The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-06-25

Under the electric effect Of this an
nouucement the battling soldiery could
not rostrain their enthusiasm, and there
went up a jubilant shout for the out crop
ping vslor Of Afric's brawny sons. The
very FIRST experiment under circumstances
peculiarly embarrassing has seemed 70 the
bruised and peeled African, with the mark
of the lash, and the chain still upon him
and the voice Of his lordly master still
ringing in his ear, the proof Of courage
and the prestige of conqusror. There
were thousands of non -combatauts present
---men unarn,ad, old and decrspit, defense
less women and childrento take fright and
spread panic and Of those who had arms
there we're few, we may suppose, who had
any discipline, any skill in the use of their
arms, and yet they withstand the chival-
rous veterans, whose fierce hate and scors
could give no quarter, defeat them upon a
field OF their opn choice--wrest from them
their artillery and deliver them over to
the Government hors dn combat as pris
oners of war That they would fight at
all under such circumstances was hardly
to be expected. That they fought with
any degree of skill and courage justifies
tho confidence the Government has placed
10 the black population in adopting its late
great policy as a power in the Geld and
"party to the strife. That they fought
and conquered may be hailed as the first
fruits of the great harvest which, under
God, they may yet gather into the store
house of the Union. Let the fearful and
unbelieving take courage. If the sable
sons of the South, nov that they have
some "baoking" as they say, and just be-
ginning to feel the celebrating effects of
coveted freedom, shall stand against our
foes, and take the chances of war, why, in
the name Of the Lord, don't object, it may
save a white man, your friend. 1t may
save thousands who, in the magnanimity
of their patriotism have pledged their
lives and their all to the defense of the
country.
Let those who are in open opposition to
the policy Of the Government. and waiting
topoint the finger of scorn at the "spirit-
less nigger," ''treacherous" and coward.
ly" and "fying at every approach Of
danger" hope for better things They
shall have other and ample proofs that thu
policy to which the great heart of The
nation SO promptly responded, is right
Grant that the two parties to this war ar,
} well nigh equal, inasmuch as We have 81
much territory to guard, and 80 many fort
. 10 garrison. in order to secure the legitimat
results Of victory, who shall say, as sh
. Colonel suggested this morning, that tn
: negro win not in the providence of Go
8 throw into the scale what is yet to defn
IS the results Of this contest, and determiu
o to whose CORY hand shall pass the palm
victory !? Or assuming that the strife
% not at all an equal one, as some do, an
'e that the project ofSouthern independent
IL is an utterly forlorn hope, who shall s.
is that the negro, under ;udicious officer
st viii not, by his opportune help. accele
IS ate the joyous hour of final triumph az
e resettlsment OF the country? | noli
e that the blacks here are intensely interes
u ed in the bloody contest at Milliken
!. Bend. Their black faces kindle with ne
e animation as they dwell upon the resu
II achieved, and the example thus and the
l. exhibited by appealing to their pride
l. courage will serve as talisman to the
70 hsroism and ins,igate their valor to 9TH
deeds of daring. E. w. GRAY.