Negro Enlistments in Maryland--how the thing is Worked.
We are reliably informed that the Lincoln Government is engaged in stealing the property of the slave-owners of Maryland, and using all the slaves they can seduce from their homes to recruit their shattered armies. The abduction of the slave is accomplished through the agency of free negroes, who are employed to go through the State and inform the slaves of the intention of the Government to make them free. Points along the river and bay are designated, and times specified, for the slaves to meet, and facilities provided for their removal to Washington. Boats are sent to these points at the times specified, and signals given by the steam whistle for the negroes to come in and go on board. In this way hundreds are carried away to Washington, where, instead of being allowed their freedom, they are forced into the Federal ranks. It is supposed that this plan has been resorted to to avoid the payment of three hundred dollars to the owner for the emancipation of his negro. The free negro, of course, receives a bonus for his part of the performance.The following shows the number of "colored" soldiers that had been enlisted in Maryland under this and other systems up to the 1st of October:
From Somerset, 20; Dorchester, 285; Talbot, 98; Caroline, 20; Queen Anne's, 199; Kent, 206; Cecil, 58; Baltimore, (second district,) 135; Baltimore, (third district,) 197; Hartford, 34; Frederick, 49; Washington, 67; Carroll, 34; St. Mary's 2; Anne Arundel, 5; Prince George, 1; Howard, 28. Total, 1,738.
On the Sunday night previous to the 22d of October fifty negroes left the vicinity of Leonardtown, St. Mary's county, and have not since been heard from. Others are daily missing from different sections of the same county, and the tenure to this species of property has become so insecure as to render it entirely valueless.
