31 August 1864

Pratt, William M., fl. 1864

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders no. 59 regarding the purchase of African Americans to serve in place of drafted persons]

Signed by Pratt, Aide-de-Camp (possibly to Brigadier General Innes Newton Palmer). Relates the story of John H. Irish, a recruiting agent, who attempted to bribe officers to allow him to cite previously enlisted men in order to satisfy recruiting quotas for Yates County, New York. States that Irish furthermore intended to sell the names to a recruiting agent in New Jersey, committing a double instance of fraud. Irish is portrayed as "a fair sample of a good portion of the Recruiting Agents who are now sent out from the Northern States, to purchase colored men to do the fighting for them to…

GLC02224.01

1 September 1864

Pratt, William M., fl. 1864

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders no. 60 regarding the recruitment of African American soldiers]

Signed by Pratt as Aide-de-Camp (possibly of Brigadier General Innes Newton Palmer). States that some officers "procure negroes and send them to particular agents, receiving from them pecuniary reward." Orders that commanding officers must send "all white and black refugees that come to their lines" to the provost marshal of their respective district. Affirms that other officers and soldiers should not be involved with recruiting unless instructed, and that recruiting agents must attend to their assignments in a legitimate matter. Declares "No more instances of the complicity of officers…

GLC02224.02