Volume II Part 35 (2/2)
”In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of G.o.d, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
And the significant name of Abraham--”father of the faithful”--was p.r.o.nounced by the Negroes with blessings, and mingled in their songs of praise.
FOOTNOTES:
[90] Greeley, vol. ii. pp. 251, 252.
CHAPTER XVIII.
EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES AS SOLDIERS.
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 Ma.s.sACHUSETTS, 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 a.s.sIGNED CHARGE OF THE RECRUITING OF COLORED TROOPS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE c.u.mBERLAND.--FREE MILITARY SCHOOL ESTABLISHED AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.--ENDORs.e.m.e.nT 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 CONSt.i.tUTIONALLY 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, p.r.o.nounced 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 pa.s.sed 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. t.i.tUS, _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. Cus.h.i.+ng'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.
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