Why Was Butler's Use Of Contraband?

Frank, Sheppard, and James, were all slaves who worked in fields. They had plans on escaping once they heard that their master was planning on sending them away. This was to help build fortification in North Carolina. When they went off to go escape on May 23, 1861 they were spotted by a guard and they were reported to the fort. They were asked many questions. After the interrogation, Major butler had to turn them in.

Butlers original intentions were not to turn the slaves in. He wanted to earn soldiers respect by not sending them back to slavery. Butler was told by Colonel Mallory to give the slaves back but butler didn’t follow orders. This was putting his job and potentially his life on the line for keeping these slaves. So he was faced with a decision either to keep the slaves or return them back or lose all of the soldiers respect.
Butler kept the slaves which caused more slaves to want to escape to butlers fort for freedom. More than 500 slaves/fugitives escaped (slavery) and went to Butler’s fort. They felt more at home because they didn’t have to work as much as they used to. They were able to take breaks and eat good food on a daily basis. Also, they were no longer called “slaves” they were called contraband. “Contraband” means illegal objects, contraband also means something illegal that is being smuggled and hidden just like the slaves were.
The country had just started a huge civil war which split the country in two. Slaves capitalized on the opportunity and found various ways to escape and slip through cracks to be free. During the war it was hard for slaveowners and colonels to keep slaves when they constantly have to worry about war so this was a perfect time for slaves to take advantage of the