandâ men to government slavery, and describes the poor conditions despite General Woolâs promise of compensation equal to freedmen: reduction of rations, inconsistent pay, whipping and other abuse, as well as compulsory late night work on the Sabbath and throughout the week, despite a surplus fund generated by their labor of at least $7000. (From Free At Last, 170-172.) |
| Transcription | Lewis C. Lockwood to Senator Henry Wilson Seminary near Fortress Monroe Va Jan 29/62 Respected Sir, I wrote you, as you remember, by Mr Coan, a few weeks ago concerning the desirableness of a Committee of Investigation to search into the affairs of the Colored Refugees at Fortress Monroe. I was told that it was seen reported in a paper that you had moved the appointment of such a Committee. Will you please inform me soon whether one has been appointed. With this request I will respectfully present other urgent reasons for such appointment Contrabandism at Fortress Monroe is but another name for one of the worst forms of practical oppressionâgovernment slavery. Old Pharaoh slavery was government slavery, and Uncle Sam's slavery is a Counterpartâthe subordinate officials of the latter vieing with the taskmasters of the former in bad preeminence. And Genl Wool, through fear, acts the Gallio, ignoring as far as possible all responsibility in reference to the delicate matter. Masters who are owners or who have been brought up with their slaves [have an interest in them]; but what do government officers generally care how they treat these poor waifs, who have been cast upon their heartless protection. But by what constitutional right does government treat these persons as slaves? Certainly not on the basis of the Fugitive Slave law, whose provisions are of a specific character, and give sanction to no such treatment. And by what military right does government become a great practical slaveholder? Was it not enough to throw the shield over state slavery? Must general government adopt the accursed system and reduce it to practical working to carry on the war or pay its expenses? Yet such is the repulsive unconstitutional fact. If a man was a slave by the laws of Virginia, his slave status is recognized by government; if free, his free status. The free colored man is allowed to work for himself; or if he work for government, he is paid fair wages,âsome, a dollar a day. A few of the slaves are allowed to work for themselves, and they are making a good livelihood for themselves and families; & if all were allowed to do soâor were employed by government as freemenâthere would be no want Among them. But most of the slaves are compelled to work for government for a miserable pittance. Up to two months ago they had worked for nothing but quarters and rations. Since that time they have been partially supplied with clothingâcosting on an average $4 per man. And in many instances they have received one or two dollars a month cash for the past two months. Someâan engineer Corps, at work on the rail-road, who were promised the pay of freemen by Genl Wool, and whose labor, according to the estimate of the Assistant Engineer, Mr Goddard, was valued at from one to two dollars a day, have recieved but one dollar cash for five & six months' work & but little clothing. Genl Wool told me that from the earnings of these slaves a surplus fund of $7000. has been accumulated. Yet, under the direction of Quarter Master Tallmadge, Sergeant Smith has lately reduced the rations, given out, in Camp Hamilton, to the families of these laborers and to the disabled, from 500 to 60. And some of the men, not willing to see their families Suffer, have withdrawn from government service. And the Sergeant has been putting them in the Guard-house, whipping and forcing them back into the government Gang. In some instances these slaves have been knocked down senseless with shovels and clubsâ But I have just begun to trace the long catalogue of enormities, committed in the name of Union, freedom and justice under the Stars and Stripes. Yours with great respect Lewis. C. Lockwood P.S. I have sent duplicates of this to Senators Sumner, Hale, Fessenden & Wade; And Representatives Lovejoy and Van Wyck.- L. C. L. Addendaâ About 70 of the slaves are worked on the Sabbath and on an average three nights in the week, sometimes till 10 & 2 o'clock, and sometimes till morning, and then compelled to work on through the day. For this extra work they get 50 cts for Sabbath & 50 cts for 3 nights' work; but in that case they do not receive the one or two dollars a month given to others.â PS. I understand that Genl Wool is to appoint a commission to which our mission will be accountableâ I hope it will not be another "High Commission". L. C. L â |
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[Author (if known)], Documents from the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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