n was now
at the head of the War Department, and the following correspondence
took place:

"GENERAL HUNTER'S NEGRO REGIMENT.

"OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

"WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1862.

"_Hon. G. A. Grow, Speaker of the House of Representatives_:

"SIR: A resolution of the House of Representatives has been
received, which passed the ninth instant, to the following
effect:

"'_Resolved_, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform
this House if Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina,
has organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the
defence of the Union, composed of black men (fugitive slaves),
and appointed a Colonel and officers to command them.

"'2d. Was he authorized by the Department to organize and muster
into the army of the United States, as soldiers, the fugitive or
captive slaves?

"'3d. Has he been furnished with clothing, uniforms, etc., for
such force?

"'4th. Has he been furnished, by order of the Department of War,
with arms to be placed in the hands of the slaves?

"'5th. To report any orders given said Hunter, and correspondence
between him and the Department.'"

"In answer to the foregoing resolution, I have the honor to
inform the House;

"1st. That this Department has no official information whether
Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, has or has not
organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the defence
of the Union, composed of black men, fugitive slaves, and
appointed the Colonel and other officers to command them. In
order to ascertain whether he has done so or not, a copy of the
House resolution has been transmitted to Gen. Hunter, with
instructions to make immediate report thereon.

"2d. Gen. Hunter was not authorized by the Department to organize
and muster into the army of the United States the fugitive or
captive slaves.

"3d. Gen. Hunter, upon his requisition as Commander of the South,
has been furnished with clothing and arms for the force under his
command, without instructions as to how they should be used.

"4th. He has not been furnished by order of the Department of War
with arms to be placed within the hands of 'those slaves.'

"5th. In respect to so much o