Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-30
UNITED sraTrs NEWS.

FAILURE OF THE NEGRO SOLDIER ExPERIMENT-EsLT
ING AWAY CT THE CORPS AFR1oUE.
The following letter from Port udsoD, May 4th,
to the editor OF The Springfield Republican, tells its own
story. 1t comes from source friendly to the Admin
istraton and for this reason we should think, would
produce its proper effect on the minds of the Yam
KEGS
| PoRT HUDSON La Nav Is 1864
! The Corps D Antique orearzed and tq1ipped by or
der of Gen. Banks AMI intended to Include about if
teen thousand men, baviog their headqua tiers at this
port has recently been subject to several important
changes When tie order OF orga stlon was promal
gated it empsted the Organization IT eighteen reg
ns of five hundred men, with he same plumber OF
fficers the regiments of one thouF and There
were already three full regiments organ several
months PREVIOUS as louisiana native gualda," and
Gen mac hed already commenced rerruftpg tor the
five regiments known subsequently, as Uimans Brigade
These eight regiments were made the nucleus OF the
corps and during the sunmer and su' umn OF $685.
through the channels opened by the progress OF me
campaign there were enough enlisted to swell the
number of regiments to about twenty fve scd General
George L. Andrews placed in command OF the
corps. Bat, unfortunately it found that the oily
steal qualifications of The negroes not equal 10 the
hardships of drill and fatigue duty, many OF them haT-
ing 10 them the seeds Of old and surely fatal diseases
brought by the vicious habits OF plantation life aud
many others being yet young and immature IN body
and marked by hereditary tants 1t is surprising to
one una.qua nted with the subject to contemplate the
terrible rate OF mortality and to learn how many have
lung and heart diseases or are broken down by rheu-
matte Affections overwork and i'll usage. Thousands
died, were discharged for disability or deserted The
regiments dginded down from five hundred to two hum
dred three hundred recruiting stopped by
or1er from Gen Banks which contemplated the reten-
ton Of many able bodied blacks as possible on the
Government plantations officers began to grow dig
couraged designations became the order OF the day
disappointment the pay questions demoralz ed the
men, All these combined to have untavora-
BILE effect on the corps.
When the campaign commenced this season four
regiments ordered to the field. TO ill them up to
six hundred each, it was sary transfer men
from three or four other regiments leaving to each
company in the latter only its officers and ten men,
Then the action of the Was Department, chang
ing the regimental numbers and designations to Uni
TED States infantry, artillery, &c, ana requiring "a
original corps, in the regiment recolections OF ts
past officers and the formidable Notifications it's men
have erected here since the surrender of Port Hudson
General Andrew has gone North on leave, Gen. Jill
man succeeding to the command, and full aud careful
inspection of oil the works aud forces last week by Gen
T. W. Sherman (who lost leg in the siege of Port
Huds0n) has given rise to rumor Of further change
of commanders What the future of the coFps will be
depends upon the question of expediency; will the
possible Interests necessities OF standing army
warrant the expense of organizing and drill
ing colored troops and bringing them up to the stan
dard OF white troops? AS the of the South
agricuturally called out the demand tor labor OF
acclimated blacks will increase if the available mum
Der is diminished by the requirements of large army
there will be increased opposition to main tanning
black regiments The question is OF Immediate and
great Importance.
TIC fiji up the black regiments in this department
alone would require twenty thousand recruits and
the relative mortality of white and black troops seems
to indicate that it would be better TO let the present
black organic die VI, and supply their places
the necessity continued from the army of foreigners
seeki SD ores. Besides this reason there Is
another Offering into consideration OF the SUBJECT
namely the gre alter cost of maintaining coored troops
They undeniaoiy ie Levy, unproductlve and waste
full TIE loss by and tear, such as the expense OF
keeping up their uniforms and equipments, OF camp
and garrison e upsga, and all kinds OF military stores
and property promises to exceed very greatly me e
# spending expenditure for white troops, end IL Is
scarcely ma tier for doubt that their services are lar
less valuable both in quality and quantity o the Gov
erDment. rhe su bect is one which cOmmends lteeif
very forcb iy all who have interest in the future
character and condition Of our national troops.
The S Louis Republican, commenting on these facts,
says:
We can add nothing to facts Ike these, though they
are at REPETITION of thousand SIMILAR facfs equally
gn lGcant. 1t is well asked, who has the counrys
and the armys interest most ct beart ?the mep who
lvoca'e or the who oppose the negro soldier
pIans ?-and this erqpiry extends equally to the Gov
plantations and TO the employed in purely mil
itary service. IF the ADMINISTRATION had started Out
with the avowed purpose of securing the extinction Of
TIE negro it rot have done more to secure that
end
HAVG OPERATED On N CLbLLAN's OLD GROUND
II is very amusing to read extracts from the army
of he New York papers, explaining |
the fiuk movement Of Grant. An extract fir. m a |
letter to he N. Y Times, written Tuesday before
The terrible rrpuse of Friday, June lst has the follow
ing etrngetical explanation |
he present position of this army is the result of that
line turning movement, which, commencing On Thurs |
day last, 10 two days planted corps across the |
Pamuukey river, rendered useless the elaborate rebel
efences of the South Anna, and secured commupi.
cation with York river, the Chesapeake, and the ample
resources which these waters foat Of this movement
have sent you such reports it has been possible to
send with such unfequent opportunities Of connun'ca~
zion are forded l tear however, that no reports
which you have received at all adequate to get
forth the true presentation Of this great operation
10 strategy.
Your readers would require better maps than can
possibly be accessible tc them, and would need to bring
in order to grasp it's relations and its reality Egough
that it has planted this army twelve miles nearer
mond that it has oiled the plans and purposes OF the
willy enemy, and has brought US to easy commuuica-
lion with secure and perfect base must not, how
ev-r, torbear to emphasize point. It appears to
following uo C the enemy, who is supposed to have
fallen back from bis liaes between The North and
South Anna-a conception which does injustice to the
generalship of commander.
It not Lee but Grant that took the initiative 49,
Lee would gladly have remained 10 his lines along the
South Anna, and. would willingly have awaited battle
there but he turned out of bis cherished position,
lust as he compelled to evacuate he lines of Spott
sylvania, by offensive movement threatening bis
movement bold in conception ard
mastery In execution. There are" says the Arch
luke Charles, {" battles which are already by the
mere direction OF the strategic line of advance" In
like it be fairly claimed that by couple
n1Qr0 haor ipoS