Slaves Contrabands of War: 1861

Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: July 4, 1861. 

Fugitive slaves escaping from any of the seceding States are to be held as contrabands of war. The doctrine is, that as slaves erected batteries at Fort Sumter and at Fort Pickens, and are constantly employed in throwing up earthworks at Norfolk, that they are liable to confiscation just as much as innocent gun carriage captured in an enemy's vessel. Gen. Butler, the other day excited comment, by returning some fugitives, in Maryland, but he has adopted a different course in relation to seceding States. Three slaves belonging to Col. Mallory, now in command of the rebel forces near Hampton, having got into their heads some "vague notions of freedom," as well as some very distinct notions that they were about to be sent further South, presented themselves at Fortress Monroe and sought protection. The rebel Colonel sent an officer with a flag of truce, and had the inconceivable imprudence to demand that the negroes should be given up under the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law. Gen. Butler stated that under existing circumstances he should consider the slaves contraband goods, and hold them accordingly. He had, in fact, put them to work. So the Colonel was discomfited.