The Portland daily press., 1864-05-09
Gen. Gilmore and the Colored Troops.

A letter from Gen. Gilmore, at Morris Is
land, Charleston Harbor, to Gen. Halleck,
written in December last. has just been pub
lished. The letter makes certain suggestions
in relation to the colored troops which ought,
under the circumstances, TO silence forever
such miserable twattle as that daily poured
forth through the columns Of the copperhead
journals, TO the effect that negroes are not fit
for soldiers, and that no white man can con-
sent 10 fight with them without selfdegrada-
ton.
Gen. Gilmore, after his experience at Wag-
ner and his knowledge of the brave deeds of
the 54th Mass and their gallant leader a
young man high born as the world under
stands that phrase, and nursed in the lap of
wealth and luxury, but who, nevertheless did
not feel degraded by leading negro troops or
mngling his blood with theirs for his coun-
trys beneft-urged upon Gen. Halleck that
black troops in his department should be
called United States colored regiments, in
stead of being named after their states, as the
list S. c., or the 54th Mass, &c. He also
asked the appointment of board in his de-
partment TO examine candidates for commits
sions In colored regiments. lie urged that
s'the pay of the white and colored soldiers
should be the same" aud suggested that the
families Of colored soldiers should be provi-
ded for by allowing them to locate upon and
cultivate lands in advance of their survey and
sale.
TO the following sentence in Gen. G's letter
particular attention is invited:
"The policy of the government in organic
ing regiments OF colored troops upon this
coast, and the value aud general efficiency of
that class OF soldiers, have had fair trial and
a successful issue under my own eyes. The
wisdom of the course pursued under my uni
form rule to treat the phite and the coiored
soldier alike has been fully indicated upon
the field Of battle and in the trenches. Every
vestige of the pref and ill-feeling which
existed between the white and colored troops
of this command, during period OF inaciivi-
ty, has disappeared under the excitement Of
an active campaign, of which the labors and
dangers were shared alike by both classes"
Referring to the letter from which this is an
extract, the Evening Post says:
Now General Gilmore was formerly, unless
report belied him, one OF once numerous
class who held that you cannot interfere with
slavery without destroying the Union and
violating the constitution. de was for letting
white men only fight In this war, and was OPP
posed TO receiving negroes who would run
away from the enemy. But these opinions
and prejudices OF his melted away before the
fervent heat of the enemys fire in his first
real campaign. He may have disliked ne
groes, bnt he loved his country better than
his preiudices he could not suffer his flag OF
his own reputation to be furnished by defeat,
il he could gain victory by the help Of negro
troops and having got thus far, his manly
love OF fair play carried him at once to the
conclusion that if men fight alike and under
go the same hardships, they deserve the same
reward.
The contemplate spirit which led forty
nine members Of the House of Representa-
tives TO vote on Saturday against the equali-
cation of pay which was urged by General
Gilmore so long ago as last December, is not
found in the army. There men asked only if
the blacks would fight, and when ii was
found that they would, no white soldier or
officer grudged them equal pay. General
Gilmore has done himself honor by the frank
and manly way in which he has sacrificed
prejudices which have very tenacious hold
on many minds, and especially on the minds
OF officers educated at West Point. We hope
that hereafter this national school will send
out pupils as devoted to the principles of
equal liberty and free labor, as the majority
of its graduates in former years have been to
slavery.