The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-24
Col. Thomas Address,


evening to listen to Col Thomas lie related
his experience as an officer in the Department
of the Gull, lie had gone into the service, as
many Of bis friends would remember, holding
the opinion that all that should be required of
tie South should be to return her a egian.e TO
the Constitution and the Government. lie had
stated repeatedly while On roue for his pos. Of
duty IL the South, that soch were his views.
He held these views for time after reaching
his position there When slaves came iut his
camp it was bis practice to adyiee them to re-
turn 70 their mas ers. lie informed them that
ne ad brought only food for his army, AMI
that he nothing for these slaves, who applied to
him. to %, lie had no need Of their services
aud could not spare them arnfJ stores But he
found that in this way he did lot r ach the pco-
pie. lie began to conclude that it would be
better - change this policy and give the slaves
little better chance When he did thl., g
Was soon surprised by seeing the roads leading
to camp lined on Sabbath morning with iugi-
gives seeking refuge. ] his continued until at
one time there were five thousand OF these 'ebo-
ny pillars Of the rebellion 10 his camp
When their masters found that their slaves
were missing, Of course they come to camp for
them. Col Thomas permitted them to see
their slaves, and gave hem soldier to acc IN
pany taem as guard through The camp. On
returning he met them with the inquiry whether
l. II,al - ~ -. II,
iormly replied that they had but that the
slaves we're not inclined to return with them.
Then they asked permission to take them. The
reply to these applications was always "no,
not from my camp" 1t come to be understood
that these people should be fed and cared for by
the Fe!erals. They in their turn were ready
to do oil that they coul to aid the Federal
soldiers. They had entertained the opinion
that when Abraham Lincoln should be ele- ted
President hog would be free. They had go
oeen taught by their masters aud were very
ready to TALL into the arrangement. They were
prepared to join with the Federals, and to fight
with them. When talked with IN reference TO
fighting they reasoned that IL was as well to
fight for themselves as to have others fight !or
them. Fhey appeared brave and ready, 80 lar
as could be judged from their conversation
When coorei regiment was or anized by
direction of Gen. Butler, and placed under COM
mand of Col Thomas, they showed by ,clion
what they had affirmed in words At Port
Hudson, it appeared that this regiment; could
do good service. When they were falling rap
idly under the fire Of the enemy, the survivors
did not hesitate nor iater.
The gradual change which was effected in
Col. Thomas opinions he illustrated by an an.
ecdote as follows
- AT the iarthest point to which We marched
which was sighty miles beyond Alexandria, on
the he'd River, three planters called at my quar-
tiers, and they complained in relation to the
Presidents doing unconstitu tonal acts. They
thought 1t was right of the people to object 10
she Presidents Emancipation Proclamation Az
unconstitutional. v hat, raid |. do Won
really believe THAI? Certainly, there !, no
doubt but that it , unconssisu tional I.
Now, said /, let US see. supp 81 that you
do not deny that the President has c,nstltu-
tlonal right to seize the arms and ammunit ou
OF the rebellion everywhere in the South anc
confscate them? o certainly not they re.
piled; there was no doubt but ho had the cor
stitutiongi right to do it, Now SAID |. le
US look at this matter d little. Slaves, suppo.e,
re main at home, the largest portion of them and
they raise the provisions for those of the family
who are unable TO 60 into the service, and mol
only for the family at home, but for those as>
who are able to 90 into the armV and do 90 in,f