The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-07-09
The First Regiment Of South Carolina Vol-
unlaers.


The title Of this regiment would. at the
first blush. appear 10 be an anomaly IN the
army of the United States. The supPosi-
lion thar one thousand citizens of the null
i;fv;np. rebelleus State of South Carolina
conld be found 10 muster under the "Star
SpangIed Banner" is one so far remote
from the range of probabilities, that the be-
wiIdered reader may pause in doubt, alter
reading the caption of this article. Gentle
reader, although there is such corps as
she eFirst Regiment OF South Carolina Vol
unteers, u we do not desire TO mystiis you
I've will explain
Gen. Hunter has organized, at Port Roy
Al regiment, composed of runaway slaves,
mos,Iv pressed into the q. S. service, who
are armed and equipped a, the cost OF the
United States. This negro regiment Is Oh
i6cered By nom commissioned officers taken
from the Pennsylvania and New York regi-
ments. and who have been promoted Tor
that purpose by Gen. Hunter, to the rank
of captains, fret and second !ieu'enants.-
The regiment is commanded by Col Fes-
sendeu, son OF Senator Fessenden, OF the
Stale Of Maine.
At first the negroes, like children fond e'
toys. were pleased with the ''pomp and cir-
cums,ance of glorious war" But wheE
they were brought down 10 the drill, their
nnconquerable dislike of all labor, got the
better of their love of glory, and so, on all
favorable opportunities, they ran away =
This valiant regiment, originally consisting
of some nine hundred men, has alresdy
dwindled down 10 three hundred. The
pntir;ne efforts OF Colonel Fessenden and
Of the white gentlemen. in command, have
sigually failed before the Wis InertIae OF the
black rank and file. The First Regimen. OF
Sou.h Carolina Volunteers is afflicted with
the ealIoping consumption, and, before an
official repor. can be had of Gen Hunter of
.i,s existence il will be non est. The phl-
ian,hropic efforts of the Massachusetts
school masters who repaired 10 Port Royal
ui,h primer, slate and pencil in hand, to
teach the black idea how TO shoot in the
Sourh as vigorously as 10 the New England
States. and to draw tat salaries Tor The same
have met with as little successes in ,each>
ing the the arts Of peace as our officers in
tier attempt 10 teach the art OF war;
These combined efforts, on the partof the
civil and military power, to raise the blacks
"a The level of the whites, are sad failures.
The white officers Of the black regiment
are disguised, and may well exclaim, with
Faislaf, ssIf be not ashamed OF my SOL
diers I am soased gurnet.r Ell notinarch
through Coventry with them, that's fiat"
Although they may not march through Co
ssnsry with them they have already goi
themselves into Coventry on their account;
for the soldiers of the white regiments hold
shem in such coniempt that they hail them
in dsrision as Captain Cuifee, Lieutenant
sambo. and such like vile epithets.
The summing up Of all these facts shows
thai sbsre are some 5000 runaway negroes
Al Por, Royal and vicinity, who, with praise
uoriby appetite, est up Uncle Sans rations
and in seturn, bask in all the luxury OF AT
riean Isziness in the rays of the broiling
sun. Bal when ibess dearly beloved OBJ
;ec,s Of Abolition's most tender cares are
asked 10 drill, or work, or learn, they sked-
addIe to the swamps, and ungsaiefuily leave
their benelactors 10 ruminate over these
practical resuit-<of Abolition theory
II. this lcte disastrous experiment oi onf
Abolition friends al Port Royal, The impos,
sibiliiy Of raising the blacks 10 the level OF
ibe whites having become apparent there
i nothing !eit for Them but TO attempt 10
Ircrr IN the laval OF the