William Birney to John Angel James Creswell discussing the recruitment of African American troops - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC03428.02
From Archive Folder	Unassociated Civil War Documents 1863
Title	William Birney to John Angel James Creswell discussing the recruitment of African American troops
Date	27 December 1863
Author	Birney, William (1819-1907)
Recipient	Creswell, John Angel James
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	General Birney discusses the recruitment of African American troops with Creswell, a United States Representative from Maryland. Expresses his hope to "enable the First District to meet its full quota in colored troops," with Creswell's support. Discusses slaveholders' conspiracies intended to prevent slaves from enlisting, including the mistreatment of enlisted slaves' wives and children. States that a Mr. Vickers, from Kent County, Maryland (possibly George Vickers), indicted a Mr. Gardner for encouraging his slaves to enlist. States that Vickers also attempted to burn one of Birney's boats. Hopes to utilize some of his own officers as recruiters. Reports that he requested a second steamer from General Henry Hayes Lockwood. Encourages Creswell to support legislation for United States Colored Troops, including equalization of pay, freedom for enlisted men's wives and children, and permanency of the U.S.C.T. branch of the service, so that officers of African American troops can obtain a permanent commission and officer-status in the regular service. Written at camp near Bryantown, Maryland.
Subjects	Civil War Military History Union Forces Union General African American History African American Troops Government and Civics Conscription Recruitment Women's History Children and Family Slavery Contrabands Confederate States of America Wartime Pillaging and Destruction Law Transportation Soldier's Pay Emancipation
People	Birney, William (1819-1907) Creswell, John Angel James (1828-1891) Gardner, Mr. (fl. 1863) Lockwood, Henry Hayes (1814-1899) Vickers, George (1801-1879)
Place written	Maryland
Theme	The American Civil War; African Americans; Children & Family; Women in American History
Sub-collection	Papers and Images of the American Civil War
Additional Information	Vickers, who was part of the Democratic Party and political adversary of the Republican member Creswell, served as a United States Senator from Maryland 1867-1872.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
Transcript	Show/hide Camp near Bryantown, Charles Co. Md, Dec. 27, 1863. Hon. John A. J. Creswell: Dear Sir, Your favor of the 17th came to hand on the 20th inst. At the time, my plan was formed to use all the officers available for the purpose, for recruiting on the Eastern Shore. I had been waiting for them. Twelve arrived on the 20th and I instantly dispatched them to join the six already there. They are now, I presume, actively at work. I hope the results will answer your expectations. My wish is to enable the First District to raise its full quota in colored troops. With the earnest and active cooperation of your friends throughout the District, this may be accomplished. There are men enough. The slaveholders work against us with all the means in their favor. They maltreat the wives & children of men who [2] leave, and tell the men the most appalling stories of the massacre that awaits them in the army. Some add promises to pay them wages for labor and a few pay some trifle to give hope of future rewards for staying. In Kent Co., Mr. Vickers and his accomplices have procured the indictment of Mr. Gardner for telling slaves to enlist. This Vickers pretends at Washington that he is a Union man. I know that he has been the most determined opponent the Government has had in his county. At one time, he was, as I have been credibly informed, privy to a conspiracy to burn one of my boats. There was no evidence except that of colored people and I did not ask for his arrest, but made my preparations to shoot every man who might make the attempt. If the War Dept. will allow the three regiments now here to remain until April, I can use all the officers of the lower grades as recruiting officers. Act on this suggestion but do not mention my name in connection with it. If the regiments now organized should be ordered away, it will stop recruiting, because all their officers must go with them. [3] My operations on the Eastern Shore have been retarded by the want of a second swift steamer. I have asked one of General Lockwood. The legislation needed for the U.S. Colored Troops is 1. Equalization of pay. 2. Freedom of the wife & children of each enlisted man. What a shame for the Government to allow the wives & children of its soldiers to be slaves! 3. Permanency of this branch of the service. An officer in the U.S.C.T. risks more than any other. He ought to have a permanent commission and be made an officer in the regular service. At present, he is appointed and removeable at pleasure. Very Truly Yours, Wm Birney, Brig. Gen. U.S.V. [docket] Col. Wm Birney Decr 14th 1863.

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