New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-01


execution.
DIS RTIONs.
Deserters still continue to swarm into lines The
number who now report averages somewhere in the
neighborhood of eghty.fye daily. They all take the
Amnesty oath and return to their homes. LA.
Coiorcd Troops mud COnirRband Camps.
From Our Special Correspondent.
NASHVILLE, Feb. II, ls65.
CoLORED TROOPS.
Picking up a Cincinnati Commercial the other
day came across the following passage in letter
from a correspondent at Savannah Gen. Fosters
troops viii not believe, accompany Sherman in his
campaign Ii is pretty generally understood that
the latter does not 10 have coored troops in his
army, and his troops eyince marked dislike to TIE ne
groes. Some slight emeutes have arisen. ending as
ght be supposed. unsatisfactory to the Latter 1t
excites the ire OF Shermans veterans, of whom
serving q second enlistment and still in the
ranks TO come sooty fellow with the chevrons
Of Sergeant his sleeve. This is peculiarly often
sye to our Western soldiers and they have not avoided
giyng evidence Of their dspoasBTe. That nothing Sc
rous has occurred is fortunate, and attributable per-
haps TO the fact that the apoiheOs OF the negro SOL
der in the Southern Department has been suspended OF
late or at least made little conspicuous possible
Has been suspended of late Strange The apotheo-
sis Of the negro soldier in the Southern Depart.
mcnt and every other department has never
gone to any greater length than in inst and reason.
able appreciation for brave and mcritorious ser
vices rendered in defending our common country
against the assaults Of white Rebels and traitors in
General Sherman does not care to have color.
ed troops in his army just so and per consequence
his troops evince marked dislike 10 tie negro.
After the bloody and desperate assault of Overton Ill.,
in the battle in front OF Nashville the colored oad and
wounded were found piled heaps upon heaps; and when
white and colored regiments We'd with each other in
charging the Rebel works-when al were animated by
common, burning restless energy to dive the traitors
then II did not excite the ire Of Western soldiers
10 como across sooy fellows with or without
chc,cuns ON their sleeves. No. The work on
hand was then too serious to admit Of dainty
theorizing about physical complexion Color was
nothing: the ability and energy to toke q hand in dc.
Tending the national life and honor everything.
And i will be in this ard every other military de-
parment where blind prejudice and conventional hob
bes in the leaders do not prodnce spirit Of narrow
clgsiyeness and hatred TO the negro among subordi
Mates Prejudice the old caste against color is at the
his veterans get IT, the better for themselves and
the glorious causc thl, both white ard black are en-
deayoring to advance.
have yet to hear the FIRST man in Thomas's army
speak dsparaging word of the fighting qualities and
general solderly abilities CT colored troops. From
major general down TO private the praise Is unqua
fed as deserved. Even those whose education has
been somewhat neglected and what little they have
out as If by instinct. that 1.-THE aiRsos do fight Ike
hell"
Gen. Thomas is Virgninn and II might be supposed
that hi. predictions would naturally counter to
the "apotheosis" of the negro. Whatever bis predi
ec,ions may he. II is vesy vel -nown that actual
experience and observ have brought him to the
conclusion that, while it would be unjust to defy colored
troops the article par excellence they are worthy Of
the highest confidence soldiers and arc not excccd
by any.
dropped In the other day TO see Col Mussey, who is
Commissioner for the organization OF coored troops
in the Department of the Cumberland How is it.
said l. THAT Gen. Sherman has such poor opinion of
negro soldiers >" Parity said he because he has
never yet had fair opportunity of testing
their fighting qualities. Sherman is honest i'm
pulsye and hastily jumps at conclusions. If
he were at the battle of Nashville and stecd-
mans colored troops they nst the lett. he would
be the rst man 10 ulI Justice to their herosm ana
bravery As it is. in bis march through Georgia, he
has had only five negro companies, demoralizcd and
dintegrated used as hewers Of wood and drawers Of
water and forming no criterion whatever to the eff
dccncy of colored troops Whether sherman is
given to snap Judgment whether he has had oppor
tuaities for judging the weight Of bis great
name in the opposite scale viii not change the
patent and weproycd fact to Tic thorough efficiency
and bravery Of colored troops.
Col Aussey has his whole heart and soul in the work
in which he is engaged. To his carnesness and ability.
his answering perseverance through evil and through
good report my lie attributed in great measure the
present strength, efficiency and wholesome discipline
Of The colored organizations in this Department. His
views OF the work and Of the material he has to operate
on may be gathered from extract from one Of his TO-
ports lie says Il regard and have regarded the OF
sanization OF eoored troops very important social
as well as military and as prov
dental means OF lifting the race need by TINS war or
heir liberty have cndeavored to impress this view
upon the officers appointed 10 their organization ana
lpon the men Themselves, showing that their recosn
ion O. men woaa soow their recognition as soldiers
and have now, after years labor in this Department
more hone and more faith than ever in the capabilities
n The negro to make good soldier and good citizen
At present, owing TO the great demand for labor, ana
the high wages paid, recruiting Is rather duh. Still,
existing organizations kept in state If successful
efficiency and with their ranks fell There are eleven
% lored regiments in this department, with three bat
cries Of artillery Tie number OF officers lwhite) mus
cred in up to the p,esen. time foots up 375.
C0STEABAND vAMrs.
Col Mussey has lately assumed the general superin
endency of the contraband camps in the department
rhe numbers Of these institutions arc growing less
very day and are mostly confined TO women and Child
.eu. While was in tho Colonels Office. half dozen
" farmers from dFcren, points in Tennessee in
nouiring after male help, and couldn't be supplied