Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves
1862 U.S. law prohibiting the military from returning formerly enslaved people to enslavers / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves is a law passed by the United States Congress during the American Civil War forbidding all officers or persons in the military or naval service to return escaped enslaved people to their enslavers with the aid or use of the forces under their respective commands.
Long title | An Act to Make an Additional Article of War |
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Nicknames | Act Prohibiting the Return of Slaves |
Announced in | the 37th United States Congress |
Citations | |
Statutes at Large | 12 Stat. 354 |
Legislative history | |
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As Union armies entered Confederate-occupied territory during the early years of the war, encouraged enslaved people began fleeing behind Union lines to secure their freedom. Some commanders put the escapees to work digging entrenchments, building fortifications, and performing other camp work. Such people escaping slavery came to be called "contraband", a term emphasizing their status as captured enemy property. Other Army commanders returned the escapees to their owners. Congress approved this act, requiring that any officer who violates the same be dismissed from the service upon conviction by a court-martial.