Report of Lewis H. Steiner, inspector of the Sanitary Commission
containing a diary kept during the rebel occupation of Frederick, Md., and an account of the operations of the U.S. Sanitary Commission during the campaign in Maryland, September, 1862
published by permission of the Sanitiary Commission.
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Wednesday, September 10. At four o clock this morning
the rebel army began to move from our town, Jackson s
force taking the advance. The movement continued until
eight o clock r. M., occupying sixteen hours. The most liberal
calculations could not give them more than 6i,000 men.
Over 3,000 negroes must be included in this number. These
were clad in all kinds of uniforms, not only in cast-off or
captured United States uniforms, but in coats with Southern
buttons, State buttons, etc. These were shabby, but not
shabbier or seedier than those worn bv white men in the

20 THE SANITARY COMMISSION.

rebel ranks. Most of the negroes had arms, rifles, muskets,
sabres, bowie-knives, dirks, etc. They were supplied, in
many instances, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, etc.,
and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Con
federacy Army. They were seen riding on horses and mules,
driving wagons, riding on caissons, in ambulances, with the
staff of Generals, and promiscuously mixed up with all the
rebel horde. The fact was patent, and rather interesting
when considered in connection with the horror rebels express
at the suggestion of black soldiers being employed for the
National defence.