New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-07
IMPORTANT PROPORTION TO THE
SECRETARY OF WAR.
A Colored Brigade for Service I'm the South
A Plan OF Campaign Described.

iDrOugn tfe KlDuDess OF " 1rlcnu we nave Uefn
furnished and herewith present, n copy Of letter
recently addressed by al officer Of the army to the
Secretary Of War. Its Importance, in the present
crsis, all will readily recognize and appreciate. The
name of the officer 10 AT present withheld:
HHADgUAHTEKs, July g. 1862.
| To the Hon. T. NJ. STANTON, SerefarVof Wdy.
SIR: Congress, by recent act, having authorized
the President TO "employ as many persons Of Am
can descent "a he may deem necessary and proper
for the suppression OF tins Rebellion, and for this
purpose organize and use them IN such manner be-
NAV Judge best Tor the public service" and the
voice of the nation being now almost unanimous in
favor Of employing every element Of war which
God Almighty has placed At the disposal OF the
Government the eubdulng OF the Rebels, 1 beg
leave most respectfully, TO submit for your consid
Grafton the following proposition:
If you will relieve from duty -
- Of this -, with orders to report direct TO
your Department. and will then give me the neces-
iarv orders and authority will within sixty, if not
within thirty, days, rai-e, equip aud put Ii The field
brigade Of young abe-b0died, active, inielllgeat
men Of African descent, for service under the direc
ton OF the President.
Following the reconmen dation of Gen. Andrew
Jackson in his famous proclamation of 1914 10 the
free coored rneu Of Louisiana would respectfully
suggest that ali the commanding officers be selected
from among white men of acknowledged military
experience, while the non-cOmml-sloued officers
81 ond he selected from the most intelligent Of the
coorei privates.
In making this proposition l would beg leave to
stipulate
First: That the brigade, when organized be kept
separate and distnct from all other commands Of the
army, until such time additional brigades of col
ored men could be raised with whom they could be
united in divisions and cOrps The prejudice Of color
which pervades the minds Of many would make this
course exped,nt until the oolored men have oPpor.
tuuity to show by their dCeCs that they worthy
Co aborers in the great work Of restoring he Union
Second: j would stipulate that the brigade, when
Organized should be landed at ZONE point on the
southern coast-within the district OF Gen. Hunter
II yon pease-With permission 10 march direct To
NlcBsburg from thence to Rch.nond, from thence TO
Charleston, and fion thence TO Mobile via SAvan-
nah aud Montgomery, ADDING TO Its Numbers IN the
march all able-bodied, loyal men vi color who may
choose TO ou it's standard, aud 10 all who thus JOIN
tie command the OF freedom be offered and
guaranteed from and the moment Of their en-
lstment Starting with single brif ade iucl iiing.
OF course, proper proportion Of cavalry snd artl-
ley, | should expect 70 reach Vickebnrs Wi b not
lees than Is 900, Richmond with less Il an X, 900
Charletton With 100000 and Mobile with probably
80 900 able-bodied welI-dircpned trco,s, moet OF
whom In addition to tLeir love OF the Uniou, would
have We incentive Of freedom for their action.
In view Of The difficulties which Union troops
have bad contend with heretofore IN their progress
through the enemys country such march, starting
with small q force, may AT fret thought, serin
cbimerical; but a little reflection, l think, will
satisfy You thal is possible aud more than probable
AL or nearly all, Of the enemys available force il
already gathered Ut the points named leaving iheir
inland routes almost wholly uDObstTuctcd. With
Union armies arrady nenaclDV them at each OF
these points, il In hardly poe,ible that the Retels
would leave either Of their fortified strong hOds to
pursue troops OH the march; bat even II they did
then we should have opportunity to cO-opers'e with
tie Union troops uTrulng, and, having The enemy
| between ns, we should certainly crush him. Inc
enemy has no interior force-at least not sufficient
impede march Tor single day; aud, OF course
We should start IRON point, aud march 10y route,
not already fortified or obGfTucted by the enemy.
Besides this our standard u freedom would soon At
tract DO large number and those who come would
know 80 thoroughly tie face and retOurces OF the
country through which we were passing, that no
force which the enemy could bring agsinst us
won "a ay our march longer than sufficient 10 fight
g battle and give the command, forward. Arriving
at or near the places Iaped, we would at once
operate with the Union troops already there In con
ouering the enemy; and then proceed n the next
weakening tie enemy and strengthening Ourselves
at every onward step.
IhUd. 1 would sGpulate that none but such as
have full faith in the patriotism and capabity of the
colored man and who religiousy believe ia The right
Of all uen to life liberty, and the pursuit Of bsppi
ness" should be appointed to any command or posi
ton ia this brigade. 1be prOpriety OF this is self-
evident and needs no Argument 10 enforce II. Cd
officers and men stimulated 10 action by such inceD-
tiyes think the brigade might safely lnscribe upon
its banner The word lnrlncible J.
In cur march through the eneny's country we
shOud need bat little transportation except lot arms
and Ammunition as the region through winch we
sbould uass is abundanty able tofursh Subsistence,
and SHOULD see that it was done promptly and In
sufficient quantity.
Az YOU may readily infer from this proposition,
am one Of those who believe in the patriotism and
capabilities Of the cOlOred man; and al time Ike
The presen when the need Of more troops ID 30 In
uerative; when the bones Of hundreds, yea, tboa-
sends OF our wiite fellowczepa are scattered over
LIE rebeilious States, and the bleeding hears Of
thousands Of fathers mothers, sjsefr and brothers
are beseechiug the Government 10 make use OF IRE
ueans which God and Nature point OUT as that mos,
certain and expeditions for subduiDg the Rebels;
when tens Of thousands of loyal, hberty-iovng, pa
rioie colored men Of the South praying for adj
mission into our rants Only asking III return there
for their liberty; and when every such enlistment
would weaken the enemy 10 the exact extent u
sreIghened u.s. II seems 20 plain That thls propo-
alton ought not TO DO rejected. The Rebels make
use-cOppnlaory use-OfcOlOfcd men 20 dig trenches,
build Notifications, fight in tier ranks and furnish
supplies to their Amy. Why should not We wheh
he way II 80 clear, deprive them OIL tneif use, apo
divert their willing hearts and 5trong hands 10 our
own national advantage
ooored brigade, raised here IN the Nor'h' ana
earring al given point on the Southern coas';
would he an attractive IRE Ktable pucleus aroun"
"H1h the brave hbeIty-loving colored men Oh INC
South could and would rally. until tAeir numbers
and determination wonld overcome all opposition 10
Their onward march for freedom and the Union.
Alexander III. Stevens, the Nice-Preeldent OF tne
20 called Southern Confederacy," having Pnblldy
and officially declared that Slavery 10 the corner