Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-11-04
A nrtusroN nrspFttrp,

rhe telegraph brings a bfici notice oi
ihe erecuiion OF negro soldiers Tor The
murder OF white families. The wrolches
we're swune oil three or four at time, In
tbe presence of their late comrades. The
under which these murders
yere committed were horribly revolving
peaceful homes being entered aud their
inmate, dragged out for slaughter, with all
the barbnrtios Of the Sepoy mulineers.--
I'm one instance, az old man and several
Young girls were pierced with bayonets
and hucked with swords, and their bodies
thrown into the river, the monsters in hu'
man shape giving no heed to tho pitsou,
appeals oil the victims,
From the present stand-post a brief ret
respect, coyeringa history OF the origin
and exploits of the negro soldier move
men., is not inappropriate but the whole
may be epitomiz&a in few words.
The clamor for the organization Of black
troops had securely died away before ac-
counts came OF the sacklng OF and dostruc-
ton OF Darien and Pensacola by the black
soldiers led by Higeson, formerly a radi-
cal, nIi-slayery preacher in Massachusetts,.
There MAS q wanton destruction OF prop
erty, without any display of heroism, and
the act vas promptly condemned at Wash
ington, as contrary TO the usage OF ci'lliz-
ed warfare. After that, scarcely anything
was heard of negro soldier, in the field till
the assault at Vicksburg took place, when
white and blacks engaged in actual con
nict for the first time on any considerable
scale-and as might have been expected,
the fighting was OF a character which cal
led into play all the most fendish passions
of which human ulture is SUSCEPTIBLE
Revenge and hatred ruled the hour. Plac-
ed in the van of the an.ailants, the negroes
had no alternative bnt TO fight and con-
quer or die in the att0mpt. As animals
OF the feline species naturally the most
timorous Of all creatures, fight with the
most des peration whom driven to the wall
so these shrinking negroes fell on their
antagonists and literally gnawed them
with their teeth.
In s,orming Fort Wagner the scene WAS
repeated, with some slight variations in
the horrible details. There ww terrible
fight III which the negroes, and many Of
those by whom they were Immediately
confronted, held their ground until we'll
nigh exterminated. Then followed the
b trial the brave Col. shaw, who led
the negroes, being Inferred with the black
bodies of his soldiers in common grave.
BY such fighting some foolish fanatics hope
to lestore the Union to its pristine glory
and cement in frateInal bonds those who
should never lie separated.
These few brutal episodes make up
about all that can be said Of negro yalor,
so far as demonstrated by actual occurren-
ces, since the commencement of the war.
Whether any glory has been reflected up
on tie American flag through such instru-
mentalitiss, or democratic institutions arc
advanced to higher honor among other
nations, or the people of the United
States have more claim 10 asuperier civil
ization, posterity must decide What is
established beyond doubt, is the fact
that the representations Of negro enthu-
sissts so freely INDUCED before the war
broke out have all been fsl,ifed. II was
declared that there existed throughout
the olding states secret organizations
among the negroes that even then the
southern people lived in perpetual horror
lest they should be massacred in genera
uprising of the population that through
the agency of cunning emissaries ampl
supplies of arms hal been distributed, az,
} that proclamation of freedom from tn
. capital Of the nation would be the fata
spark to fire the magazine. So great wa
the peril from liberated slaves, that tn
rebel army would be compelled to disbsnt
to protect their homes from slaughter ant
? rnpine. As ifto confirm the truth OF thes
predctioni, bogus accounts of slave insur
rections were soon given circulation thro
J out the country. But anticipations wer
; not realized all failed utterly and from
that day 10 this The white men have ha
, to bear the bIunt Of battle on both sides
7 unaded by black allies 20 any extcn
worth naming, except as the latter hav
- found employment, in tho capacity Of Ia
bo?ers, in the camp or as tillers OF the soil
--Jownotof Commerce.