Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-12

his services. Every man in the room came for
ward. A few old men and boys were rejected OF
the ground Of age, and the refusal seemed to in
spire them with the most genuine regret.
They were then told that Government had
promised arms and equipments, and urged to
give he matter the most serious reflection. With
a caution against public conversation the subject,
the meeting was dismissed; and each one left, all
excited TO enthusiasm, and apparently rejoicing
i'm the opportunity that was about TO be realized,
of exercising the right of defense of himself and
his family, and of offering his life in defense Of
the Government whose protection he enjoyed.
The number enrolled that evening was l05.
During the next day many others who had not
beer present came forward and gave in their
names, swelling the Inst to about 100. During
the next few days it reached the number of $50.
This, | learn, embraces nearly or quite all the
able bodied negroes employed at that point.
There has been no reactiOn-no symptom of re-
greet. 1he action of the negroes seem based up
uoon feelings as genuine, and convictions as firm
as those that instigate white men in similar cir
cumstances. If the black men at Hilton Head
are a fair index of the whole population of the
plantations and i see no reason to doubt il, }
history has never furnished an instance Of more
conspicuous and unanimous patriotism. Neither
Greeks, ner Switzers, nor Highland Scots, nor
Yankees ever assumed the responsibilities of
arms with more alacrity or cheerfulness.
But will they fght?fV Volunteering is one thing;
standing fire another OF course this question
can only be answered by the event. Those, how
ever, who have seen them most, and who know
them best, are confident of their courage. In
stances have been named to me of the most ex-
emplary conduct in action on the part of some OF
the South Carolina negroes heretofore employed
by US. The pilot Isaac, who guided Commander
Stevens and his boats in the affair at Port Royal
D G. q III -
ran. Both among the Confederates and our own
forces have been opportunities for testing the
quality of physical courage in the negro, which
have generally resulted in his favor. Certainly
from all we know, w have no right to doubt that
he will fight in a cause that impels MIN to volun-
teer. To pronounce a man a coward in advance,
after he has testified his willingness to incur dan
ger, and before he has been tried, would be un-
generous and unreasonable.
At all events, il the announcement is true con.
corning the rms and equipments to be sent to
General Hunter for the use of the negroes, we
shall soon see another principle demonstrated
another fact tested-by that sagacious and fear
less soldier. And then, if the experiment prove
a success, the question how TO make South Caro-
lima loyal will have been answered. We shall
at once find her soil occupied by a friendly peo-
Pile, outnumbering the rebels, and prepared to
hold it for the Government by the strong hand
we have armed. Truly, to see South Carolina
the very seat of disloyalty. garrisoned, and guard.
ed, and defended, by those who so lately were
slaves there to the lash and the chain-to see
black police maintaining order where so lately i
was a crime for negro to move but by a white
mans command; and so see all this done unde
the authority of Government--unattended by dis
order, unaccompanied by outrage-would be al
example retributive justice unmixed with ven
geance, such as history has never yet recorded
And what region so appropriate for the sublime
and bene6cent experiment as the State of Soutl
Carolina7-and what soil so fit for the grave o
slavery as that where treason was born, nurse,
and reared to its dreadful maturity?