Daily national Republican., 1863-05-18
FROM NEW ORLEANS.
ARRIVAL or COL. THORPE.
THE NEGRO IN BATTLE.
The Most Elective Rebel Rattery at
VIcksburg Entirely Manned
by Negroes. rr- ..
Able-bodied Blacks being Or
ganized by the Rebels
TTT TTr77 -T77I ,G7nL a.pr -.'H'.
Southwestern Rebel FoftiheatIons Here
after to be Hcld by Black TrOOPS.
~.
Southwestern Rebel FoftihoatIons Here-
after 20 be Held by Black Troops.
GEN. ULMANN's NEGRO BRIGADE.
1T is MORE THAN FILLED.

Col. T. B. Thorpe, who has just arrived In
this city from the Department OF the Gulf, and
who has held for the year past and still holds
high official position in New Orleans, informs
us that the experiment of raising celored regi-
ments has met with every possible success;
and further, that the most prejudlced against
the formation OF such troops are, AFTER little
personal observation, forced to admit that they
form the very best material for lighting army.
In the recent attempts of Admiral Farragut
to pass the forts at vicksburg, one battery was
particularly noticed for Its effective and pre-
else firing, 1t doing more damage than any
other battery. l. has been ascertalned that
the guns of this battery were manned entirely
by negroes.
In the recent battles OF Gen. Banks on the
Teche, in Louisiana, he seized upon papers,
among which was found a proclamation Of
Governor Moore ordering the enrolment of the
able-bodied negroes in the country roundabout,
for the purpose of organizing them into regi-
ments. Col. Thorpe says there cannot be a
doubt but that throughout the extreme Southern
States the rebels are actually engaged in raising
negro regiments, for It ls only from such mate
rial that they can now recruit their ranks with
abls-bodied men.
Col. Thorpe also says that he has watched
|
the progress Of the formation of the first col
ored regiment now organized In Louisiana, and
has never seen better material, or troops more
obcdient, or more quick to learn the manual
exercise. It is further true that these men, in
spite of their antecedents and unhappy history,
are thoroughly informed of the important po-
sltion they occupy, and yet they arc not back
ward in adopting a uniform which is their
death warrant If taken by the enemy.
Our people need not disguise the fact that
the rebels will, from this time forward, make
up the amiss, and more especially. the troops
for fertilization from the negro population, the
time has now come that We can for the first
time appreciate to the fullest extent the import
ance of the Presidents emancipation procla-
nation. Its doctrine, its announcement, It's
declaration of freedom to the slaves should be
insisted upon, and the document itself should
be industriously circulated throughout the reb.
Gl States, as upon 1t depends an important
point in crushing out the rebellion.
General Banks has entered heartily upon the
formation Of General Ulmann's brigade, which
is more than filed, and the country recently
opened up to the Federal forces, by Genera
Bankss series of victories in Western ant
Northern Louisiana, will furnish, II necessary
two or three divisions of able bodied ant
thoroughly patriotic men, to fight for the flag
and help the nation In Its hour of trial.