, 1862-08-26

why 1t was Dfsbanded,
Correspondence Of lheN- 7. Trlbane.}
HILTON HkAD, S. C.. Aus. Il. 1852.
The disbaudonment Of the co1ored regiment.
known az the. LIST South CA,oliaa Volanteers'
by General Hunter, may appear mysterious;
but nothing ls capable Of mnre easy or
strafghtfor ward solutio-. Gen. Hunter found
that the ausp spoTisle6 q: Washington persisted
steadily In refnsing any direct recoSaitisu Of
ibis organ1zaEion-thus keeping its me1 with
out pay, its officers without cotnuai5sioa, and
the whole responsibility ofthe movement ID
died On Geu; Hunter alone. Government, iti
is true, did indirectly recognize these colored
soldiers, aending arms for their use, inpumer-
able pairs Of scarlet pantaloons, and also pro-
melting Capt. FessendeD, one Of Gen, Hunters
Aids, ThD commanded them, to colaaeIav
on the staff Of Msjor-Gen. Wool. But uo al.
plicatIoEs, however, earnest, could iuda:s t1.
cautious authorities to exp. ess an opinion in
Erfti1E either one way Or The other, vi II re-
gard to The propiiety Of Gen Hunters course.
They seemed, not to put to fine . point uoon
il, quite willing that Gen Hunter should incur
the "lole odsum and responsibility, peculiarly
: and otherwise, OF the movement; while they.
without risk, should resp whatever OF political
b.nefit was to he gained from tho tolclatloa OF
this new idea among the Republican party.
''D0 We not tolerate anuter ?'' i. "Hlyt ,fe
not supple dsthcul with scarlet b7eeehes? HaY.
We NOT .Iowed hi,c the use Of arms anl A..
couterments for his regiment? Il. has told
us that he expects to huSe sc, ,009 Of these loyal
1uen in the field before Eext Christmas. and
that he can hare them, there is no doubt.
What more can you, gentlemen, who are IL,
favor Ut arning the blacks, desire % Su:a
has been steadily the position Of our autaori-
tlss-a sufficiently ,;contempuole aud pa1sry
one to win the entire appreciation Of ever
rehel s5upataizer. But now SEQ tbs Other
side Of the picture:
By the foregoing Arrangement, soldier3 Of
the black brigade could not he mustered into
tie service, and consequently could not be
paid Their otl1cers we're without eolau.is-
sicn5, and consequently without legitiinlte
authority Neither men nor oifie rs were
tmeuahle to any tribunal, nor to auY code Of
Law, military or otherwise. No court III Irti ial
could takr cognizlnce of any oG:nsss COM
mltled ty the regiment; and the officers,
While WEARING tie Uniform OF their nomiual
graGes, were liable to insult and igQoreuleat
at tie lan6s of crer5 pro-slayery subAlseyn.
or GFtn private, duly mustered iuto Cncl!
Sans ser:ice. Tic officers Of the colorcd
brigade we're deserving non-commissoaei
officers, selected with special view to their
capacity from tie white regiments at this
prst; but they Nere Without commissions,
and, in consequence, held tte anomalous po-
sition Of fen'isstd d r.cn OF the volunteers, Hea7~
ing the uniform and claiming tie 6alutes Of
duly commissioned officers.
Add to the foregoing, That for every dollars
"tItA " puo1lC ploIsfLy feGular}Y Issued 70
the colored regiment, General Hunter was
personally responsible; and that beyond
doubt, shouid The pro-s!aEerF aud sen,i-rebel
synpathlzlng fac1ion obtain aScenJaney in Mr.
Liucu1n's councils, every dollar and ey:7y
dime Of this responsibility would be yigor-
ouslY and vigorously exacted. I an led to
believe that this last consideration had less
wight in Gen. Hunters mind than it pro perlg
deserved, he beng ons Of the faa olll:5rs ii
| the regular Amy who, in this war, have hon
| tslly and sincerely devoted "their lives, tueir
| fortunes, and their sacred honors,n to tae
! struggle TOR the Uuiol Of our nationality.
Although the colored regiment is virtually
diebaEde1, it is proper to add that all IT'S N d
| and officers are still within the buglc-cal OF
headquarters, and can be reformed On parade
I st any tine within t@o hours after proper au,
thorllJ Tor their organization shall have been
received. The meu fthe regiment were well
! conducted to tie last moment, aud were uuan.
| im,us in expressing deep regret at not being
| allowed an opportunity Of proving themselyea
worthy Of 1reedonl- Thy were d1sband-d
within o. hour after Gen Hunter saH the Pre-
| sident's refusal to accept the services OF th9
| colored brigade offered from the northwest.
|