DAVID HUNTER

General David Hunter had unilaterally freed all the slaves in the Southern Department. See {619331}. Lincoln rescinded Hunter’s proclamation instantly. Lincoln would issue the first Emancipation Proclamation 4 months later, but did not want each Army Department setting its own policy on such a touchy and serious subject. Also, Lincoln did not want to offend the two slave states that had remained loyal to the Union, Kentucky and Maryland. Some Lincoln critics claim that there was little or no moral motivation for Lincoln, and he was pressured into the Emancipation Proclamation. See {619335} for the Confederate Government reaction to Hunter’s Emancipation.

General Hunter had been assigned as the Commanding General of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas which Hunter thought was a “banishment”. Lincoln, who was generally very gentle and courteous when disciplining subordinates, could be quite firm also, but always reasonably courteous.

The general issued a military order emancipating slaves in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. President Abraham Lincoln rescinded the order feeling it was too premature and it would cause the slave states that stayed in the Union--Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky--to go over to the Confederates.

The general issued a military order emancipating slaves in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. President Abraham Lincoln rescinded the order feeling it was too premature and it would cause the slave states that stayed in the Union--Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky--to go over to the Confederates.