Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-30
How the soldiers are Induced To En-
dOrse the Negro Policy of the Ad.
mInistratiOn.

Adjutant General Thomas has published nm
account of his expedition down the Mississippi.
organizing negro regiments. giving plantations to
negro laborers, and In similar occupations We
make an extract from thi. document, which a
cotemporary rightly chsracterizes "a shameless
confession.
IL was compelled to speak to the troops along
the rouie-speaking one day some seven or eight
times. During my tour met with an Irish reg
iment. the goth Illinois, from Chca go-men who
read the Chicago Times. After talking To them
a while, proposed three cheers for the President
Of the United States. These were given heartily
Three cheers were then proposed Tor the settled
policy OF the United States with regard to the
negroes. This was met with cries of Nor mol
The Colonel was absent. aud the Lieutenant,
Colonel was in command | inquired what such
conduct meant? The Lieutenant Colonel Ell
deavOred To excuse the men by saving that they
had no opportunity To think over the matter |
replied You are not telling the truth SIR
know they have been discussing this question for
week past. kno,o the fact if v u do not The
officer was considerably mortified | ordered
those who were opposed tn the policy OF the Gov.
eminent TO step foI war.l and said knew that the
regiment hld seen considerable service aud fought
well, but | also knew that there was but little
discipline observed among them; that wanted
distinct recognition OF this dOctrine-that WAS
the point with me. Several stepped forward
They were instantly seized and sent To the guard
house.
then left the regiment, telling them would
give them week TO consider what thew would
do. At the next station | met The Colonel of
the regiment, who begged that | w aid leave the
matter in his hands. and he would see that the
men were taught the duty of soldiers When |
reached Memphis I WIS taken sick When I
afterwards got up to Louisville | was shown a
long article from the Chicago Times. written by
Captain of the Goth Illinois, who was not on
the ground at the time OF their insuboriinate
misconduct but who saw it to write a very in
subordinate article in reference to what he heard
| had said, aud in which he terribly distorted the
facts. He was, of course. dishonorably dismissed
from the service
This is worthy OF a li'tle consideration.
l Although it is not probable that in this reg
imeDt there were twenty men who had voted f,r
Mr. Lincoln. thew all heartily cheered for the
President of the United States the Chief MaCis.
irafe of the nation
When callei upon to cheer for the negro
policy OF the Administration, they aid Mo, no."
Thomas demanded ofihe Lieutenant Colonel 10
know the reason of this. when, that officer at
tempting to explain the matter be WAS told bv
the Adjutan, General that he was liar This.
j, seems. considerably mortified the Lieutenant
Colonel, ut which we are not greatly astonished
3 Thomas ordered the men who were opposed
TO the negro policy of the Government" TO step
forward. at the same time remtrking that the
regiment "had seen considerable service and
fought we'll. bu, "a il was $50 il seemed) more
important th-t the men should cheer for the mig.
ger policy than fight WELL" those who stepped
forward in obedience to Gen Thomas call, were
INSTANTLY seized and sent 10 the guard houss"
4. captain of the regiment wrote an &C
count of what occurred TO = Chicago pa ner. for
which 'he was of course dishonorably dismissed
the service" II he represented the facts any
worse than Gen. Thomas himself represents
them possibly he deserved BIZ fate
And vet. while we find an official emissary of
the Cabinet making such statements as these We
are constantly told Of the unanimhy Of the sol
diers in favor of "the negro policy OF the Gov
eminent" The communication of Gen. Thomas
gives clue 10 this boosted unanimity. "Ir
slant seizure" and the guard house" foe the
private, "dishonorable dismissal from the .erv
ice for the oftcer-these are the penalties Tor
refusing throw up the hat for the settled ne
gro policy of the Govsrnmeut."-IN A. Ledger