Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-04-29
Attempt to Consolidate White
and Black Regiments.
The Whites Refuse to Obey and are
Arrested and Disarmed by the
Blacks.

Sometime ago we published q para
graph stating the fact that al both Baton
Rouge and Ship Island there had been
trouble, growing out of the attempt to
consolidate white and black regiments.
The particulars of the occurrence at Ship
Island are clearly stated by correspon-
dent Of the Springfield Mass, Fepp5Lcan.
How the difficulty has been settled, or
whether settled at all: We do not know.
The correspondent OF the R7,uJ6caa
says: ...
Ks the experiment of organizing negro
regiments has been instituted by the go
vernmcnt, lis progress and results are a
matter of great interest ; and having had
an opportunity To witness the efforts to
enforce the principle of military equality
of such regiments, will volunteer TO give
You it, history.
For several months past the military
post Of Ship Island has been garrisUned
by two companies of the 18Th Maine
regiment, under command of Col. Henry
Rust Recently, the ID Louisiana regi-
ment of black volunteers was ordered
to rendezvous at this Island anil Colonel
lIuet WAS ordered to transfer the com
man1 of The post TO their commanding
officer. CJi y w D:ni.!S Col Rust
. and staff, as ordered, Repaired To Fort
jackson, having behind lin OH t!:e island
two companies Of 18Th Maine.
Upon assgnlin" command Of tlIe post,
! Col Daniels ISSUED orders commanding
I the consolidation of the two companies Of
/ whites with his regiment of blacks. He
{ ordered iIignl to attend battalion drill, and
! be consolidated at dress parade In camp
a,.d cnard duties bi;ick captains We're
ulasc,i over wIiitc iicr!tcirani-, and thus
/ ul,;:c o.iic,:s ard blac.,, wlIte privates
and black, IN orc black column bient,
ol-~cr,io,,slv doing honor 10 black equals
and s.,1erior7-. were to inaugura;c the
reign OF ct,s,rv The rconnition required
was not merely the passing salute and
modes and forms of military etiquette, but
an equal military equality, with its ac-
companyimg honors and obcdiIncc
Aar,inSt the orders so consolidating
hem with blacks, the officers Of the two
white companies earnestly protested But
their protest Being unhccded and unan-
swcrcd. after n suitable delay. they finally
refused 10 obey the orders They refused
to take their companies TO battalion drill
or appear On dress parade; they refused
also detail guard 10 be commanded bI
negroes They. were arrested, and tll
command of the companies finally dcvolvcc
upon the orderly s,,r@eants. by the ser
geant's offering 10 detail guard, the ques
ton was put directly to the members o
the companies whetherthey would do dut,
as guard under negro officers Followin:
the example of their officers, the mel
peremptorilv refused, Whereupon tn
men were ordered under arrest. their mus
kets and equipments taken from them
and black guards stationed around thel
appointed quarters :
The execution of the order for :rrestin
the companies was one of the most Eumli1
atins scenes ever witnessed As a pre
caution against disturbance, the black re
ciment was ordered under arms and mu:
kets loaded. Two companies OF black:
with their black officers, marched to til
quarters of the diSobedient soldiers. an
s called upon them to surrender themselve
as prisoners Instead of resisting, Il
men obevcd the summons in splr
ie characteristic of the intelligent New I'm;
he land soldier. who knows how to obey, b'
a knows. too. the philosophy of resistant
or to injustice. Silently they marched
e front of their negro masters, stacked the
ee arms, hung their Announcements upon the
Il glittering bayonets, and turned sadly aw;
while the black captors bore away the
arms with feelings and expressions OF Gle
rs if they Were trophies of conquest
sc AS the ebony band returned from the
u work. their comrades in cemp welcom
at them with shouts of triumph. BY a 81
rst Gle word or act on the part on the part
the white officers, a scene of riot n
bIoodshed would have been the seGu
ch But wiser counsels prevailed. and offic'
I'd, and men quietly submitted themselves
is, prisoners to those with whom they wor
ere not serve as soldiers or acknowledge
hS equals
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