Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-06-24
Facts versus the Courier.

Facts versus the Courier.
The organ of the guerrilla Democracy
in this section of Iowa has been visited
with another serious attack of "negro
on the brain" The disease is rather
judge; if not, it is at least
in that branch of the Demo-
cratic family. represented by Thayer,
Clagett and Merritt. Whether in this
instance it will prove fatal we are not
advised. 1t is understood that the sick
ly patient has taken Il trip overland to
the "Copperhead Institution at Des-
whose opening exercises were
to commence on Thursday of the present
week. We sincerely hope that little
truth may be innoculated into the fell
lows system, that he may hereafter have
a decent regard for that
In its issue of this week, the Courier
contains the following editorial:
"A BIGE'AILuRE--Perhapst the biggest failure
of all the failures of the Administration, is the
idea of arming negroes with the expectation
dollars lave been expended in this way, and
now it has come to be admitted on all sides,
that the project is one stupendous failure. II
nary expense, that the negro twill eat, and
that is ALL" He may he fit for anything else one
can imagine, but he is not fit for soldier. The
soidier clothes on his back embraced him very
lovingly, and then bid him hght-but up to the
and that is ALL Put soldier clothes on him and
musket in his hand, and he is still negro
You might as we'll think Of putting a saddle on
a mans back and call him a horse, as to put q
soldiers coat on a negrO's back and call him q
soldier. 1t won't win, neither time. And the
most you can make out of it is downright in
suit to the white soldiers who are fighting the
battles of our country.
ut is a humbug, this arming negroes
With so many facts staring the public
full in the face, we can see no justifica-
ton for such downright lying, even up
on the part of the Copperheads. This
lie, or series of lies, doesn't even contain
the element of smartness. A fellow
who can tell yarn and not be caught
in it, il often called smartand cute. But
nothing of this kind can be laid at the
door of Mr.. Thayer. Committed as he
is to a wicked and corrupt party and it's
policy, he ought to endeavor to cover
his tracks when he makes a bushwack-
er's attack upon his opponents.
Just how much truth there is in this
editorial of the Courier we shall demon
strate by good authority. We do not
call upon the witness stand radical
abolitionist, but on the part of the gov
ernment we introduce an old time con-
servative, who would gladly avail HIM
self of any good opportunity to pro-
nounce the policy of arming negroes a
failure. His prejudices were against the
policy-but they were overborne and he
gives himself to the work of making the
most of it. 1t is this man we call to
testify against the libeller of the govern
mont:
TESTIMONY OF ADJT. GEN. THOMAS.
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
Adjutant Generals Office, \
WASHINGTON, May 30, 1854.
Hon. II. wilson:
Mississippi River, contemplated writing to
you respecting the colored troops and to suggest
tina. as they have been fully tested as soldiers,
troops, and desire now to give my testimony
in their behalf. You are aware that have been
engaged in the organization of freedmen for
over a year, and have necessarily been thrown
in constant contact with them.
The negro, in state OF slavery, is brought up
by the master from early childhood to strict
obedience, and to obey implicitly the dictates of
the white man, and they are thus led to believe
that they are the inferior race. Now when or
ganiZed into troops, they carry this habit OF obe-
dience with them, and their officers being en-
tirely white men, the negro promptly obeys his
a state Of discipline. They are a religious peo-
pie, another high quality for making good SOL
diers: They are a musical people, and thus
ron V m rah al al 1U Vf.NrpN
their maneuvres. They take pride in being ele.
waited as soldiers, and keep themselves, as we'll
know from personal inspection, and from the
reports of my special inspectors, two of my staff
officers being constantly on inspecting duty.
They have proved most important addition
to our forces, enabling the Generals in active
operation to take large force of white troops
placed with the whites The forts erected at the
important points on the river are nearly all gar
risoned by blacks artillery regiments raised
Ky, Memphis, Tenn, Vicksburg and Natchez,'
Miss, and most of the works around New Or
leans Experience proves that they manage
have also been fully tested number of times,
and am yet to hear of the first case where they
did not fully stand up to their work passed
over the ground where the lst Louisiana made
the gallant charge at Port Hudson, by far the
stronger part of the rebel works. The wonder is
Bend, where had three incomplete regiments,
one without arms until the day previous to the
attacK, greatly superior numbers OF rebels
charged furiously up to the very breastworks.-
The negroes met the enemy on the ramparts
and both sides freely used the bayonet-a most
rare occurrence in warfare, one or the other
party gives way before coming in contact with
the steel. The rebels were defeated with heavy
loss. The bridge at Moscow, on the line of rail-
road from Memphis to Cornth was defended by
one small regiment of blacks. A cavalry attack
of three times their number was made, the me-
groes defeating them in the three charges made
by the rebels. They fought them hours, till our
cavalry. came up, when the defeat was made
complete, many of the rebel dead being left on
the field. A cavalry force Of $50 attacked 900
rebel cavalry near the Big Black, with signal
success, a number Of prisoners being taken and
marched to Vicksburg. Forrest attacked Padu-
cab with 500 men. The garrison was between
five and six hundred, nearly four hundred being
colored troops recently arrived. What troops
have done better? SO, too, they fought well at
Fort Pillow till overpowered by greatly superior
numbers
The above enumerated cases seem to me suffi-
cient to demonstrate the value of cOlOred troops.
make no mention of cases on the Atlantic
Coast with which you are perfectly familiar.
Your obedient servant, L. THOMAS,
Adjutant General.
The Tariff Bill
Has passed the Senate with some
\ H. r.. IL. TT