A report had been freely circulated by some persons that the old planters had petitioned the general to retain him, as he was “high in their favor.” The latter clause is admissible, as even among that peculiar class there are men who are liberal enough, by virtue of their acquirements, to respect and appreciate the dignified manhood and high moral character of the negro officer. The planters can offer no allurement sufficient to tempt him to their special interest. They cannot promise power to him, as they are devoid of it, and his own incorruptible integrity to the government is known to have caused him to peremptorily refuse all offers, on the most advantageous terms, to even enter into any speculations of cotton, or any other staple. The following order is sufficient to prove the falsity of the report.
War Department, Adjutant General’s Office,
Washington, February 8, 1866.
Major General D. E. Sickles, Comm’g Dept. of South Carolina, Headquarters, Charleston, S. C.
General: I have respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo, recommending that Major M. R. Delany, 104th Regiment United States Colored Troops, be retained in service, and in reply thereto, I am directed by the Secretary of War, to say that this is authority for the retention of that officer in service, until further orders from the War Department.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) C. W. Foster,
Asst. Adjt. Gen. Vols.
Headquarters, Department South Carolina,
Charleston, S. C., February 12, 1866.
Official copy.
W. L. M. Burger,
Asst. Adjt. Gen.