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 Communication f 
 Conf Pam #439 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Jax. LO, lSo-3.— Referred 
 to Special Committee on Impressments, and ordered to be printed. 
 
 MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 Richmond, Va., Jan. o, I8G0. 
 To the House of Representatives: 
 
 In response to your resolution of the 2d ultimo, rela- 
 tive to the injpressment of slaves, I herewith transmit a communica- 
 tion from the Secretaiy of War ; which conveys all the information 
 I have on the subject. 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
 COMMUNICATION FROM SECRETARY OF WAR. 
 
 War Department, C. S. A. 
 
 Rkhmojid, Dec, 20, 1SG4. 
 
 To the President of the Confederate States : 
 
 Sir: * 
 
 I have received a resolution of the House of Represen- 
 tatives relative to tlie impressment of slaves, adopted on the 2d 
 instant, a copy of which is herewith enclosed. 
 
 The Superintendent of Conscription, to whom the resolution was 
 sent for report, furnishes, in his reply, copies of the orders issued by 
 him on that subject, but states he is not in possession of the informa- 
 tion demanded. Major General Kemper, commanding the Reserves, 
 also makes a report as to the impressment of slaves in Virginia. 
 Copies of both these letters are herewith transmitted, and furnish all 
 the information at the command of this Department. 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES A. SEDDON. 
 
 Secretary of JVar, 
 
RESOLUTION OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 C. S. A., Executive Office, 
 
 RicJimoyid, Va., Dec. 6, IS64. 
 Hon. Secretary of War: 
 
 Sir: 
 
 I have the honor, by direction of the President, to for- 
 ward for your attention and the proper action, a copy of a re'sohition 
 of the House of Representatives of tlie 2d instant, as follows : 
 
 Resolution. 
 
 " Resolved; That the President be requested to inform this House 
 wliether, at this time, there are in the emplojnnent of the Confede- 
 rate States, slaves impressed, exceeding one in five of the male slaves 
 between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, of one owner, and 
 whether any slaves have been impressed and are now in service, on 
 a basis of calculation including female slaves between the ages of 
 eighteen and forty-five ; and if such impressments have been made, 
 by what authorit}^ it has been done, and whether the credit directed 
 to be allowed in the impressment of slaves by the provisions of the 
 act of February i7th, 1864, has been allowed." 
 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 * BURTON N. HARRISON, 
 
 Private Secretary. 
 
 Ma.t. Gen. Kkmper: 
 
 Furnish as complete an answer as possible to this reso- 
 lution. 
 
 By order. 
 
 J. A. CAMPBELL, 
 
 Asst. Sec. of War. 
 Dec. 16, 1^64. 
 
 Head Quarters, Reserve Forces, Va. 
 December 19, 1864. 
 
 Respectfully returned, inviting attention to enclosed report. 
 
 J. L.' KEMPER, 
 
 ' Maj. Gejieral. 
 
V ■ 
 
 Head Quarters Reserve Forces, Va. 
 December 19, 1864. 
 Gen. S. Cooper, A. Sf I. General : 
 
 General : 
 
 In compliance with the enclosed order of the As- 
 sistant Secretary of War, dated the 16th instant, I have the honor to 
 report that the impressment of slaves in Virginia, for twelve months' 
 service, has been conducted in strict conformity to the enclosed 
 circular letter (marked A) — that is to say, the impressment has 
 been apportioned ratably among all the slaveholders of each county, 
 so as to charge each slaveholder with the vsame proportion of his 
 male slaves between the ages of IS and 4-5 y<i:ars, capable of per- 
 forming ordinary lal)or ; but in no case has any one person contribu- 
 ted more than one out of five male slaves between the ages specified. 
 It is true that, by an error, the impressment was begun in two coun- 
 ties of th'e State on a basis of calculation which included female 
 slaves within the ages specified, but the error was promptly corrected, 
 and the slaves thus improperly impressed were all released and re- 
 stored to their owners. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 J. L. KEMPER, 
 
 Major General. 
 
 [A.] 
 
 Conscript Office, 
 Richmond, Oct. , IS64. 
 
 CIRCULAR LETTER. 
 
 To , Enrolling Officer, Count ij : 
 
 Circular No. 70, from this office, is hereby revoked, and 
 the following is th" apportionment of slaves to be taken from your 
 cotinty, under the provisions of Circular No. 69, Conscript Office 
 (current series). Circular No. 69, Conscript Office (current series), 
 is in full force. 
 
 County. 
 
 Slaves. 
 
 This requisition will be apportioned ratably amonjx all the slave- 
 holders in your comity, so as to charge each slaveholder with the 
 same proportion of his male slaves between the ages specified, capa- 
 
ble of peiiorujin;; ordinary labor; but in no case will this requisition 
 take more tlian one out of five male slaves between the ages speci- 
 fied, from any one person. Care should be taken that the slave im- 
 pressed is able-bodied. These slaves must be collected and forwarded 
 with the utmo.st possible expedition. 
 
 You will cause the Advisory Board of your county to use extraor- 
 diuarv diligence in the collection of these negroes, and forwarding 
 them to Capt. W. H. Fiy, Adjutant of the Post, at Camp Lee, with 
 full descriptive list, giving the name of owner. Receipt sJiould be 
 taken in each case. It is suggested that the commissioners' books be 
 taken as a guide. 
 
 By order of Lt. Col. J. C. Shields. 
 
 , Lieut, and Adft. 
 
 RESPONSE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSCRIPTION. 
 
 Confederate States of America, 
 War Department, 
 Bureau of Conscription, 
 Richmond, Va., Dec. 16, 18(34. 
 
 Hon. James A. Seddon, Secret unj of War: 
 
 Sir : 
 
 The following resolution of the House of Representa- 
 tives has been referred to this Bureau for attention : 
 
 " Resolved, That the President be requested to inform this House 
 whether at this time there are in the employment of the Confederate 
 States, slaves impressed, exceeding one in five of the male slaves be- 
 tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five, of one owner, and whether 
 any slaves have been impressed, and are now in service, on a basis of 
 calculation including female slaves between the ages of eighteen and 
 forty-five ; and if such impressments have been niade, by w^hat au- 
 thority it has been done, and whether the credit directed to be 
 allowed in the impressment of slaves by the provisions of the act of 
 February 17th, IS(y, has been allowed." 
 
 The Bureau is not in possession of the information demanded by 
 this resolution. 
 
 Oiily two impressments of slaves have been made by the direction 
 of this Biu-eau.' 
 
 The first was under your instructions of the 2'st of vSeptember 
 ultimo, for 5,000 slaves from the state of Virginia, for service with 
 the army of Northern Virginia, for thirty days. The following 
 direction was given to the Commandant of Conscripts for Virginia, 
 by the Bureau, for the execution of your order: 
 
 "September 21st — Respectfully referred to Lieut. Col. Shields, 
 to take immediate steps for compliance with the within order of the 
 Secretary of War. The urgency of the matter, as represented by 
 
General Lee, should cause the utmost promptitude. Return this 
 paper for the files of this office." 
 
 The second was under your instructions of the 24th September 
 ulthno. to procure negroes under the Act of Congress of February 
 17, 1864, authorizing the employment of free negroes and slaves in 
 certain capacities, to increase the efficiency of the army. In com- 
 municating these instructions to the Generals of Reserves, the Bu- 
 reau accompauitid them with an order, oi" which the following is an 
 extract : 
 
 " September -?Oth — To Generals of Reserves — Respectfully re- 
 fierred * * * to direct the officer of conscription to proceed im- 
 mediately and with vigor to the completion of the enrollment of the 
 free negroes in the State under your command, between the ages of 
 18 and 50, and to deal with them in accordance with the instructions 
 herein contained. Enrolling officers will also be instructed to pro- 
 cure from the owner, by contracts, as many of the slaves herein re- 
 \quired from your State, as can be obtained thereby, and to make the 
 necessary arrangements to procure the deficit by impressment. If 
 the Legislature of your State has passed any law for the collection of 
 slaves tor military servici; in the Confederate States, the Bureau de- 
 sires to be immediately informed of its provisions. It is desired thpt 
 the within instructions and the regulations that may be prepared by 
 the Bureau or the General commanding, &c. and charged with the 
 business of conscription for their enforcement, wmH not be published 
 in any newspaper." 
 
 Under these orders, no returns have yet been made to this Bureau, 
 though repeatedly called for from the Generals of Reserves. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir. 
 
 Your very respectful, ob't serv't, 
 
 JNO. S. PRESTON, 
 
 Brig. Gen. and Supt. 
 
peomalife* 
 
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