Recollection by Orville Hickman Browning, April 3, 1864, Washington, D.C.

Sunday, April 3

 

At night went to the Presidents, and got an order for the release of Ludwell Y Browning, a rebel prisoner at Camp Douglass. Spoke to the President also about Capt Black's case, and about the appointment of Eben : Moore Esq, as Secretary of the Territory of Mantano.The President told me that a few days before Govr Bramlett of Ky: Hon Archibald Dixon- & Mr Hodges of the same state had called upon him in regard to the enlistment of slaves as soldiers in Ky, in reference to which there has been much dissatisfaction in that State, and that everything had been amicably adjusted between them, and that they had gone home satisfied. He said when they were discussing the matter he asked them to let him make a little speech to them, which he did and with which they were much pleased. That afterwards Mr Hodges came back to him, and asked him to give him a copy of his remarks to take with him to Ky -  He told Mr Hodges that what he had said was not written, and that he had not then time to commit it to paper - but to go home and he would write him a letter in which he would give, as nearly as he could all that he had said to them orally - that he had written the letter today, Sunday, and wished to show it to me, as he felt the need of sympathy & advice. He then read it to me. It contained his views of the necessity and propriety of the enlistment of negroes to aid the Union cause. A well written and excellent paper.