| Location | Baltimore, Maryland and Annapolis, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Report |
| Names Mentioned | – |
| Date | May 11, 1864 |
| Document Title | Colonel Samuel M. Bowman's Report on Redgrave's Allegations |
| Document Description |
In this letter, Colonel Samuel M. Bowman denies the allegations that Union recruiters had resorted to recruiting black soldiers by force following the abolition of slavery. He discusses his policy of talking to potential recruits before enlisting them, rumors circulating among the black community that enlisting meant that they would be resold into slavery, as well as his personal opinion on the recruitment of black soldiers. (From Free At Last, 348-349. ) |
| Transcription |
Balt[imore]. Md May 11" 1864 Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report in regard to the allegations of Saml. T. Redgrave and others The officer referred to was Capt Reed 19th USC.T. He says, he lay with his boat at Annapolis three days, and gave his name to all who inquired of him. He says further, that he was informed the negroes in the district referred to, had been told not to enlist, that they would be sold to Government for breast works &c and that he directed many of them to be brought up so he could see them, and talk to them personally some friendly citizens assisting; that after seeing them and disabusing their minds of needless fear, they cheerfully enlisted. It is my custom to talk to the men before I muster them in, and in no instance have I finally mustered a recruit who expressed the least unwillingness It is my opinion that Negro recruiting in Maryland is hurtful; negroes by force of circumstances and the costoms of the county have heretofore performed all the labor, and able bodied negroes between 20 & 45 have become exceedingly scarce, and whenever the U.S. gets a soldier, sombody' s plow stands still; or sombody has lost a slave or servant of somekind The only way to prevent these outrages is to stop recruiting entirely I have the honor to be Very Respy Your Obedt Servant S. M. Bowman |
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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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