The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-14
The Enlisted Negroes.

Slowly public opinion Is veeripg INTO the
right quarter. A regiment OF blacks VIII
soon 60 into camp in Massachusetts,, at Wor-
cester probably. to be numbered the 54th
Massachusetts volunteer infantry. The bill
introduced by Mr.. Stevens and passed by the
House Of Representatives Monday night, the
I'd instant, provides for the enlistment and Or
ganization of 10000 men of African descent.
The memorable scene of the passage OF this
important measure has been already described
by our regular correspondent at the national
capital.
There Is no doubt that these men will be en-
listed Indeed the general opinion Of intelli-
gent and honest men of both parties is tend
ing constantly to unanimity on this measure.
1t is perhaps safe to say, that no man whose
opinion possesses the slightest weight can now
be found, to object to the enrolment of the
blacks as laberers, for the fatigue duty of our
armies. This duty is often dangerous; it is
but a step, short and necessary, to the distri-
button Of arms for seli-defence to laborers
thus exposed. Would they use them?
These men will prove themselves useful,
not only in furnishing bone and muscle for
engineering operations but in furnishing topo-
graphical information for the construction of
maps and the guidance of accommodating par
ties. Their assistance in this respect is valua-
BILE in direct proportion TO their knowledge,
and that is the minute knowledge only to be
obtained from men who have traversed every
foot of some familiar district by day and night
for years. As spies, they would find scope
for cunning superinduced by years Of servi-
one would any longer hesitate to employ the
slave population Of the rebellious territory;
and few would consent to remand to slavery,
men who have once served under our flag in
any capacity. Thus far the nation at last is
substantially unanimous.
viii the blacks fight? If that question could
be definitely answered in the affirmative, the
last shadow of difference on the question of
their military employment would vanish.
Hitherto the few writers who have maintained
the cause of African courage have been CON-
PEELED to go back TO musty records, or across
the ocean, for Illustrations and proofs. They
made some use indeed of cases of individual
uat iuSs fihc tHat VI Tue DldCk SndTicston pllOt.
but single cases and obscure records carry no
conviction with them. The great body of the
American people waited for some exhibition
of the fighting qualities of the race. Col Hig-
ginson's LIST South Carolina regiment has been
an experiment Their fighting capacity has
been tested. 1t is established. Let that once
be clearly understood, and nobody will oppose
the enrolment of the l49 regiments TO come
Col. Higginson sailed from Beaufort with a
detachment ofhis regiment on board the steam
er John Adams, on the 23d January. On
reaching Ferdandina, the expedition proceed
ed up the st. mary's river about 25 miles to a
point named Township, where the troops land
ed, met company of Florida cavalry a few
miles from the river, and thoroughly routed
them, emptying thirteen saddles at the first
discharge. Two days after, Col. Higginsou as
cended the river as far as Woodstock, Fla.
During this expedition the rebels 10 force tried
to take the steamer by boarding, as was an
nounced In our telegraphic report last Tues
day. The men were tried against cavalry, in
fantry and artillery, and behaved well in every
action. Col. Higgnson says they actually
fought each other for places at the portfolios
ofthe steamer to fire on the enemy. lie con-
cludes bis report in these words:
No officer In this regiment now doubts that
the key to the successful prosecution of this
war lies in the unlimited employment of black,
troops. Their superiority lies simply in the
fact that they know the country, which white
troops do not; and, moreover, that they have
peculiarities of temperament, position and mo-
tive which belong to them alone. Instead of
leaving their homes and families, to fight,
they are fighting for their homes and families,
and they show the resolution and sagacity
which personal purpose gives. Itwould have
been madness to attempt with the bravest
white troops what | have successfully accom-
pfished with black ones.
Everything, even to the plotting OF the ves-
sci and the selection Of the proper points for
cannonading, was done by my own soldiers;
indeed, the real conductor of the whole expe-
dition at st. Mary's was Corporal Robert SUIT
ton Of Co. g, formerly slave upon the ST.
Marys rivera man of extraordinary quail
ties, who needs nothing but a knowledge of
the alphabet to entite him to the most. signal
promotion. In every instance where follow
ed his advice the predicted result followedan
i never departedfrom 1t, however slightly with
out having reason for subsequent regret