GDG- Blacks at Gettysburg

[Tom Ryan]

<<I remember reading somewhere that the ANV also sought to re-capture blacks
who had escaped slavery before the war and were in PA. Does anyone know
about this, or was it just one of the possibilities discussed in Richmond.>>

Hi John,

Actually the capture of blacks during the Gettysburg Campaign was unofficial
policy on the part of the ANV, and evidently was condoned by the army
command and the Richmond authorities.  This has been documented in any
number of articles in recent years, and is mentioned in most of the major
histories of the campaign.

What has not been well established is how many blacks were captured, and
returned to the South.  Usually the estimates range up to at least a couple
hundred.  Most of the capturing was done by ANV cavalry.  Jenkins in
particular is known to have captured and sent back escaped slaves and free
blacks alike.  Jeb Stuart also captured some blacks around the Rockville,
Maryland area.  John Mosby's rangers also captured some and brought them
back to Virginia.

The only written evidence that I recall is a message from Longstreet to
Pickett that discusses the disposition of "contrabands" that had been
captured.

Regards, Tom