Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-08-26
General Thomas and the Negro Reg
imenIs In the Mississippi Valley.


nefcent, and useful work in developing
plans for organization of negro regiments
and for working plantations in the Mis-
sissippi Valley. 0vertas&ed by his ardu-
Gus labors, he was Frustrated 10y fever,
and was for a long time dangerously i'll.
All will rejoice to know that he is rapidly
From recent conversations
of his we condense the following:
Mr.. Field, benevolent gentleman of
St. Louis, seeing the pitiable and neglect
ed condition of the negroes and the
abuse TO which they were subjected, went
to Washington and laid the matter be-
fore Secretary Stanton. This resulted in
developing and defining policy on the
part of the Government, and in sending
General Thomas TO the Valley to put the
policy in motion.
On his arrival at Cairo, he found the
black people huddled together, abused
and neglected by those who had charge
OF them, and all sorts of spiteful express
sions, among which was "D-n the mig
GER" used towards them. They were
dying like sheep-2,5O0 had already died
from various diseases.
lie made a speech, developing the new
policy of the Government in regard to
the blacks. He knew of the abuses that
had been heaped upon them, and declar-
ed that they must end-that black men
should be encouraged to come into the
lines, should be kindly treated, fed,
clothed, armed and put into military or
CARNATIONS. lie told them that whoever
stood in the way of this policy. whatever
his rank, he would dismiss him from the
service on the spot. The rebels were
making use of the negroes, aud every
black man that came into our lines weak
ened them and strengthened us. He
would have them organized ino regiments
and white officers placed over them
men whose hearts were we'll in the work.
He would select the best men, good men
for officers, even If he had to take all,
from Colonel down, from the ranks.
The enunciation OF these purposes pro
duced a revolution at once.
The more he saw, and the more he re
flected, the more huge did his task APP
pear These people were coming in in
large numbers. They knew perfectly
well (for the news spread like wild fire
among them) that the President had de-
clared them free. He made report to
luC DcCItl0ll vi w liiE II HOuiA NV
do to send them North-some States had
passed laws against their reception, and
the prejudice of certain classes, where
laws had not been passed-especially the
German and Irish-was too great 10
think of sending them there.
They could not be sent to the Border
States, for they would be kidnapped and
carried back into slavery. 1t would not
do to let them be huddled together and
become idle and good for nothing. No,
they must be employed in the Land
that gave them birth. Possessed with
these ideas and this plan, he went on.
He went to Columbus, Ky. General
Schriber, fine officer, was in command.
General Thomas addressed the troops ;
thought there was material there for a
colored regiment, and declared his pGr-
pose to organize one.
He passed on to Helena, Ark. Gener-
al Prentiss who was in command, entered
heartily into his plans. A colored regi-
ment was organized called the First Ar
kansas" This regiment was ordered
down at the time Port Providence was
and departed with the great
est alacrity. He organized a second regi-
ment at Helena, from the negroes who
came in there, and before leaving author
lied Colonel Pike, Missourian, land those
Missourians enter heartily into the work J
to organize FIVE additional regiments
from the negroes as they came in.
At Young's Point he met Gen. Logan
who entered heartily into the work and
was for availing ourselves OF the services
of the negroes to the fullest extent. lie
organized two colored regiments in Lo-
gan's corps.
After we took possession of Crane Gulf,
a thousand negroes came in, and Shep-
ard, of the Third Missouri volunteers, OF
fered to take charge of regiment. lie
was so much pleased with his zeal, that
he told him to 90 ON and raise a brigade
and he would insist upon his being made
Brigadier General. Three OF these reg
iments are already organized.
He visited and held long interviews with
General Grant. From General Grant
down he did not meet with any opposi'
ton, but every one gave his hearty coop
Grafton in carrying out the new policy OF
the Government
Milliken's Bend, shipping port in
that part of the country, would certainly
have been captured, had it not been fol
two incomplete colored regiments, one oi
which had not been mustered into the
United States service They are said to
have fought like devils.
At Memphis he authorized General
Hurlbut to organize a regiment of heavy
artillery. Twelve companies he has al
ready organized.
General Thomas intended, at first, tc
raise only force of 10000 colored men,
but before he left he had completed
arrangements for raising twenty regl
ments, and on the fall of Vicksburgh, he
expected to raise as many more as might
be wanted. o.
General Thomas said:
II was compelled to speak to the troops
along the route-speazing one day some
seven or eight times. During my tour
met with an Irish regiment, the Ninetieth
Illinois, from Chicago-men who read
the Chicago Times. After talking with
them awhile, proposed three cheers fol
the President. These were given hearti
ly. Three cheers were then proposed fol
the settled policy of the United State:
with regard to the negro. This was mel
by cries of No p The Colonel was alb
sent and the Lieutenant Colonel was IL
command. l inquired what such con
duct meant. The Lieutenant Colonel en-
deavored to excuse the men by saying
that they had had no time to think 1t oy
er. | replied, You are not telling the
truth, Sir! l knOa0 that they have beer
discussing this question for week past
l knOl0 the fact if yeu do not. The otfi-
Ger was considerably mortified. | order
ed those who were opposed to this policy
of the Government to step forward, and
said knew the regiment had seen con
siderable service and fought well; but
also knew that there was but little discip
line observed among them that
wanted distinct recognition of this doc
trine-that that was the point with me-
Several stepped forward. They were in
stantly seized and sent TO the guard
house. then left the regiment telling