Part 28 (2/2)
”IV. 'If a certain work were to be accomplished in the least possible time, _i. e._, when enthusiasm and direct personal interest is necessary to attain the end, would whites or blacks answer best?'
”I cannot make up my mind that it is impossible to arouse the enthusiasm of the blacks, for I have seen enough of them to know that they are very emotional creatures; still though they might have more dash than I have seen and think possible, it is unquestionable to my mind that were the enthusiasm and personal interest of both aroused, the white would far surpa.s.s the black.
”It seems to me that there is a hard nervous organization at the bottom of the character of the white, and a soft susceptible one at the bottom of the character of the black.
”V. 'What is the difference, considering the above points, between colored troops recruited from the free States and those from the slave States?'
”I should say that the free State men were the best; they have more of the self-reliance, and approximate nearer to the qualities of the white man in respect to dash and energy, than those from the slave States.
”_Summary._--To me they compare favorably with the whites; they are easily handled, true and obedient; there is less viciousness among them; they are more patient; they have great constancy. The character of the white, as you know, runs to extremes; one has bull-dog courage, another is a pitiful cur; one is excessively vicious, another pure and n.o.ble. The phases of the character of the white touches the stars and descends to the lowest depths. The blacks character occupies the inner circle. Their status is mediocrity, and this mediocrity and uniformity, for military fatigue duty, I think, answers best.
”I am respectfully your obedient servant,
”JOSEPH WALKER.
”_Captain New York Volunteer Engineers._
”Major T. B. BROOKS,
”_Aide-de-Camp and a.s.s't. Eng. Dept. of the South.”_
[_Reply in Full No. 2._]
”MORRIS ISLAND, Sept. 16th, 1863.
”MAJOR T. B. BROOKS, _a.s.s't. Engineer Dept. of the South._
”SIR: I have the honor to state that I received from you a circular of inquiry respecting the comparative merits of white and black soldiers for fatigue duty, requesting my opinion as derived from observation and actual intercourse with them, on several specified points, which I subjoin with the respective answers.
”I. 'Courage as indicated by conduct under fire.'
”I have found that the black troops manifest more timidity under fire than the white troops, but they are at the same time more obedient to orders, and more under control of their officers, in dangerous situations, than white soldiers.
”II. 'Skill and appreciation of their duties with reference to the quality of the work performed.'
”White soldiers are more intelligent and experienced and of course more skillful than the black ones, but they have not generally a corresponding appreciation of their duties. As a consequence I have found in most cases the work as well done by black as by white soldiers.
”III. 'Industry and perseverence with reference to the amount of work performed.'
”White soldiers work with more energy while they do work than the black ones, but do not work as constantly. Black soldiers seldom intermit their labors except by orders or permission. The result, as far as my observations extends, is that a greater amount of work is usually accomplished with black than with white soldiers.
”IV. 'If a certain work were to be accomplished in the least possible time, when enthusiasm and direct personal interest is necessary to the attainment of the end, would whites or blacks answer best?'
”Whites. Because though requiring more effort to control, they possess a greater energy of character and susceptibility of enthusiasm than the black race, which can be called into action by an emergency or by a sufficient effort on the part of their officers.
”V. 'What is the difference, considering the above points, between colored troops recruited from the free States and those from the slave States?'
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