, 1866-02-21
FROM THE SOUTH.
Why the Colored Troops Were
Not Mustered Out,
How tho mississippi Lerccr nrc to be
fseconstructcd-The Subject ConaId-
cred in Its Relations 10 81 Necons$ruc.
tfonss-llAtters at vlcksburE,

Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago TEibnne
VIcKsnCnd, Miss, Feb. !, 1864.
Just at present, the leading feature of news
here Is the development Of the policy of the
Government relative TO the colorrd troops,
II has been rumored here for somo time mast
that one result Of the interviews of Mai, Gen.
Sherman with prominent men in Mississippi,
especially In the more formal Interview at
jackson, had to do with the disposition Of tho
negro soldiers. Whether this be the origin OF
the plan or not, it is reached to the glee OF
every rebel and the astonishmcnt of at least
many at those humble colorcd wcArers OF the
Federal uniform, who, in the blindness oi
their stupidity, are not able to distinguish it
from an act Of bad faith, The hatred Of the
Southern communities for the colored rc.i-
ments Is intense. I copy from Mississippi
paper recent editorial showing the spirit Iu
Which the removal Of the colored regiments
is hnIled:
lFrom the jackson tMiss.l News, Jan, 81.
SE0ho TROOPS DEPARTING.
We congratulate our citizens On the departure of
eih Co!ored Infantry STATIONED i. Grcnsda ase or.
derrd to Ftcksbury for the purpose. .we understand
q fencas1ns an work be.t suited to the nature OF
employ cd on the ull.p,dsted levees on The Mfssis-
sippE, aod Nc congratulate tho country .ruon this
Wlss disposition OF the black bone and enew or thr
We OF courte entertain NO rnklnd feeling for the
unfortunate race OF Hsm. and We Will counsel
t1y possible alienation Of thelr condition consls
country. We have ever considered ihe uu,sterinr .
Of DegKn troops In the South I t'decply ed n.
snitH 10 onr people. and We ssc, We suppoxc, 10
negro troops from The South. Onr Government II
founded upon What |. called the republican bas,s.
winch cannot be separated from The representst,ye
prnnple .an and a,a when we see wroneed party In
and which takes advantage OF a Temporary lease Of
Tint power 10 oppre-s brave and gcneroo. pe,ple,
We have great canse for coDgniuGaiiun that We have
tic par1y who placed him in power, and eeems dc.
ieFnined to prr.e.Te the ancient landmarks OF the
Government which cost our fa,hev 70 Imapy yesrs,
true and loyal cit1xen- who desires to perpetuate
republican institutions on this continent should
6e, Lord have mercy upon Tho souls Of those
item away, as the tree that Curnbertd the ground.
But for what end the colored soldiers
are Withdrawn belongs 10 another aud
fresh chapter Of history. Only recently the
order stood that they we're 10 be mustered
out There was no bad faith In that, It was
simply dispensing with them and returning
them 10 civil life. Only few days ago ded.
mite order WAS received here for the muster
out Of seven colorcd regiments In this De-
partment. But this order has been counter
nanded, and the same regiments are now con-
ccntEating at this post, for the purpose Of
going to work, to rebuild the lcyees along the
Mississippi river.
The disgrace Of their regiment every OH.
Ger intends to Share. This order came npon
all like thunderstroke upon calm, bright
summer day. The troops deeply feel the
humiliation, yet nre too good and too we'll
disciplined soldiers to openly grumble much.
Although this order docs not revcrberale as
joytully In their cars, and will not be obeycd
they were wont to receive in times of war to
charge rebel line, to attack him In his
stronghold Of to pursue him In his speedy
t1ie ht, yet 1t Is an order aud 4 soldiers duty
Is 10 obey. No one can tell for what cause
these troops should be thus disgraced
ana de9Rsed Rseah,,,e unless it BE- 5e;
Ia there any one who can see any benefit to
the general Government resulting from this
supreme to the interests OF locali-
ties and individuals.
hut, on the contrary, 1t Is extremely fucon-
fisteut With the prcccpts laid down by Con-
:rcss In refusing to make appropriations for
It would be expending public funds for the
fnrfhcrance OF private interests: and suggests
the question, Are reconstructed rebels
who have tried to ruin the country
for over four years, aud laye not paid q
cent Of tar TO aefray the general expenses OF
the Government, but who were the cause Of
enormous taxes to bc paid BY loyal parties,
better entitled 10 receive the benefits of its
expenditure, than those who have Tor over
four years struggled hard to uphold the su-
prcmacy Of the stars and stripes over the
whole land and who were almost crnslled un-
der the heavy burden Of rtaxrtiou, necessitated
by the very men who are now to receive Its
These leyecs were cut to great extent. nv
rebels for the purpose Of driving out or
the q t'invnsivc Yankee mudsills,n
and now men wearing tho Federal uniform
4re made to reconstruct the same,
ut cost 10 the general Govern.
ment Of At least four times the
private contract. If the Government has no
use for these men as soldiers, for which pur-
pose they enlisted, why are they not lisbaud-
I'd and allowed to make their contracts for
The present Yenrs Release them as soldiers
and let them raise cotton.
Dut the experiment will be found foolish
md expensive. Soldiers cannot be made to
work every day. General regulations require
thcm to be relieved every twenty-four hours
which wonld give three day'sIwork in
week. These soldiers must be kept In dis
,Iplne, consequently must undergo the daily
routine Of camp life, which does not leave
over SIX or eight hours OF work per day, or
n the maximum twentr-four hours per week,
or say hundred hours per month. A COM,
pany Of two commissioned officers and fifty
Enlisted men costs the Government for pay,
ood and clothing alone about 81 600 per
month. OF course in company Of this size
here arc at least 90 per cent Unavailable for
york with the spade or pick, such as the
,on-commissioned officers, cooks, sick, etc.
3ut even allowing that svery man works you
will have 5000 hours Of labor in month,
.qual 10 very nearly one.third ofa dollar per
lour. Now every regiment Of ten companies
,as its regimental Geld and staff drum corps,
tic, which should Of course be added to |
he expense Of the lnbor of companies. |
Medical attendance, and general equip.
lge cost the Government some
ling, and spades, whec1barrows, &C.,
IRE not increased In Ta1ue by use. harc
hus shown you the pecuniary disadvantage
Lis mode OF rebuilding the lerccs carries |
With It. The Government has had true and |
alth!ul soldiers, and believe those who have