New-York daily tribune., 1863-12-29
TIE COhCRED TROOPS.

The experiment Ol using cOiorcd men rs SOL
d.crs has been more fairly and scientifically
tested in the department under the command
Of Gen. Gilmore than in any other military di'
vision of our country The result is valuable,
decided. and satisfactory. The means employed
were thos. dictated by military rules and policy,
and, consequently, were those best calculated
to attain all the objects proposed by the Govern
mcnt. II was proposed to ascertain practi-
cally the ability OF The colored man 10 be a
soldier. H. had Heretofore been employed
As q laoorer, usefuly and proftably to himself
and to Us. Many instances of bravery on his
part encouraged the belief that TO prove bis ca
pability, he needed only the opportunity. But
il was answered, and truthiully answered, that
il requires more than mere bravery to con-
,titute good soldier; and that while there
was ~ prejudice against him as a laborcr,
there va, widespread aniipathy to his being
made soldier, aud that this antipathy
greatly prevailed among our own white
troops. II vas thoroughly considered and appTe-
cated by those Who proposed the scheme, and by
those 20 whom H. execution was intrustcd, that
patience. canior iirmncss, united with i'm
partial Justice. were chiefly to be relied upon IN
doing the work. The honest, even If ground
less, anupathy Of Others % The Colorcd man Wa
To be- di ipa,cd and rcconcilod. II do
inr an this the colorcd man was
looked 20 a. the main and natural instrument
by which il might and ought TO be accomplished.
He himself was 20 win his position as a soldier;
and Justice not favor, was TO confirm him in II
when won. Nothing, therefore, was wished but
a fair iell in which be might show whatever
quality Of talents he possessed, and indicate
whatever he was capable 10 attain with proper
education. Under such treatment we had faith
in his success. We thought Tie experiment IN
this spirit oueh, 20 be made. Bu, We iolt that
it was q novel thing for our country, and that
It's practical results alone should. or could, ju.-
t.ly IT. permanent adoption. The trial has been
fairiy and properly made, under the dirco-
ton Of Gen. Gilmore, in the Department OF tho
South. The result is now before us. II
is all that we hoped for-moro than wac
expected in 30 shor. a time. The
results. 80 far, may be stated a.
showing the capacity OF our colorcd
troops Tor nearly al branches Of the military
service; their present efficiency in the infantry
tactic; the preference given by officers for their
labor in engineering operations, and The encour-
agcment given 20 educate them 20 As finally to
embrace all the empoyments incident to the
operations Of war. But over and above all
these tie most important fact is-and it is one
which cannot be too deeply aud accurately im-
pre-, sed on the public miud-that the colorcd
soldier by thus proving himself capable and
worthy, has already entirely overcome that OIL
tpathy which existed against him on the part
Of the white troops, gLO are not only reconced
to his adoption into The army Of the Republic,
but most cnthusia ,icaily admit the justice and
propneiy Of his claim. H. announcing this We
know that we are stating The opinion Of every
General commanding IN the army In the Depart
ment Of the South. The weight TO be given "a
this unanimous opinion of those Generals is
cnl anccd when il is remembered that many oi
them doubted the present capacity Of tho colorcd
man for any work beyond that Of the laborer.
But they a4e, one aud all, soldier, and patriots,
and Gen. Gilmore determined HAT the scheme
of the Government should at once be- submitted
10 Il proper test. IN this he had the hearty co.
operation Of the Generals IL whose commahd'
The colored mcuis were placed. one oi
those regiments Che lst South Carolina, Col.
Higginson) was under The immediate care OF
Gen. Saxton; bnt The other four regiments are
under Gen. Gilmore eye on Morris and Folly
(propchy Foley Islands. These troops are
now regularly seen in the same line OF battle
with the white ,roops-on the march, on picket,
and performing all the ordinary duties Of the
soldier. In the review at Beaufort, on the re-
cent visit there Of Gen. Gilmore the regiment
commanded By Col. Iiigginson mancnycrcd in
the same field and line with the other troops,
and with a precision fair for any raw troops;
but most commercially 80 in men who until re-
Gently were slave held-hands. Then again, at
a grand review at Morris Island on the Jth
IlaiiUtt lIN lDN4 Abi'lfH l'FiIi'Hhn
the celebrated Jith Massachusetts, late Col.
Shaw's) were drawn up in the same line and
with the other troops. Gen.
Gilmore the General commanding, reviewed
them, accompanied by the gallant and efficient
Gen. Terry, Of whose command these colored
regiments constitute "A part. In ncatness OF
dress, cleanliness Of arms and accoutcrmcnts,
precision and cclcrity of movement, they favor
ably compared with any in the line. If there
exist, lnY ljea oC iluprOprialy il 'ir: ~ q. !.