Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-06
Correspondence of the s~pringfeld Mass Republican.
The Attempt q CONSOLIDATE Black
and white Troops on ship island.
prAr.cor. T.. Ma.oh I 1870
PENsAcoLA, IA. March l. la63.

As the experiment of organizing negro resi-
ments has been instituted by the Government. its
progress and results are a matter of great interest:
and having had an opportunity to witness the eff
fort to enforce the principle of military equality
Of such regiments. | will volunteer to give its
history.
For several months past the military post OF
Ship Island has been garris0ned by two com
panies of the 18th Maine regiment, under com
mand Of Colonel Henry Rust. Recently the I'd
Louisiana regiment of black volunteers was or
dered to rendezvous at this island, and Colonel
Rust was ordered to transfer the command of the
post to their commanding officer, Colonel n
W. Daniels. Colonel Rust and staff, as ordered,
repaired to Fort Jackson, leaving behind him
on the island the two companies of the 18th
Maine.
Upon assuming command of the post, Colonel
Daniels issued orders commanding the cOnsOlida
ton of the two COMPANIES of whites with his regi
ment of blacks. He ordered them to attend bat
talon drill and be consolidated at dress parade.
In camp and guard duties black Captains we're
placed over white LieHtenants, and thus white
officers and black, in one black column blent,
obsequiously doing honor to the black equals
and superiOrs. were to iraugurate the reign of
ebony. The recognition required was not mere
ly the passing salutes and modes and forms of
military etiquette, but an equal military equal
ity. with its accompanying hOnors and obedi-
ence.
Against the orders thus consolidating them
with blacks, the officers of the white companies
earnestly but respectfully protested. But their
protest being UNDECIDED and unanswered. after a
suitable delay they finally refused to obey the or
ders. They refused to take their companies to
battalion drill or appear on dress parade; they
refused also to detail guard to be commanded by
negroes. They we're arrested, and the command
of the companies tinallv devolved upon the Or
derly Sergeant BY the Sergeant's offering TO
detail a guard, the question was put directly to
the members Of the companies whethey they
would do duty as guard under negro Off
GERS. Following the example of their officers,
the men pere mr,orily refused. Whereupou the
men were ordered under arrest, their mus
keis and equipments taken from them, and
black guards stationed around their appointed
quarters.
The execution of the order for arreSting these
companies was one of the most humiliating
scenes ] ever Witnessed. As a precautiOn against
disturbance, the black regiment was ordered
under arms and muskets loaded. Two COM
panies of blacks, with their black officers, marched
to the quarters OF the disobedient soldiers, and
called upon them 70 come forward and surrender
themselves as prisoners. Instead of resisting,
the men obeyed the summons in a spirit charac-
teristic of the intelligent New England soldier,
who knows how to Obey, but knows, too, the
philosophy of resistance to injustice. Silently
they marched to the front of their negro masters,
stacked their arms, hung their accoutrements
upon their glittering bayonets. and turned sadly
away, while their black captors bore away their
arms with feelings and expressions of glee, AS if
they were trophies OF conquest. As the ebony
band returned from their work their comrades in
camp welcomed them with shouts of triumph.
By a single word or act on the part of the white
officers, a scene of riot and blod would have been
the sequel. But wiser counSels prevailed, and
officers and men quietly submitted themselves as
prisoners TO those whom they would not serve as
soldiers or acknowledge as equals. Ii now re
mains to be seen whether the President will meet
the issue which he has created with equal firm
ness. The issue is plainly and squarely made.
and no Sinking or halfway policy can p~Slliate
the injustice or avert the consequences.
The issue has been met and the white soldiers
have triumphed, as we knew they would. They
have been ordered to follow their Colonel to
Fort Jackson. Death would no doubt have been
cheerfully suffered by them before submitting to
the humiliation and degradation sought to be
forced upon them by the Abolition "philanthro
pists" and philosophers