Chapter XXVI: Military Employment of Negroes

1775-1780.

The Colonial States in 1715.--Ratification of the
Non-Importation Act by the Southern Colonies.--George
Washington presents Resolutions against Slavery, in a
Meeting at Fairfax Court-House, Va.--Letter written by
Benjamin Franklin to Dean Woodward, pertaining to
Slavery.--Letter to the Freemen of Virginia from a
Committee, concerning the Slaves brought from
Jamaica.--Severe Treatment of Slaves in the Colonies
modified.--Advertisement in "The Boston Gazette" of the
Runaway Slave Crispus Attucks.--The Boston Massacre.--Its
Results.--Crispus Attucks shows his Loyalty.--His Spirited
Letter to the Tory Governor of the Province.--Slaves
admitted into the Army.--The Condition of the Continental
Army.--Spirited Debate in the Continental Congress, over the
Draught of a Letter to Gen. Washington.--Instructions to
discharge all Slaves and Free Negroes in his Army.--Minutes
of the Meeting held at Cambridge.--Lord Dunmore's
Proclamation.--Prejudice in the Southern Colonies.--Negroes
in Virginia flock to the British Army.--Caution to the
Negroes printed in a Williamsburg Paper.--The Virginia
Convention answers the Proclamation of Lord Dunmore.--Gen.
Greene, in a Letter to Gen. Washington, calls Attention to
the raising of a Negro Regiment on Staten Island.--Letter
from a Hessian Officer.--Connecticut Legislature on the
Subject of Employment of Negroes as Soldiers.--Gen. Varnum's
Letter to Gen. Washington, suggesting the Employment of
Negroes, sent to Gov. Cooke.--The Governor refers Varnum's
Letter to the General Assembly.--Minority Protest against
enlisting Slaves to serve in the Army.--Massachusetts tries
to secure Legal Enlistments of Negro Troops.--Letter of
Thomas Kench to the Council and House of Representatives,
Boston, Mass.--Negroes serve in White Organizations until
the Close of the American Revolution.--Negro Soldiers serve
in Virginia.--Maryland employs Negroes.--New York passes an
Act providing for the Raising of two Colored Regiments.--War
in the Middle and Southern Colonies.--Hamilton's Letter to
John Jay.--Col. Laurens's Efforts to raise Negro Troops in
South Carolina.--Proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton inducing
Negroes to desert the Rebel Army.--Lord Cornwallis issues a
Proclamation offering Protection to all Negroes seeking his
Command,--Col. Laurens is called to France on Important
Business.--His Plan for securing Black Levies for the South
upon his Return.--His Letters to Gen. Washington in Regard
to his Fruitless Plans.--Capt David Humphreys recruits a
Company of Colored Infantry in Connecticut.--Return of
Negroes in the Army in 1778. 324

CHAPTER XXVII.

NEGROES AS SOLDIERS.

1775-1783.

The Negro as a Soldier.--Battle of Bunker Hill--Gallantry of
Negro Soldiers.--Peter Salem, the Intrepid Black
Soldier.--Bunker-hill Monument.--The Negro Salem Poor
distinguishes himself by Deeds of Desperate Valor.--Capture
of Gen. Lee.--Capture of Gen. Prescott--Battle of Rhode
Island.--Col. Greene commands a Negro Regiment.--Murder of
Col. Greene in 1781.--The Valor of the Negro Soldiers. 363