Chapter XVIII: Employment of Negroes as Soldiers (1)

THE QUESTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES.--THE REBELS TAKE THE
FIRST STEP TOWARD THE MILITARY EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES.--GRAND
REVIEW OF THE REBEL TROOPS AT NEW ORLEANS.--GENERAL HUNTER ARMS
THE FIRST REGIMENT OF LOYAL NEGROES AT THE SOUTH.--OFFICIAL
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND GENERAL HUNTER
RESPECTING THE ENLISTMENT OF THE BLACK REGIMENT.--THE ENLISTMENT
OF FIVE NEGRO REGIMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESIDENT.--THE POLICY
OF GENERAL PHELPS IN REGARD TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES AS
SOLDIERS IN LOUISIANA.--A SECOND CALL FOR TROOPS BY THE
PRESIDENT.--AN ATTEMPT TO AMEND THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL SO AS
TO PROHIBIT THE FURTHER EMPLOYMENT OF COLORED TROOPS.--GOVERNOR
JOHN A. ANDREW, OF MASSACHUSETTS, AUTHORIZED BY SECRETARY OF WAR
TO ORGANIZE TWO REGIMENTS OF COLORED TROOPS.--GENERAL LORENZO
THOMAS IS DESPATCHED TO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TO SUPERINTEND THE
ENLISTMENT OF NEGRO SOLDIERS IN THE SPRING OF 1863.--AN ORDER
ISSUED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT IN THE FALL OF 1863 FOR THE
ENLISTMENT OF COLORED TROOPS.--THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB OF NEW YORK
CITY.--RECRUITING OF COLORED TROOPS IN PENNSYLVANIA.--GEORGE L.
STEARNS ASSIGNED CHARGE OF THE RECRUITING OF COLORED TROOPS IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND.--FREE MILITARY SCHOOL
ESTABLISHED AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.--ENDORSEMENT OF THE
SCHOOL BY SECRETARY STANTON.--THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
SCHOOL.--OFFICIAL TABLE GIVING NUMBER OF COLORED TROOPS IN THE
ARMY.--THE CHARACTER OF NEGRO TROOPS.--MR. GREELEY'S EDITORIAL ON
"NEGRO TROOPS."--LETTER FROM JUDGE ADVOCATE HOLT TO THE SECRETARY
OF WAR ON THE "ENLISTMENT OF SLAVES."--THE NEGRO LEGALLY AND
CONSTITUTIONALLY A SOLDIER.--HISTORY RECORDS HIS DEEDS OF
PATRIOTISM.

At no time during the first two years of the war was the President or the Congress willing to entertain the idea of employing Negroes as soldiers. It has been shown that the admission of loyal Negroes into the Union lines, and into the service of the Engineer's and Quartermaster's Department, had been resisted with great stubbornness by the men in the "chief places." There were, however, a few men, both in and out of the army, who secretly believed that the Negro was needed in the army, and that he possessed all the elements necessary to make an excellent soldier. Public sentiment was so strong against the employment of Negroes in the armed service that few men had the courage of conviction; few had the temerity to express their views publicly. In the summer of 1860,--before the election of Abraham Lincoln,--General J. Watts De Peyster, of New York, wrote an article for a Hudson paper, in which he advocated the arming of Negroes as soldiers, should the Southern States declare war against the Government of the United States. The article was reproduced in many other papers, pronounced a fire-brand, and General De Peyster severely denounced for his advice. But he stood his ground, and when the war did come he gave to his country's service three gallant sons; and from the first to the last was an efficient and enthusiastic supporter of the war for the Union.

The rebels took the first step in the direction of the military employment of Negroes as soldiers. Two weeks after the firing upon Sumter took place, the following note appeared in the "Charleston Mercury":

Several companies of the Third and Fourth Regiments of Georgia
passed through Augusta for the expected scene of
warfare--Virginia. Sixteen well-drilled companies of volunteers
and one negro company, from Nashville, Tennessee, offered their
services to the Confederate States."[91]

In the "Memphis Avalanche" and "Memphis Appeal" of the 9th, 10th, and 11th of May, 1861, appeared the following notice:

"ATTENTION, VOLUNTEERS: Resolved by the Committee of Safety, that
C. Deloach, D. R. Cook, and William B. Greenlaw be authorized to
organize a volunteer company composed of our patriotic free men
of color, of the city of Memphis, for the service of our common
defence. All who have not enrolled their names will call at the
office of W. B. Greenlaw & Co.

"F. TITUS, _President_.

"F. W. FORSYTHE, _Secretary_."

On the 9th of February, 1862, the rebel troops had a grand review, and the "Picayune," of New Orleans, contained the following paragraph:

"We must also pay a deserved compliment to the companies of free
colored men, all very well drilled, and comfortably uniformed.
Most of these companies, quite unaided by the administration,
have supplied themselves with arms without regard to cost or
trouble. One of these companies, commanded by the well-known
veteran, Captain Jordan, was presented, a little before the
parade, with a fine war-flag of the new style. This interesting
ceremony took place at Mr. Cushing's store, on Camp, near Common
Street. The presentation was made by Mr. Bigney, and Jordan made,
on this occasion, one of his most felicitous speeches."

And on the 4th of February, 1862, the "Baltimore Traveller" contained the following paragraph:

"ARMING OF NEGROES AT RICHMOND.--Contrabands who have recently
come within the Federal lines at Williamsport, report that all
the able-bodied colored men in that vicinity are being taken to
Richmond, formed into regiments, and armed for the defence of
that city."

The following telegram was sent out:

"NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 23, 1861.

"Over twenty-eight thousand troops were reviewed to-day by
Governor Moore, Major-General Lovell, and Brig.-General Ruggles.
The line was over seven miles long. One regiment comprised
fourteen hundred free colored men."

These are sufficient to show that from the earliest dawn of the war the rebel authorities did not frown upon the action of local authorities in placing arms into the hands of free Negroes.

The President of the United States was still opposing any attempt on the part of the supporters of the war to constrain him to approve of the introduction of Negroes into the army. But the Secretary of War, the Hon. Simon Cameron, had sent an order to Brig.-Gen. T. W. Sherman, directing him to accept the services of all loyal persons who desired to aid in the suppression of the Rebellion in and about Port Royal. When Gen. David Hunter relieved Gen. Sherman, the latter turned over to him the instructions of the Secretary of War. There was no mention of color, nor was any class of persons mentioned save "loyal persons." Gen. Hunter was a gentleman of broad, liberal, and humane views, and seeing an opportunity open to employ Negroes as soldiers, in the spring of 1862 directed the organization of a regiment of blacks. He secured the best white officers for the regiment, and it soon obtained a fine condition of discipline. The news of a Union Negro regiment in South Carolina completely surprised the people at Washington. On the 9th of June, 1862, Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, introduced in the National House of Representatives a resolution of inquiry, calling upon Gen. Hunter to explain to Congress his unprecedented conduct in arming Negroes to fight the battles of the Union. Mr. Stanton was now at the head of the War Department, and the following correspondence took place:

"GENERAL HUNTER'S NEGRO REGIMENT.

"OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

"WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1862.

"_Hon. G. A. Grow, Speaker of the House of Representatives_:

"SIR: A resolution of the House of Representatives has been
received, which passed the ninth instant, to the following
effect:

"'_Resolved_, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform
this House if Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina,
has organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the
defence of the Union, composed of black men (fugitive slaves),
and appointed a Colonel and officers to command them.

"'2d. Was he authorized by the Department to organize and muster
into the army of the United States, as soldiers, the fugitive or
captive slaves?

"'3d. Has he been furnished with clothing, uniforms, etc., for
such force?

"'4th. Has he been furnished, by order of the Department of War,
with arms to be placed in the hands of the slaves?

"'5th. To report any orders given said Hunter, and correspondence
between him and the Department.'"

"In answer to the foregoing resolution, I have the honor to
inform the House;

"1st. That this Department has no official information whether
Gen. Hunter, of the Department of South Carolina, has or has not
organized a regiment of South Carolina volunteers for the defence
of the Union, composed of black men, fugitive slaves, and
appointed the Colonel and other officers to command them. In
order to ascertain whether he has done so or not, a copy of the
House resolution has been transmitted to Gen. Hunter, with
instructions to make immediate report thereon.

"2d. Gen. Hunter was not authorized by the Department to organize
and muster into the army of the United States the fugitive or
captive slaves.

"3d. Gen. Hunter, upon his requisition as Commander of the South,
has been furnished with clothing and arms for the force under his
command, without instructions as to how they should be used.

"4th. He has not been furnished by order of the Department of War
with arms to be placed within the hands of 'those slaves.'

"5th. In respect to so much of said resolution as directs the
Secretary 'to report to the House my orders given said Hunter,
and correspondence between him and the Department,' the President
instructs me to answer that the report, at this time, of the
orders given to and correspondence between Gen. Hunter and this
Department would, in his opinion, be incompatible with the public
welfare.

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"EDWIN M. STANTON,
"_Secretary of War_."

"WAR DEPARTMENT, }
"WASHINGTON, July 2, 1862. }

"SIR: On reference to the answer of this Department of the
fourteenth ultimo to the resolution of the House of
Representatives of the ninth of last month, calling for
information respecting the organization by Gen. Hunter, of the
Department of South Carolina, of a regiment of volunteers for the
defence of the Union, composed of black men, fugitive slaves,
etc., it will be seen that the resolution had been referred to
that officer with instructions to make an immediate report
thereon. I have now the honor to transmit herewith the copy of a
communication just received from Gen. Hunter, furnishing
information as to his action touching the various matters
indicated in the resolution.

"I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,

"EDWIN M. STANTON,
"_Secretary of War_.

"Hon. G. A. GROW,
"_Speaker of the House of Representatives_."

"HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, }
"PORT ROYAL, S. C., June 23, 1862. }

"Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, _Secretary of War_, Washington.

"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a
communication from the Adjutant-General of the army, dated June
thirteenth, 1862, requesting me to furnish you with the
information necessary to answer certain resolutions introduced in
the House of Representatives, June ninth, 1862, on motion of the
Hon. Mr. Wickliffe, of Kentucky, their substance being to
inquire:

"First. Whether I had organized or was organizing a regiment of
'fugitive slaves' in this department?

"Second. Whether any authority had been given to me from the War
Department for such organization? and

"Third. Whether I had been furnished, by order of the War
Department, with clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, etc., for
such a force?

"Only having received the letter covering these inquiries at a
late hour on Saturday night, I urge forward my answer in time for
the steamer sailing to-day (Monday)--this haste preventing me
from entering as minutely as I could wish upon many points of
detail, such as the paramount importance of the subject calls
for. But, in view of the near termination of the present session
of Congress, and the widespread interest which must have been
awakened by Mr. Wickliffe's resolutions, I prefer sending even
this imperfect answer to waiting the period necessary for the
collection of fuller and more comprehensive data.

"To the first question, therefore, I reply that no regiment of
'fugitive slaves' has been or is being organized in this
department. There is, however, a fine regiment of persons whose
late masters are 'fugitive rebels,'--men who everywhere fly
before the appearance of the national flag, leaving their
servants behind them to shift as best they can for themselves. So
far, indeed, are the loyal persons composing this regiment from
seeking to avoid the presence of their late owners, that they are
now, one and all, working with remarkable industry to place
themselves in a position to go in full and effective pursuit of
their fugacious and traitorous proprietors.

"To the second question I have the honor to answer that the
instructions given to Brig.-Gen. T. W. Sherman, by the Hon. Simon
Cameron, late Secretary of War, and turned over to me by
succession for my guidance, do distinctly authorize me to employ
all loyal persons offering their services in defence of the Union
and for the suppression of this rebellion in any manner I might
see fit, or that the circumstances might call for. There is no
restriction as to the character or color of the persons to be
employed, or the nature of the employment, whether civil or
military, in which their services should be used. I conclude,
therefore, that I have been authorized to enlist 'fugitive
slaves' as soldiers, could any such be found in this department.
No such characters, however, have yet appeared within view of our
most advanced pickets, the loyal slaves everywhere remaining on
their plantations to welcome us, aid us, and supply us with food,
labor, and information. It is the masters who have in every
instance been the 'fugitives,' running away from loyal slaves as
well as loyal soldiers, and whom we have only partially been able
to see--chiefly their heads over ramparts, or, rifle in hand,
dodging behind trees--in the extreme distance. In the absence of
any 'fugitive-master law,' the deserted slaves would be wholly
without remedy, had not the crime of treason given them the right
to pursue, capture, and bring back those persons of whose
protection they have been thus suddenly bereft.

"To the third interrogatory it is my painful duty to reply that I
never have received any specific authority for issues of
clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, and so forth, to the troops
in question--my general instructions from Mr. Cameron to employ
them in any manner I might find necessary, and the military
exigencies of the department and the country being my only, but,
in my judgment, sufficient justification. Neither have I had any
specific authority for supplying these persons with shovels,
spades, and pickaxes, when employing them as laborers, nor with
boats and oars when using them as lightermen; but these are not
points included in Mr. Wickliffe's resolution. To me it seemed
that liberty to employ men in any particular capacity implied
with it liberty also to supply them with the necessary tools; and
acting upon this faith I have clothed, equipped, and armed the
only loyal regiment yet raised in South Carolina.

"I must say, in vindication of my own conduct, that had it not
been for the many other diversified and imperative claims on my
time, a much more satisfactory result might have been hoped for;
and that in place of only one, as at present, at least five or
six well-drilled, brave, and thoroughly acclimated regiments
should by this time have been added to the loyal forces of the
Union.

"The experiment of arming the blacks, so far as I have made it,
has been a complete and even marvellous success. They are sober,
docile, attentive, and enthusiastic, displaying great natural
capacities for acquiring the duties of the soldier. They are
eager beyond all things to take the field and be led into action;
and it is the unanimous opinion of the officers who have had
charge of them, that in the peculiarities of this climate and
country they will prove invaluable auxiliaries, fully equal to
the similar regiments so long and successfully used by the
British authorities in the West-India Islands.

"In conclusion, I would say it is my hope--there appearing no
possibility of other reënforcements, owing to the exigencies of
the campaign in the Peninsula--to have organized by the end of
next fall, and to be able to present to the Government, from
forty-eight to fifty thousand of these hardy and devoted
soldiers.

"Trusting that this letter may form part of your answer to Mr.
Wickliffe's resolutions, I have the honor to be, most
respectfully, your very obedient servant,

"D. HUNTER,
"_Major-General Commanding_."

Mr. Wickliffe seemed to feel that he had received an exhaustive reply to his resolution of inquiry, but his colleague, Mr. Dunlap, offered the following resolution on the 3d of July, 1862, which was never acted upon:

"_Resolved_, That the sentiments contained in the paper read to
this body yesterday, approving the arming of slaves, emanating
from Major-General David Hunter, clothed in discourteous
language, are an indignity to the American Congress, an insult to
the American people and our brave soldiers in arms; for which
sentiments, so uttered, he justly merits our condemnation and
censure."

There was quite a flutter among the politicians in the rear, and many army officers felt that the United States uniform had been disgraced by being put upon "fugitive slaves."

Within a few weeks after the affair in Congress alluded to above, two United States Senators,[92] charmed with the bold idea of General Hunter, called upon the President to urge him to accept the services of two Negro regiments. The "New York Herald" of the 5th of August, 1862, gave an account of the interview under the caption of "_Important Decision of the President_."

"The efforts of those who love the negro more than the Union to
induce the President to swerve from his established policy are
unavailing. He will neither be persuaded by promises nor
intimidated by threats. To-day he was called upon by two United
States Senators and rather peremptorily requested to accept the
services of two negro regiments. They were flatly and
unequivocally rejected. The President did not appreciate the
necessity of employing the negroes to fight the battles of the
country and take the positions which the white men of the nation,
the voters, and sons of patriotic sires, should be proud to
occupy; there were employments in which the negroes of rebel
masters might well be engaged, but he was not willing to place
them upon an equality with our volunteers, who had left home and
family and lucrative occupations to defend the Union and the
Constitution, while there were volunteers or militia enough in
the loyal States to maintain the Government without resort to
this expedient. If the loyal people were not satisfied with the
policy he had adopted, he was willing to leave the administration
to other hands. One of the Senators was impudent enough to tell
the President he wished to God he would resign."[93]

But there the regiment was,--one thousand loyal and competent soldiers; and there was no way out but for the government to father the regiment, and, therefore, on the 25th of August, 1862, the Secretary of War sent General Rufus Saxton the following order:

"3. In view of the small force under your command, and the
inability of the Government at the present time to increase it,
in order to guard the plantations and settlements occupied by the
United States from invasion, and protect the inhabitants thereof
from captivity and murder by the enemy, you are also authorized
to arm, uniform, equip, and receive into the service of the
United States, such number of Volunteers of African descent as
you may deem expedient, not exceeding five thousand; and may
detail officers to instruct them in military drill, discipline,
and duty, and to command them; the persons so received into
service, and their officers, to be entitled to and receive the
same pay and rations as are allowed by law to Volunteers in the
service.

"4. You will occupy, if possible, all the islands and plantations
heretofore occupied by the Government, and secure and harvest the
crops, and cultivate and improve the plantations.

"5. The population of African descent, that cultivate the land
and perform the labor of the Rebels, constitute a large share of
their military strength, and enable the White masters to fill the
Rebel armies, and wage a cruel and murderous war against the
people of the Northern States. By reducing the laboring strength
of the Rebels, their military power will be reduced. You are,
therefore, authorized, by every means in your power, to withdraw
from the enemy their laboring force and population, and to spare
no effort, consistent with civilized warfare, to weaken, harass,
and annoy them, and to establish the authority of the Government
of the United States within your Department."

But public sentiment was growing with every passing day. The very presence of the Negro regiment at Port Royal converted the most pronounced enemies of Negro troops into friends and admirers. The newspaper correspondents filled their letters to the papers North with most extravagant praise of the Negro soldier; and the President was driven from his position of "_no negro soldiers_."

The correspondent of the "Times," in a letter dated September 4, 1862, wrote:

"There is little doubt that the next mail from the North will
bring an order from the War Department recalling Major-Gen.
Hunter to a field of greater activity. The Government had not
lent him a hearty support in carrying out his policy of arming
the blacks, by which alone he could make himself useful in this
department to the National cause; and, therefore, more than two
months since he applied to be relieved, rather than sit supinely
with folded hands when his military abilities might be found of
service elsewhere. Now, however, I have reason to believe that
Gen. Hunter's views upon the question of forming negro regiments,
have been unreservedly adopted by the President, and the whole
question has assumed such a different phase that Gen. Hunter
almost regrets that he is to leave the department. The last mail
brought the authorization of the President to _enlist_ five negro
regiments, each of a thousand negroes, to be armed and uniformed
for the service of the United States, and also authorizes the
enrollment of an additional 50,000 to be employed in the
Quartermaster's Department nominally as laborers, but as they are
to be organized into companies and uniformed, and a portion of
their time is to be spent in drilling, it is easy to understand
that the possibility of their being used as soldiers is not lost
sight of. The exact time of commencing the work of enlisting the
colored recruits, I am not able to state, but that it will be
shortly, to my mind, there is not a shadow of doubt. The only way
in which the men can be obtained is by the establishment of posts
at various places upon the coast, where the negroes, assured of
protection, will flock to us by thousands. Past experience and
present information both go to prove this fact, and to establish
these posts more men will be required; therefore we may soon
expect that the Government will be deriving positive advantages
from this department which, heretofore, has been only negative of
service, as the field of experiments and the testing of ideas.
Gen. Saxton will go to Washington by the first steamer, for
consultation with the President on the subject."

Just what one thing changed the President so suddenly upon the question of the employment of Negroes as soldiers was not known.

In Louisiana the Negroes were anxious to enlist in the service of the Union, and with this object in view thousands of them sought the Federal camps. Brig.-Gen. J. W. Phelps, commanding the forces at Carrolton, La., found his camps daily crowded with fugitives from slavery. What to do with them became a question of great moment. Gen. Phelps became convinced that it was impossible to subdue a great rebellion if slavery were to have the protection of Federal bayonets. He gave the Negroes who came to his camp protection; and for this was reported to his superior officer, Gen. Butler. In a report to the latter officer's Adjutant-General, on June 16, 1862, he said:

"The enfranchisement of the people of Europe has been, and is
still, going on, through the instrumentality of military service;
and by this means our slaves might be raised in the scale of
civilization and prepared for freedom. Fifty regiments might be
raised among them at once, which could be employed in this
climate to preserve order, and thus prevent the necessity of
retrenching our liberties, as we should do by a large army
exclusively of Whites. For it is evident that a considerable army
of Whites would give stringency to our Government; while an army
partly of Blacks would naturally operate in favor of freedom and
against those influences which at present most endanger our
liberties. At the end of five years, they could be sent to
Africa, and their places filled with new enlistments."

Receiving no specific response to this overture, Gen. Phelps made a requisition of arms, clothing, etc., for "three regiments of Africans, which I propose to raise for the defense of this point"; adding:

"The location is swampy and unhealthy; and our men are dying at
the rate of two or three a day.

"The Southern loyalists are willing, as I understand, to furnish
their share of the tax for the support of the war; but they
should also furnish their quota of men; which they have not thus
far done. An opportunity now offers of supplying the deficiency;
and it is not safe to neglect opportunities in war. I think that,
with the proper facilities, I could raise the three regiments
proposed in a short time. Without holding out any inducements, or
offering any reward, I have now upward of 300 Africans organized
into five companies, who are all willing and ready to show their
devotion to our cause in any way that it may be put to the test.
They are willing to submit to any thing rather than to slavery.

"Society, in the South, seems to be on the point of dissolution;
and the best way of preventing the African from becoming
instrumental in a general state of anarchy, is to enlist him in
the cause of the Republic. If we reject his services, any petty
military chieftain, by offering him freedom, can have them for
the purpose of robbery and plunder. It is for the interests of
the South, as well as of the North, that the African should be
permitted to offer his block for the temple of freedom.
Sentiments unworthy of the man of the present day--worthy only of
another Cain--could alone prevent such an offer from being
accepted.

"I would recommend that the cadet graduates of the present year
should be sent to South Carolina and this point, to organize and
discipline our African levies; and that the more promising
non-commissioned officers and privates of the army be appointed
as company officers to command them. Prompt and energetic efforts
in this direction would probably accomplish more toward a speedy
termination of the war, and an early restoration of peace and
unity, than any other course which could be adopted."[94]

Gen. Butler advised Gen. Phelps to employ "contrabands" for mere fatigue duty, and charged him not to use them as soldiers. On the 31st of July, 1862, Gen. Phelps rejoined by informing Gen. Butler: "I am not willing to become the mere slave-driver you propose, having no qualifications that way," and immediately tendered his resignation.

Nothing could stay the mighty stream of fugitives that poured into the Union lines by day and by night. Nothing could cool the ardor of the loyal Negroes who so earnestly desired to share the perils and honors of the Federal army. There was but one course left and that was to call the Negroes to arms as Gen. Jackson had done nearly a half century before. Gen. Butler repented his action toward the gallant and intelligent Phelps, and on the 24th of August, 1862, appealed to the free Colored men of New Orleans to take up arms in defence of the Union. As in the War of 1812, they responded to the call with enthusiasm; and in just two weeks one thousand Negroes were organized into a regiment. All the men and line officers were Colored; the staff-officers were white. Another regiment was raised and officered like the first--only two white men in it; while the third regiment was officered without regard to nationality. Two Colored batteries were raised, but all the officers were white because there were no Negroes found who understood that arm of the service.

The summer was gone, and Gen. McClellan, instead of "taking Richmond," had closed his campaign on the Peninsula most ingloriously. The President was compelled to make another call for troops--60,000. Conscription was unavoidable in many places, and prejudice against the military employment of Negroes began to decrease in proportion to the increase of the chances of white men to be drafted. On the 16th of July, 1862, Gen. Henry Wilson, United States Senator from Massachusetts, and Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, introduced a bill in the Senate amending the act of 1795, prescribing the manner of the calling forth of the militia to suppress insurrections, etc. Several amendments were offered, much debate was had, and finally it passed, amended, empowering the President to accept "persons of African descent, for the purpose of constructing entrenchments or performing camp service, or _any_ war service for which they may be found competent." It was agreed, grudgingly, to free the slaves of rebels _only_ who should faithfully serve the country,--but _not_ their wives and children! The vote was 28 yeas to 9 nays. It went to the House, where it was managed by Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, and upon a call of the previous question was passed. On the next day, July 17th, it received the signature of the President, and became the law of the land.

On the 28th of January the Army Appropriation bill was under consideration in the United States Senate. Garrett Davis, of Kentucky, had opposed, by the most frantic and desperate efforts, every attempt to use Negroes in any capacity to aid in the suppression of the Rebellion. Accordingly he offered the following amendment to the Appropriation bill:

"Provided, That no part of the sums appropriated by this act
shall be disbursed for the pay, subsistence, or any other
supplies, of any negro, free or slave, in the armed military
service of the United States."

It received 8 votes, with 28 against it. Those who sustained the amendment were all Democrats:

Messrs. Carlyle, G. Davis, Kennedy, Latham, Nesmith, Powell, Turpie, and Wall.

The fight against the employment of Negroes as soldiers was renewed. On every occasion the opposition was led by a Kentucky representative! On the 21st of December, 1863, during the pendency of the Deficiency bill in the House, Mr. Harding, of Kentucky, desired to amend it by inserting the following:

"_Provided_, That no part of the moneys aforesaid shall be
applied to the raising, arming, equipping, or paying of negro
soldiers."

It was rejected: yeas, 41; nays, 105. The yeas were:

Messrs. Ancona, Bliss, James S. Brown, Coffroth, Cox, Dawson, Dennison, Eden, Edgerton, Eldridge, Finck, Grider, Hall, Harding, Harrington, Benjamin G. Harris, Charles M. Harris, Philip Johnson, William Johnson, King, Knapp, Law, Long, Marcy, McKinney, William H. Miller, James R. Morris, Morrison, Noble, John O'Neill, Pendleton, Samuel J. Randall, Rogers, Ross, Scott, Stiles, Strouse, Stuart, Chilton A. White, Joseph W. White, Yeaman.

On the 26th of January, 1863, the Secretary of War authorized Gov. John A. Andrew, of Massachusetts, to raise two regiments of Negro troops to serve three years. The order allowed the governor to raise "volunteer companies of artillery for duty in the forts of Massachusetts and elsewhere, and such companies of infantry for the volunteer military service as he may find convenient, and may include persons of African descent, organized into separate corps."

The Governor of Massachusetts immediately delegated authority to John W. M. Appleton to superintend the recruiting of the 54th Massachusetts, the first regiment of free Colored men raised at the North. The regiment was filled by the 13th of May, and ready to march to the front. It had been arranged that the regiment should pass through New York City on its way to the scene of the war in South Carolina, but the Chief of Police of New York suggested that the regiment would be subject to insult if it came. The regiment was sent forth with the blessings of Massachusetts and the prayers of its patriotic people. It went by water to South Carolina.

While Massachusetts was engaged in recruiting Negro soldiers, Gen. Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant-General of the United States Army, was despatched from Washington to the Mississippi Valley, where he inaugurated a system of recruiting service for Negroes. In a speech to the officers and men in the organization of white troops, he said, on the 8th of April, 1863, at Lake Providence, La.:

"You know full well--for you have been over this country--that
the Rebels have sent into the field all their available fighting
men--every man capable of bearing arms; and you know they have
kept at home all their slaves for the raising of subsistence for
their armies in the field. In this way they can bring to bear
against us all the strength of their so-called Confederate
States; while we at the North can only send a portion of our
fighting force, being compelled to leave behind another portion
to cultivate our fields and supply the wants of an immense army.
The Administration has determined to take from the Rebels this
source of supply--to take their negroes and compel them to send
back a portion of their whites to cultivate their deserted
plantations--and very poor persons they would be to fill the
place of the dark-hued laborer. They must do this, or their
armies will starve. * * *

"All of you will some day be on picket duty; and I charge you
all, if any of this unfortunate race come within your lines, that
you do not turn them away, but receive them kindly and
cordially. They are to be encouraged to come to us; they are to
be received with open arms; they are to be fed and clothed; they
are to be armed."

On the 1st of May, 1863, Gen. Banks, in an order directing the recruiting of the "Corps d'Afrique," said:

"The prejudices or opinions of men are in no wise involved"; and
"it is not established upon any dogma of equality, or other
theory, but as a practical and sensible matter of business. The
Government makes use of mules, horses, uneducated and educated
White men, in the defense of its institutions. Why should not the
negro contribute whatever is in his power for the cause in which
he is as deeply interested as other men? We may properly demand
from him whatever service he can render," etc., etc.

In the autumn of 1863, Adjutant-General Thomas issued the following order respecting the military employment of Negroes as soldiers:

"ENLISTMENT OF COLORED TROOPS.

"GENERAL ORDERS, No. 329.

"WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, }
"WASHINGTON, D. C., October 13, 1863. }

"WHEREAS, The exigencies of the war require that colored troops
be enlisted in the States of Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee,
it is

"ORDERED BY THE PRESIDENT, That the Chief of the Bureau for the
Organization of Colored Troops shall establish recruiting
stations at convenient places within said States, and give public
notice thereof, and be governed by the following regulations:

"First. None but able-bodied persons shall be enlisted.

"Second. The State and county in which the enlistments are made
shall be credited with the recruits enlisted.

"Third. All persons enlisted into the military service shall
forever thereafter be FREE.

"Fourth. Free persons, and slaves with the written consent of
their owners, and slaves belonging to those who have been engaged
in or given aid or comfort to the rebellion, may now be
enlisted--the owners who have not been engaged in or given aid to
the rebellion being entitled to compensation as hereinafter
provided.

"Fifth. If within thirty days from the date of opening
enlistments, notice thereof and of the recruiting stations being
published, a sufficient number of the description of persons
aforesaid to meet the exigencies of the service should not be
enlisted, then enlistments may be made of slaves without
requiring consent of their owners, but they may receive
compensation as herein provided for owners offering their slaves
for enlistment.

"Sixth. Any citizen of said States, who shall offer his or her
slave for enlistment into the military service, shall, if such
slave be accepted, receive from the recruiting officer a
certificate thereof, and become entitled to compensation for the
service of said slave, not exceeding the sum of three hundred
dollars, upon filing a valid deed of manumission and of release,
and making satisfactory proof of title. And the recruiting
officer shall furnish to any claimant of descriptive list of any
person enlisted and claimed under oath to be his or her slave,
and allow any one claiming under oath that his or her slave has
been enlisted without his or her consent, the privilege of
inspecting the enlisted man for the purpose of identification.

"Seventh. A board of three persons shall be appointed by the
President, to whom the rolls and recruiting lists shall be
furnished for public information, and, on demand exhibited, to
any person claiming that his or her slave has been enlisted
against his or her will.

"Eighth. If a person shall within ten days after the filing of
said rolls, make a claim for the service of any person so
enlisted, the board shall proceed to examine the proof of title,
and, if valid, shall award just compensation, not exceeding three
hundred dollars for each slave enlisted belonging to the
claimant, and upon the claimant filing a valid deed of
manumission and release of service, the board shall give the
claimant a certificate of the sum awarded, which on presentation
shall be paid by the chief of the Bureau.

"Ninth. All enlistments of colored troops in the State of
Maryland, otherwise than in accordance with these regulations,
are forbidden.

"Tenth. No person who is or has been engaged in the rebellion
against the Government of the United States, or who in any way
has or shall give aid or comfort to the enemies of the
Government, shall be permitted to present any claim or receive
any compensation for the labor or service of any slave, and all
claimants shall file with their claim an oath of allegiance to
the United States. By order of the President.

"E. D. TOWNSEND,
"_Assistant Adjutant-General_."

This order was extended, on October 26th, to Delaware, at the personal request of Governor Cannon.

On the 12th of November, 1863, the Union League Club of New York City appointed a committee for the purpose of recruiting Colored troops. Col. George Bliss was made chairman and entered upon the work with energy and alacrity. On the 23d of November the committee addressed a letter to Horatio Seymour, Governor of New York, stating that as he had no authority to grant them permission to enlist a Negro regiment; and as the National Government was unwilling to grant such authority without the sympathy and assent of the State government, they would feel greatly obliged should his excellency grant the committee his official concurrence. Gov. Seymour assured the committee of his official inability to grant authority for the raising of Colored troops,--just what the committee had written him,--and referred them to the National Government, on the 27th of November. The committee applied to the authorities at Washington, and on the 5th of December, 1863, the Secretary of War granted them authority to raise the 20th Regiment of United States Colored Troops. Having secured the authority of the Government to begin their work, the committee wrote Gov. Seymour: "We express the hope that, so far as in your power, you will give to the movement your aid and countenance." The governor never found the time to answer the request of the committee!

The work was pushed forward with zeal and enthusiasm. The Colored men rallied to the call, and within two weeks from the time the committee called for Colored volunteers 1,000 men responded. By the 27th of January, 1864, a second regiment was full; and thus in forty-five days the Union League Club Committee on the Recruiting of Colored Regiments had raised 2,000 soldiers!

Out of 9,000 men of color, eligible by age--18 to 45 years--to go into the service, 2,300 enlisted in less than sixty days. There was no bounty held out to them as an incentive to enlist; no protection promised to their families, nor to them should they fall into the hands of the enemy. But they were patriots! They were willing to endure any thing rather than the evils that would surely attend the triumph of the Confederacy. They went to the front under auspicious circumstances.

The 20th Regiment, under the command of Col. Bartram, landed at Thirty-Sixth Street, was headed by the police and the patriotic members of the Union League Club, and had a triumphal march through the city.

"The scene of yesterday," says a New York paper, "was one which
marks an era of progress in the political and social history of
New York. A thousand men with black skins and clad and equipped
with the uniforms and arms of the United States Government,
marched from their camp through the most aristocratic and busy
streets, received a grand ovation at the hands of the wealthiest
and most respectable ladies and gentlemen of New York, and then
moved down Broadway to the steamer which bears them to their
destination--all amid the enthusiastic cheers, the encouraging
plaudits, the waving handkerchiefs, the showering bouquets and
other approving manifestations of a hundred thousand of the most
loyal of our people.

"In the month of July last the homes of these people were burned
and pillaged by an infuriated political mob; they and their
families were hunted down and murdered in the public streets of
this city; and the force and majesty of the law were powerless to
protect them. Seven brief months have passed, and a thousand of
these despised and persecuted men march through the city in the
garb of United States soldiers, in vindication of their own
manhood, and with the approval of a countless multitude--in
effect saving from inevitable and distasteful conscription the
same number of those who hunted their persons and destroyed their
homes during those days of humiliation and disgrace. This is
noble vengeance--a vengeance taught by Him who commanded, 'Love
them that hate you; do good to them that persecute you.'"

The recruiting of Colored troops in Pennsylvania was carried on, perhaps, with more vigor, intelligence, and enthusiasm than in any of the other free States. A committee for the recruiting of men of color for the United States army was appointed at Philadelphia, with Thomas Webster as Chairman, Cadwalader Biddle, as Secretary, and S. A. Mercer, as Treasurer. This committee raised $33,388.00 for the recruiting of Colored regiments. The 54th and 55th Massachusetts regiments had cost about $60,000, but this committee agreed to raise three regiments at a cost of $10,000 per regiment.

The committee founded a camp, and named it "Camp William Penn," at Shelton Hill, near Philadelphia. On the 26th of June, 1863, the first squad of eighty men went into camp. On the 3d of February, 1864, the committee made the following statement, in reference to the raising of regiments:

"On the 24th July, 1863, the First (3d United States) regiment
was full.

"On the 13th September, 1863, the Second (6th United States)
regiment was full.

"On the 4th December, 1863, the Third (8th United States)
regiment was full.

"On the 6th January, 1864, the Fourth (22d United States)
regiment was full.

"On the 3d February, 1864, the Fifth (25th United States)
regiment was full.

"August 13th, 1863, the Third United States regiment left Camp
William Penn, and was in front of Fort Wagner when it
surrendered.

"October 14th, 1863, the Sixth United States regiment left for
Yorktown.

"January 16th, 1864, the Eighth United States regiment left for
Hilton Head.

"The 22d and 25th regiments are now at Camp William Penn, waiting
orders from the Government."

The duty of recruiting "Colored troops" in the Department of the Cumberland was committed by Secretary Stanton to an able, honest, and patriotic man, Mr. George L. Stearns, of Massachusetts. Mr. Stearns had devoted his energies, wealth, and time to the cause of the slave during the holy anti-slavery agitation. He was a wealthy merchant of Boston; dwelt, with a noble wife and beautiful children, at Medford. He had been, from the commencement of the agitation, an ultra Abolitionist. He regarded slavery as a gigantic system of complicated evils, at war with all the known laws of civilized society; inimical to the fundamental principles of political economy; destructive to republican institutions; hateful in the sight of God, and ever abhorrent to all honest men. He hated slavery. He hated truckling, obsequious, cringing hypocrites. He put his feelings into vigorous English, and keyed his deeds and actions to the sublime notes of charity that filled his heart and adorned a long and eminently useful life. He gave shelter to the majestic and heroic John Brown. His door was--like the heavenly gates--ajar to every fugitive from slavery, and his fiery earnestness kindled the flagging zeal of many a conservative friend of God's poor.

Such a man was chosen to put muskets into the hands of the Negroes in the Department of the Cumberland. His rank was that of major, with the powers of an assistant adjutant-general. He took up his headquarters at Nashville, Tennessee. He carried into the discharge of the duties of his important office large executive ability, excellent judgment, and rare fidelity. He organized the best regiments that served in the Western army. When he had placed the work in excellent condition he committed it to the care of Capt. R. D. Mussey, who afterward was made the Colonel of the 100th U. S. Colored Troops.

The intense and unrelenting prejudice against the Negroes, and their ignorance of military tactics, made it necessary for the Government to provide suitable white commissioned officers. The prospect was pleasing to many young white men in the ranks; and ambition went far to irradicate prejudice against Negro soldiers. Nearly every white private and non-commissioned officer was expecting the lightning to strike him; _every_ one expected to be promoted to be a commissioned officer, and, therefore, had no prejudice against the men they hoped to command as their _superior_ officers. To prepare the large number of applicants for commissions in Colored regiments a "Free Military School" was established at No. 1210 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Secretary Stanton gave the school the following official endorsement in the spring of 1864.

"WAR DEPARTMENT, }
"WASHINGTON CITY, March 21, 1864. }

"THOMAS WEBSTER, ESQ., _Chairman_,
"1210 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

"SIR: The project of establishing a free Military School for the
education of candidates for the position of commissioned officers
in the Colored Troops, received the cordial approval of this
Department. Sufficient success has already attended the workings
of the institution to afford the promise of much usefulness
hereafter in sending into the service a class of instructed and
efficient officers.

"Very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"EDWIN M. STANTON,
"_Secretary of War_."

In reply to a letter from Thomas Webster, Esq., Chairman, etc., of the Recruiting Committee, General Casey sent the following letter:

"WASHINGTON, D. C., March 7, 1864.

"DEAR SIR: Yours of the 4th instant is received, and I have
directed the Secretary of the Board to attend to your request.

"It gives me great pleasure to learn that your School is
prospering, and I am also pleased to inform you that the Board of
which I am President has not as yet rejected one of your
candidates. I am gratified to see that the necessity of
procuring competent officers for the armies of the Republic is
beginning to be better appreciated by the public.

"I trust I shall never have occasion to regret my agency in
suggesting the formation of your School, and I am sure the
country owes your Committee much for the energy and judgment with
which it has carried it out. The liberality which opens its doors
to the young men of all the States is noble, and does honor to
those citizens of Philadelphia from whom its support is
principally derived.

"Truly yours,
"SILAS CASEY,
"_Major-General_.

"TO THOMAS WEBSTER, ESQ., _Chairman_,
"1210 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia."

In reference to applicants the following letter was written by the Adjutant-General:

"GENERAL ORDERS, }
"No. 125." }

"WAR DEPARTMENT,"
"ADJUTANT-GEN.'S OFFICE,
"WASHINGTON, March 29, 1864.

"Furloughs, not to exceed thirty days in each case, to the
non-commissioned officers and privates of the army who may desire
to enter the Free Military School at Philadelphia, may be granted
by the Commanders of Armies and Departments, when the character,
conduct, and capacity of the applicants are such as to warrant
their immediate and superior commanders in recommending them for
commissioned appointments in the regiments of colored troops.

"By order of the Secretary of War.

"E. D. TOWNSEND,
"_Assistant Adjutant-General_."

The organization of the school was as follows:

_Chief Preceptor._

JOHN H. TAGGART

(Late Colonel 12th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps),
_Professor of Infantry Tactics and Army Regulations_.

_Assistant Professors._

_MILITARY STAFF._

ALBERT L. MAGILTON
(Graduate of West Point Military Academy, and late Colonel 4th
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Corps),
_Professor of Infantry Tactics and Army Regulations._

LEVI FETTERS
(Late Captain 175th Pennsylvania Regiment),
_Professor of Infantry Tactics and Army Regulations._

STUDENT DANL. W. HERR
(Late 1st Lieutenant Co. E., 122d Pennsylvania Regiment),
_Post Adjutant._

STUDENT J. HALE SYPHER, OF PENNSYLVANIA,
_Field Adjutant._

STUDENT LOUIS M. TAFT. M.D.
(Graduate of University of Penn.),
_Surgeon._

_ACADEMIC STAFF._

JOHN P. BIRCH, A.M.,
A. E. ROGERSON, A.M.,
_Professors of Mathematics, Geography, and History_

Wm. L. WILSON,
_Librarian and Phonographic Clerk._

STUDENT CHARLES BENTRICK, SR.,
_Postmaster._

JAMES BUCHANAN (COLORED),
_Messenger._

Within less than six months 1,051 applicants had been examined; 560 passed, and 491 were rejected.

Four regular classes were formed, and in addition to daily recitations the students were required to drill twice every day. The school performed excellent work; and furnished for the service many brave and efficient officers.

By December, 1863, 100,000 Colored Troops were in the service. About 50,000 were armed by that time and in the field.

Everywhere they were winning golden laurels by their aptitude in drill, their patient performance of the duties of the camp, and by their matchless courage in the deadly field. The young white officers who so cheerfully bore the odium of commanding Colored Troops, and who so heroically faced the dangers of capture and cruel death, had no superiors in the army. They had the supreme satisfaction of commanding brave men to whom they soon found themselves deeply attached. It was a school in which the noblest and purest patriot might feel himself honored and inspired to the performance of deathless deeds of valor.

The following tables indicate the manner in which the work was done.

_Analysis of Examination of Applicants for Command of Colored Troops, before the Board at Washington, of which Major-General Silas Casey is President, from the organization of the Board to March 29th, 1864, inclusive._

Number accepted and for
what rank recommended.
---------------------------
Colonels.
| Lieutenant-Colonels.
| | Majors.
Rank. | | | Captains.
| | | | 1st Lieutenants.
| | | | | 2d Lieutenants.
Number | | | | | | Number
examined. | | | | | | rejected.
Colonels 4 - - 2 - - - 2
Lieutenant-Colonels 3 - 2 - - 1 - -
Majors 9 2 3 1 2 - - 1
Captains 68 3 7 8 20 5 3 22
1st Lieutenants 52 3 - 4 10 8 7 20
2d Lieutenants 24 - - - 9 2 3 10
Sergeants 505 - 1 - 62 75 133 234
Corporals 230 - - - 23 46 64 97
Privates 449 - - - 26 57 124 242
Civilians 429 1 6 15 48 49 94 216
--------------------------------------
1,773 9 19 30 200 243 428 844
Students of the
Philadelphia Free
Military School 94 2 4 6 28 25 25 4
--------------------------------------
1,867 11 23 36 228 268 453 848

_Analysis of the Examination to 31st March, 1864, of the Students of the Philadelphia Free Military School, before the Board of Examiners at Washington, for Applicants for Command of Colored Troops, Major-General Silas Casey, President._

Number accepted and for
what rank recommended.
---------------------------
Colonels.
| Lieut-Colonels.
| | Majors.
Rank. | | | Captains.
| | | | 1st Lieutenants.
| | | | | 2d Lieutenants.
Number | | | | | | Number
examined. | | | | | | rejected.
Sergeants 14 - 1 - 3 3 6 1
Corporals 8 - - - 2 4 2 -
Privates 33 1 - 1 9 11 10 1
Civilians[95] 39 1 3 5 14 6 8 2
----------------------------------------
94 2 4 6 28 24 26 4

The following official table gives the entire number of Colored Troops in the army from beginning to end.

STATES AND TERRITORIES.

Colored Troops furnished
1861-'65.
Connecticut 1,764
Maine 104
Massachusetts 3,966
New Hampshire 125
Rhode Island 1,837
Vermont 120
------
Total of New England States 7,916

New Jersey 1,185
New York 4,125
Pennsylvania 8,612
------
Total of Middle States 13,922

STATES AND TERRITORIES.--(_Continued._)

Colored Troops furnished
1861-'65.
Colorado Ter. 95
Dakota Ter. -
Illinois 1,811
Indiana 1,537
Iowa 440
Kansas 2,080
Michigan 1,387
Minnesota 104
Nebraska Ter. -
New Mexico Ter. -
Ohio 5,092
Wisconsin 165
------
Total, Western States and Territories 12,711