Chapter I: The War of 1775. Page

The Sentiments of the Colonists--The Agreement of 1774--The Resolutions of Ga.--The Virginians Boycotting a Slaver--Tories Opposed to a Negro Army--Caste Prejudice not strong--The Militia Law of Mass. in 1652--Negro Sentinels at Meeting houses--Crispus Attucks leads the whites to an attack upon British Soldiers--Resolution of the Committee of Safety--Battle of Bunker Hill--Peter Salem Kills the British Maj. Pitcairn--Petition to the General court of Mass. Bay--Biographical account of Peter Salem--Manumitting of Slaves to allow them to become Soldiers--Meeting of the Committee of Conference--Gen. Washington writes the President regarding Negro Soldiers--Action of Congress sustaining Gen. Washington--The First Question of "color" in the Army--Negroes allowed in the S. C. Militia--Dr. Hopkins' Article concerning Slavery--Lord Dunmore visits Norfolk, 1775--Proclamation of Lord Dunmore--The Dread of the Colonists--An Unreasonable Fear--Action of the Conn. General Assembly, 1777--Letter from Gen. Green to Gen. Washington--Daring Exploits of Prince and other Negroes at Newport, R. I.--The Storming of Fort Griswold--Action of the State of R. I.--Action of the State of New York, 1781--Proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton--The Colonists beginning to favor Negro Troops--Gen. Washington's Emphatic Language--Re-enslavement of Discharged Negro Soldiers--Action of the Legislature of Virginia 21

CHAPTER II.--THE WAR OF 1812.

The Principal Cause of the War--Seizure of American Negro Sailors--Outrages upon American Ships--The Declaration of War--The Battle of Lake Erie--Negroes on American Privateers--Action of the Legislature of La.--Review of Negro Troops in New Orleans--The Battle of New Orleans 72

PART II.

_THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES._

CHAPTER I.--PUBLIC OPINION.

Existing Prejudice--No Prejudice in Europe--DeTocqueville's Views--The New Race--Southern Opinions--The Negro's Ambition--The Coast Pursuit in the Navy--A Change of Policy--Public Opinions Changed 81

CHAPTER II.--RECRUITING AND ORGANIZING.

The Unpleasant duties of a Recruiting Officer--Henry Wilson's Bill in Congress for the Arming of Negroes, 1862--Mr. Stevens' Amendment to the Enrollment Act, 1864--Orders for the Enrollment of Negroes in the Miss. Valley--Curious way of Keeping ranks full--The Date of the First Organization of Colored Troops--The Organization of the 24th Mass. Regiment--Their Quarters at Morris Island--Refusing to do Menial Service--Short Pay for Negro Troops--Negroes Enlisting for Bounty--Record of total number of Negroes who Served in the Army 93

CHAPTER III.--RECRUITING AND ORGANIZING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Private Miles O'Reilly's Account of Gen. Hunter's Black Troops--The First Negro Troops in the Field--Gen. Hunter's Humorous Report to Congress--Jefferson Davis declares Gen. Hunter and his Officers Outlaws--Gen. Hunter's suppressed Letter to Jefferson Davis--Miles O'Reilly's Humorous Poem, "Sambo's Right to be Kil't" 145

CHAPTER IV.--OFFICERS OF THE PHALANX.

Officers of the Phalanx--Character and Qualifications of the men who commanded Negro Troops--The Examination of Candidates for Commissioners--Some of the Negroes who rose from the Ranks--Gen. Banks' idea of Officering the Corps d'Afrique 166

CHAPTER V.--DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF.

The Surrender of Confederate Negro Troops at New Orleans--Slaves flocking to the Union Camp--Gen. Phelps desires to Arm them--Butler Refuses--Gen. Phelps' Resignation--Gen. Butler converted to the Policy of Arming Negroes--Negroes Enlisted at New Orleans--Gen. Weitzel placed in Command--The fight at Mansfield--The Battle of Milliken's Bend--Indignities offered to Phalanx Soldiers--The affair at Ship Island--Port Hudson--The Struggle--Desperate Fighting of the Phalanx--A Useless Effort--Perilous Duties of the Engineers--Boker's Poem on the fight at Port Hudson 183

CHAPTER VI.--THE ARMY OF THE FRONTIER.

Iowa's splendid Response to the Call--Refusal of the Phalanx Troops to Accept the Pay offered by the Government--Active times at Helena--The Confederate General Dobbins makes an Attack--A Spirited Fight--A Critical Situation--Re-enforcement by White Cavalry--The Honor Due to Kansas--The report of the Service of Kansas Negro Troops--Col. Crawford's report for the 2nd Kansas Regiment 220

CHAPTER VII.--DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH.

Gen. Hunter's Important Action--Organization of the 1st South Carolina--An Expedition up the St. Mary's River--Fort Wagner--Description of the Fort--Plans for the Assault--The forming of the line--The Assault--Magnificent Fighting--Death of Col. Shaw--Useless Slaughter--The Confederate Account of the Assault upon Fort Wagner--Movements in Florida--The Landing at Jacksonville--Raids on the surrounding country--The Advance towards Tallahassee--The Troops reach Barbour's Station--The Battle of Olustee--Desperate Fighting on both Sides--A Terrible Defeat--The Union Troops routed--Drawing away the Wounded on railway cars--Return to Baldwin's--The 54th Mass.--Boykin's Mill--The "Swamp Angel"--Inquiries Respecting Negro Troops--Labor Days of the Negro Troops 249

CHAPTER VIII.--THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.

Services in the West--The Mississippi River Guarded by the Phalanx--Gen. Morgan's Historical Sketch--The Rendezvous at Gallatin--The Place Threatened by Guerillas--Organizing a Regiment--Negro Soldiers ordered to Alabama--An Incident--A School in camp--The Battle at Dalton, Ga.--Good Behavior of the troops there--Honors to the 51st Colored--Sharp Fighting at Pulaski, Tenn.--An Incident of the Fight--An Engagement at Decatur--Ordered to Nashville--Severe Fighting at that place--A Reconnoissance--The Defeat of Gen. Hood--A Pursuit to Huntsville--A Glorious Record 286

CHAPTER IX.--THE PHALANX AT MARION, TENN.

Sherman's March to the Sea--Destruction of the Confederate Bridge over the Big Black river--Confederates Attack Federals near Morristown--Gillem's Troops Driven into Knoxville--The Confederates Retreat--Federals Pursued to Marion--Struggle for the Possession of the Salt Works--The Charge of the 6th Regiment--Gen. Brisbin's account of the Battle--The Salt Works Destroyed--Personal Bravery 308