Description
Compensation for Slaves. - - By the Enrollment Act of March 3, 1863, Congress provided that all loyal owners of slaves in listing in the service of the United States, should be paid to some not exceeding $300 for each slave so enlisting.
Congress, at its last session, made provision to carry the act into effect, and we understand that the Secretary of War will soon appoint commissioners authorized by the law to examine the claims, of which there are hundreds in Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware, that ought to have been paid long ago.
(Researcher's note: "During the Civil War, two acts of Congress - one passed in 1864 (13 Stat. 11) and one in 1866 (14 Stat. 321) - allowed loyal slave owners whose slaves enlisted or were drafted into the U.S. military to file a claim against the Federal government for loss of the slave's services. The law allowed for up to $300 compensation for slaves who enlisted, and up $100 for slaves who were drafted." A third act of Congress passed on March 30, 1867 (15 Stat. 29) suspended the claims process. https://www.slcl.org/research-learn/genealogy/north-american-genealogy/african-american/slave-compensation-claims)Date(s) of Creation
8/30/1866
