Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-06
Friday Morning, February 8, 1858.
From tho New York Tribune.
NEGRO SOLDIERS.

eouip 10000 soldiers Of African descent.
Meanwhile, in the Department of the
South full regiment of blacks has been
enlisted under Gen. Saxton, is already
uniformed and armed, and has been ac-
lively drilling for the last seven weeks. A
letter, which we printed on 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 OBJ
server could come to any other conclusion
than that it had obtained q remarkable
proficiency in the short period during
which it has been drilled. We have in
in addition, from an officer of the regi-
ment, who is thoroughly informed as to
its condition, Il very interesting statement
of its remarkable process, and some valu-
able suggestions on the employment of
negro troops in general
The regiment-the lst South Carolina
Volunteers, Col. Thomas Wadsworth llig
einson-marched on the 18th for the first
time through the streets Of Beaufort 1t
was the remark Of many pro-slavery Off
GERS that they looked "splendidly" They
marched through by patoons and return
ed by the flank the streets were filled with
soldiers and citizens, but every man look
ed straight before him and carried himself
steadily How many white regiments do
The same One black soldier said ave
didn't see ting in Beaufort every man
hold he head straight up to de front every
step was worth Il half-a-dollar,n Many
agreed with what is my deliberate OPT
nion," writes this officer, that no regi--
ment in this department can, even now,
surpass this one. In marching in regi-
mental line ] have not seen it equaled.
In the different modes ofpassing from line
into column, and from column into line, in
changing front, countermarching, forming
divisions, and forming square, whether by
the common methods or by Casey's
method, it does itself the greatest credit.
Nor have yet discovered the slightest
ground of inferiority to white troops"
So far is il from being true that the
blacks as material for soldiers are inferior
to whites, that they are in some respects
manilestly superior especially in aptness
for drill, because of their imitatiyeness and
love of music docility in discipline, when
their confidence is once acquired and
enthusiasm for the cause. THEY at least
know what they are fighting for. They
have also pride as soldiers which is not
often found in our white regiments, where
every private is only too apt to think him
self especially qualified to supersede his
officers. They are above all things
faithful and trustworthy on duty from the
start In the best white regiments it has
been found impossible to trust newly-en-
listed troops with the countersign they
invariably betrayed it to their comrades
There has been but one such instance in
this black regiment, and that was the
case of a mere boy. whose want of fidelity
excited the greatest Indignation among
his comrades
Drunkenness the bane of our army does
not erist 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 over
stayed passes, but this was checked by
tirely.
When this regiment was first organized,
some months ago, it had to encounter
bitter hostility from the white troops at
Port Royal, and there was great exulta-
ton when Gen. Hunter, unable to get it
paid, found himself obliged to disband it.
Since its reorganization this feeling seems
TO have mostly disappeared There is no
complaint by the priyaies of insult or ILL
treatment, formerly disgraccfuly common
from their white comrades and the officers
of the regiment are treated by others with
invariable courtesy and even cordiality.
Col. Higginson, by his military capacity,
good sense, and sodierly devotion TO his
duty, has fairly earned the respect which
is universally conceded to him.
1t has been supposed that these black
troops would prove filter for garrison duty
than active service in the field. No i'm
preston could be more mistaken. Their
fidelity as sentinels adapts them especially
no doubt to garrison duty, but their
natural place is in the advance There is
an Inherent dash and fire about them which
white troops of more sluggish Northern
blood do not emulate, and their hearty
enthusiasm shows itselfin all ways. Such
qualities are betrayed even in drill, us
anybody may know who has witnessed the
dull, mechanical way in which ordinary
troops make a bayonet charge on the
parade ground, and contrasts it with the
spirit of these negro troops in the same
movement They are to be used, more
over, in a country which they know per
fectly. Merely from their knowledge of
wood.craft and water-cralt, it would be
sheer waste of material to keep them in
garrison. 1t is exactly the knowledge
which is at once indispensable and impos-
sble to be acquired by our troops. See
these men and it is easier to understand
the material of which the famous Chas-
seurs d'Afrique are composed-so child
like and docile to their officers, and with
such fire in their eyes when they plan ex-
peditions along the coast, to be undertaken
by and by, "when de Cunnel he tink we
done drill well enough
The letter of Gen. Saxton to the Secre-
tary of War, is not less emphatic in its
testimony. Gen. Saxton is an old army
oficer-a West Pointer, whose merits go
far TO redeem the failings of some of its
other graduates-yet he says: "In no re-
giment have I ever seen duty performed
with so much cheerfulness and alacrity.
In the organization of this regi-
ment l have labored unaer difficulties
which might have discouraged one who
had less faith in the wisdom of the mea.
sure; but | am glad to report that the