History Contraband (American Civil War)

envelope showing contrabands (slaves) speaking union general butler.



escaped slaves meeting union troops, 1862

the status of southern-owned slaves after confederate states had engaged in american civil war became issue in 1861, not long after hostilities began. @ fort monroe in virginia s hampton roads, major general benjamin butler, commander, learned 3 slaves had made way across hampton roads harbor confederate-occupied norfolk county, , presented @ union-held fort monroe. general butler refused return escaped slaves slaveholders supported confederacy. amounted classifying them contraband, although first use of terminology in military records appears have been officer. (see below).

the 3 slaves, frank baker, james townsend , sheppard mallory, had been leased masters confederate army construct defense batteries @ sewell s point, across mouth of hampton roads union-held fort monroe. escaped @ night , rowed skiff old point comfort, sought asylum @ fort monroe.

prior war, owners of slaves have been legally entitled request return (as property) , have done under federal 1850 fugitive slave act. but, virginia had declared (by secession) no longer part of united states. general butler, educated attorney, took position that, if virginia considered foreign power u.s., under no obligation return 3 men; hold them contraband of war. when confederate major john b. cary requested return, butler refused request. because practice recognized seceded states foreign entities, president abraham lincoln disapproved of it.

gen. butler did not pay escaped slaves wages work began undertake, , continued refer them slaves. on september 25, 1861, secretary of navy gideon welles issued directive give persons of color, commonly known contrabands , in employment of union navy pay @ rate of $10 per month , full day s ration. 3 weeks later, union army followed suit, paying male contrabands @ fort monroe $8 month , females $4, , specific command.

in august, congress passed confiscation act of 1861, declared property used confederate military, including slaves, confiscated union forces. next march, act prohibiting return of slaves forbade returning slaves confederate masters or military.