http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=34&subjectID=3
'...The Union army BOUGHT slaves from loyal plantation owners for about $300 a head to serve in the army, and were not freed until their service was completed. Making Lincoln's government the largest slave owner in that part of the world.' -- ? "without primary source documentation, this is just fiction."
Page. 837, O.R. Series 3 - Volume 3 (Fort Pillow was a receiving station for slaves, many stolen, and the money pocketed, River Run Red, by Andrew Ward)
His Excellency A. LINCOLN:
If we were authorized to offer $300 in addition to the present bounty
to loyal masters consenting to their slaves entering the service of the
United States, it would be an entering wedge to emancipation, and
for the time paralyze much opposition to recruiting slaves in Tennes-
see, the slave to receive all other pay and his freedom at the expira-
tion of term of service. If a white man pays his $300 for his substitute,
he need not care whether he is white or black. This would relieve
the loyal owners and punish the rebels and traitors, for as to his
slaves we should ask no questions nor make any promises.
ANDREW JOHNSON,
Page 396 O.R. Series 3 - Volume 4
WAR DEPARTMENT, SOLICITOR’S OFFICE,
Washington, D. C., May 20, 1864.
Brig. Gen. JAMES B. FRY,
Provost-Marshal- General:
“If a drafted slave personally desires exemption, will another slave
he deemed, by the Secretary of War, an acceptable substitute ?“
OPINION.
When a slave of a loyal master in either of the loyal States, having
been enrolled as part of the national forces, shall be drafted and
mustered into the service of the United States, his master is entitled
to a certificate thereof, and thereupon such slave shall be free, and
the bounty of $100 shall be paid to the master.
When the slave of such loyal master volunteers in that service
his master is entitled to compensation not exceeding *300; and every
such volunteer, on being mustered into service, is entitled to his
freedom.
No provision of law has yet been made defining the rights of a slave
who, while servitude continues, should be put into the ranks by his
owner as a substitute for a drafted slave. Which of the masters or
which of the slaves, and whether either of them would be entitled to
bounty, the statutes do not determine. Whether either of the slaves
would be entitled to freedom or their masters to certificates is equally
undecided.
Heretofore no person has acted as a soldier in the service of the
United States until he has been made a freeman by law. To allow
any one to act as a soldier who, while fighting under the flag of his
country, could be held as a slave, would produce confusion and
uncertainty in regard to the rights of colored soldiers; it would cause
dissatisfaction in the Army; it would be opposed to the spirit of ths~
legislation of Congress.
Under these circumstances, in the absence of any statute requiring
the acceptance and defining the rights of this peculiar class of sub-
stitutes, having due regard to the character of the legislation of Con-
gress, which has thus far made the soldier a freeman on entering the
Military Governor.
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GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRs. DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
No. 135. Saint Louis, Mo., November 14, 1863.
Page 1035, O.R. Series 3 - Volume 3
VIII. The Board shall award to the owner of each slave enlisted a
just compensation for his services, not exceeding the sum of $3OO,
upon the presenting by said owner of the certificate of enlistment
and filing a valid deed of manumission and of release, and making
satisfactory proof of title. Provided: First. That no person who is
or has been engaged in rebellion against the Government of the United
States, or who has in any way given or shall give aid or comfort to
the enemies of the Government, shall be awarded any compensation
for the services of any slaves enlisted into the service of the United
States.
Second. That no compensation shall be awarded for the services of
any slave who has at any time during the present rebellion belonged
to any person who has been in rebellion or given aid or comfort to
the enemies of the Government.
Third. All claimants shall file with their claims an oath of alle-
giance to the Government of the United States.
__________________________
David Upton