Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-28
SOUTHERN VIEW OF NEGRO SOLDIERS.

From the Richmond Enquirer Of April l3h.
The feature likely to give strange colorng to the
summers campaign is the large force Of armed blacks
which cur enemy proposes to employ They have appa.
reny reconsdered their first plan of using them merely
for garrison duty and we see them, Virginia and at
other points of attack place them in the or send them
we'll mounted on foragug expeditions in order thus 10
season and harden them for war Whilst it csnDo be
pected that they will fight with the bravery or gall
lantry OF our own men, disposed to believe that
they will be- as soldiers but little inferior to he rra of
Germany and ireland, which enters largely into The
composition of the Northern army The history OF war
that the most Indifferent material may be made
useful by careful association and it is maxim OF com.
experience that those who would not hight alone and
by themselves will stand their ground We'll II properly
supported and surrounded by large numbers Is never
wise to despise enemy, east of all when he s as yet
untried On the other hand cannot help hcpDg That
this admxture of large numbers OF men OF serVie race
be ia to the efficiency of the Northern army lhey
avowedy the derner resort OF the exhausted enemy
they are looked down upon by volunteers with disgust by
regulars with contempt They add to the one great weak
point which, opinion, explains partly the vast ine-
rorty of the Northern army 10 lighting capacity TO our
own-its want of homoge 1t is little than
rabbe, only slightly held together by partial dscip
ne but with that exception more like the hosts OF the
first crusades than like regular armies OF our day All ma
tonates largely represented but the only bond
common to all They have no sentiment between them,
like the steady ardent patriotism OF our own brave men
They have confidence in their officers for they are not
IS,
dence in their brethren n-arms for there comnu-
nifty of country of national feeling, Of common dangers
endured and common trumpbs obtained between them
No regiment ksows how it may be supported by the near
at its side soldier rely upon help from his
comrade, for comrades there are none.
Now into this strange, motley crowd, the unucky me-
gro thrust with his nery and his serVile manners now
crouching before the serl white officer playing the
tyrant in his brief authority There is gull between
him and the white fellowsoder which no discipline no
law military genius fill altogether Suppose they
| uanlrA
native American but let them run, they WILL often
and far aud the contagous Tor In me moment
of panic there is for reasoning and tho bravest
of the British troops have been thus demorazed by the
bad conduct of Spanish and Portuguese Thus the
coored troops are beyond all doubt element of weak
to the Northern army and we may be well conlent
to of their increasing numbers But whatever value
be attached to this arnng OF blacks as an operation
of war casustry redeem it from the mpuaton OF
nhumanty when extends to Southern slaves no sophie
try prove it admissible into civilized and honorable
warfare 1t is cruel for the poor slave, torn from his
home his field aud his family; leaving them behind him
victims of starvation he cannot endure the fatigue
bear the burdens OF which holds out TO him no
prospect hope 1t is nhunan, for it must necessarily
bring with warfare full of fearful horrors II is well
known and we have learnt by bitter experiences, how
difficult 1T is to repress pillage, rapDe cruelty among
trained soldiers used TO obedience and fighting from duty
How then it be expected that men with dim percep-
ons Of all higher obligations Influenced by lavish promises
and devsh pictures OF british enjoyment can be led to
understand respect the commonest laws OF mercy and
humanity? If they to be mixed with the whites they
may be somewhat controd d, but not long for they will
only serve to bruazs those by whose side they fight
they are let loose armed g. horrors will be perpe-
traed and atrocities committed which will make the
world stand aghast
And the world will shudder and the bitter feeling OF
scorn with which the Yankee regarded abroad
will change into fierce disgust into unspeakabe loathng
The English will be made to remember the indelbe STAIN
which the employment of Indians in former wars had left
upon them and shrink from the North from the respon
sblity of which will impress upon it an ineace
able mark and draw down upon it, 10 remote day per-
haps one Of those terrible retbutions which follow
national crime The philosopher will turn with contempt
from the faacy that slavery thus be abolished as II
in the history of human it had ever been ressed
or exnguished by violent agencies Even Exeter Hall,
dwelling with rant and upon it's avorite blot on
civilization" will fuse to have it wiped out with such
bloody sponge The world sill turn aside from the cruel,
bloody Yankee and we shall gain return the hearty
and the manly appreciation Of all the good and
the upright who still love to honor bright and fair
play among natous as well 8 among