New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-31
NEGRO SOLDIERS.


$50. 600 soldiers of African descent Mean.
while, in the Department Of the South full
regiment of blacks has been enlisted under
Gen. Saxton, is already uniformed and armed,
and has been actively drilling for the last
seven weeks A letter, which We printed Oh
wednesday, from our special correspondent,
who is unusually well qualified to judge of its
military proficiency, says of this regiment that
no honest-minded, unprejudiced observer could
come to any other conclusion than that it bad
attained a remarkable proficiency in the short
psriod during which It ha. been drIIle@ We
have. in addition from an officer OF the regi-
ment, who is thoroughly informed ~ to Its
condition. q very interesting statement OF its
remarkable progress, and some valuable sugses-
tions on the employment OF negro troops III
general.
This repment-the lst South Carolina Vol
un.eers. Col. THOMAS WENTWORTH HiGGIN-
soN-narcbed on the 18th for the first time
through the streets of Beaufort. II was the
remark of many bitterly Pro-Slayery officers
that they looked "splendldiy." They marched
through By patoous and returned BY the faux;
the streets were filed with soldiers and citizens,
but every man looked straight before him aud
carried himself steadily. How many white
regiments do the same One black soldier
said: 1--WE didn' see ting In Beaufort;
every man hold he head straight up to dc
front; every step was worth q haif-adoua y
Many agreed with what is my deliberate
opiniop." writes this officer, "that 10 regiment
ia this department can, even now, surpass this
one. In marching in regimental line L have
not seen it equalled. In the different modes OF
passing from line into column. and from column
iuto line, in changing 'front.' countermarching,
forming divisions, and forming square, whether
BY the common methods or by Caseys methods,
it does itself tie greatest credit. Nor have yei
discovered the slightest ground of inferiorty to
white troops"
So far is it from being true that the blacks
as material for soldiers are inferior to whites,
that they are in some respects maniiesty SUI
perior; especially in aptness for drill, because
Of their imitstiyenes and love of music; do.
ciliiy in discipline, when their confidence is
once acquired; and enthusiasm for the cause.
Thu at least know what they are fighting for.
They have also pride as soldiers which is not
often found in our white regiments, whore
every private is only too ap. to think himself
especially qualified to supersede his officers.
They are above oil things faithful aud trust
worthy on duty from the start. In the beat
white regiments it has been found impossible
70 trust newly-enlisted troops with the conn
torsign; they invariably betrayed it to their
comrades. There has been but one such in
stance in this black regiment and that was
the case of mere boy, whose want of fidelity
excited the greatest indignation among his
comrades.
Drunkenness, the bane OF our army, does
not eIis, among the black troops. There has
not been one instance in the regiment, though
no steps have been taken to guard against it.
The only difficulty which threatened to become
at all serious was that Of absence without
leave and overstaying passes, but this was
checked by few decided measures and has
ceased entirely.
When this regiment was frat organized, some
months ago, it had to encounter bitter hOstll'
ty from the white troops at Port Royal, and
there was great exultstion when Gen. Hunter,
unable to got 1t paid, found himself Obliged to
dsband it. Since its reorganization this feel
ng seems to have mostly disappeared. There
ia no complaint by the privates of insult or ILL
treatment, formerly disgracefully common from
their white comrades, and the officers of the reg
ment are treated BY others with invariabl,
courtesy and even cordially. Col. Hgginson,
by his military capacity, good sonse, and sol
derly devotion to bis duty, has fairly earned
tho respect which 10 universally conceded Il
him.
1t has been supposed that thess black troops
would provo filter for garrison duty than nctiye
service in tho field. No impression could b.
more mistaken. Their fidelity rs sen,inels
adapts them especially no doubt to garrison
duty, but their natural place is in tho advance.
There is an Inherent dash and fro about them
which white troops of more sluggish Northern
blood do not emulate, aud their hearty enthu-
siasm shows itself in all ways. Such qualities
are betrayed even in drill, as anybody may
know who has witnessed the dull mechanical
way in which ordinary troops make bayonet
charge on the parade groand, and contrasts ii
with tho spirit Of these negro troops in the
same movement They arc to DO used, more.
over, IN country which they know perfectly.
Merely from their knowledge of woOd.craft aud
water craft, it would be sheer waste Of ma.
tsrlal 10 keep them in garrison. IL is exactly
the knowledge which is at once Indispensable