Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-07-12

We
modore Chauncey, before the battle OF
Lake Erie, said sthat the men sent MN
are a motley set black soldiers and
bovs.o Commodore Chauncey responds
somewhat sharply, saying: have yet
to learn that the color of the skin, or
the cut and the trimmings Of the coat
can affecs a mans qualifications or use
fulness. I have nearly hfty blacks on
board Of this ship, and many of them
are among my best men," Perry had
no cause to complain of his men after
they had been in action.
The address Of Gen. Jackson to his
colOred soldiers, just before the battle OF
New Orleans, is memorable document.
I make the following extracts:
'sIO the men of COlOr-SOldiers From
the shores Of Mobile collected you to
arms. I invited you to share "A e perlls
and to divide the glory with you while
countTynen. / expected much nom
you, but you surpass my hopes. 1
have found in Won that noble enthu-
siasm that inpels to great deeds.
tsSoldiers: The PresidentlOf the Uni
ted States shall be informed Of your
conduct on the present occasion, and
the voice Of the Representatives Of the
American nation, shall applaud your
va1Or as your General now praises your
ardor. The enemy is near. His sails
cover fbs lakes. But be brave and uni
ted. and if he finds us cOntending among
ourselves it viii be for the prize Of ValOr
and fame its noblest reward"
OF the conduct Of the colOred people
during our late struggle TO preserve the
national unity, have not much TO say.
The facts axe so recent and so well un-
derstood by all, that j viii not occupy
your tinae by any lengthy statement IN
detail The whole number OF cOlOred
troops mustered into the service Of the
United States Tyas 1S6,087 The loss du-
ring the war from all causes was 6S,616,
or over One-third Of all enlisted. The
greatest number in the service at any
one time was Us, l56.
The number of coIored troops enlist
ed from Ohio is 1000. The number cred
tied to Ohio is but 6,092, but this does
not include the men recruited by John
NJ. Langsbon, Esq, for Massachusetts
Regiments.
The following statement is furnished
by Adjutant General COwen:
s4th Massachusetts, Regiment, recruited by
Mr. Langston, credited to Mass--...- 40l
5oth Massachusetts, Regiment. 80. .--- - Nv
1s5n U = q. Is,--- ~
nth do INSTRUMENTATION. zee. .... -080
In all other Regiments during the war OO0
Gen. Cowen addsi The ca ayUalties
among our colOred troops were very
heavy, but I have no means yet of Civ
ing any accurate figures of them
They were in many of the most hOtly
contested battles Of the war, and never
themselves most creditably.
In this connection cannot fOrbear to
give some extracts from letter written
by tEqt brave old warrior, Maj. Gen.
Hun aT. to the Governor of Ohio. 1t is
writsen from Heal Quarters Depart
meE- of the South.
HILTON HEAD, PoRT ROYAL, s. c.,
May 4 1868,
To His EcceEIeney the Governor of Ohio,
Columbus Ohio
GovERNoR :-Understandingt that sew
era1 regiments of cOlored soldiers are
being raised under your authority,
would respectfully request, if consist
ent with your views, that applications
should be made by you to the Secretaty
Of War 70 have such regiments, on their
completion, sent to this Department for
service.
am happy to announce to you my
complete and eminent satisfaction, with
the results of the organization of negro
regiments. in this Department.. In the
field, as far as tried, they have proved
brave, active, enduring and energetic.
They have never disgraced their uni
forms by pillage, or cruelty, but have
conducted themselves upon the whole
so that even our enemies, though more
anxious to find fault with these than
any other portion of our troops, have
not been able to allege against them a
single violation of the rules of civilized
warfare. These regiments are hardy,
generous, Cempererate, patient, strictly
obeu1ent, possessing great natural apti-
tude for arms. With Brigade of lib
Grated slaves already in field, a few more
regiments of intelligent cOlored men
from the North would soon place this
force in condition to make extensive
excursions upon the main land, through
the more densely populated slave re-
glons, and nom expeditions of this
character, I make no doubt, the most
beneficial results would arise.
Of their conduct in action, Gen. Blunt
says; zone (rebel) Texas regiment went
in with 800 men, and came out with
sixty. This regiment was opposed to
the first eOlored, and the negroes were
too much for them, and let me say here
that never saw guch fighting done as
was done by the negro regiment at the
battle of Honey Springs. They fought
Like veterans, with q GOODNESS and valor
that is unsurpassed. They preserved
their lines perfect, throughout the whole
engagements and although in the hottest
of the fight they never once faltered -
They exhibited the same invinCible
courage and spirit wherever they were
called into action, at Port Hudson at
Fort Wagner, and before Petersburgh.
Let me mention one or two instances
where colored individuals rendered inn
portant services. When General Burn
side unfurled the stars and stripes be
ding off which held a single black
man. He came to the General and said;
t'Ihis is deep water and that is shoal
this is swamp and that is firm land, and
that isWOods there are four thousand men
here, and one thousand there, a cannon
here and a redOubt there" Gen. Burn
side believed him. The soldiers fOrded
where the negro bade them, and that
cOlored man gave to Burnside Roanoke
1t viii be remembered that Robert
Small, cOlOred Charleston pilot,
brought of the rebel steamer Planter
and delivered it into our hands. II
seems that this steamer was needed on
certain occasion to go on an expedi-
ton Where.she would come under the
6re OF rebel guns. Her white captain
refused to 60 with the vessel. I am
happy to read an order issued by Lit
Col. ElWell, an Ohio man;
OFFICE CHIEF QUARTERMAsTER, I
PORT ROYAL, Nov. 20, 1868.
Capt. a. "A, Dti4ston, Chez assistant
QudTteYnlaste7' Folly Island You viii
please place Robert Small in charge OF
the U. S. transport Planter, as captain.
He brought her out Of Charleston har-
Dor, more than q year ago, running un-
der the guns Of Sumter, MOultrie, and
other defenees of that stronghold. He
is an excellent pilot, OF undoubted
bravery, and in every respect worthy
Of the position. This is due to hi N as a
proper recognition of his heroism and
Services. The present captain is a cow
ard, though a white man. Dismiss him,
therefore, and give the steamer to this
brave black Saxon.
Respectfully, your obedient servant
J. j. ELWELL,
Chief Quartermaster.
1t may be proper to state that Gen.
Gilmore, another Ohio man approved
the order. 'a
nE
of colored men in the field, were only a
small part Of the services rendered by
that heretofore despised race during the
rebellion. How many hundreds of our
half-naked and starving soldiers have
been clothed, and fed, and piloted
through swamps, and over mountains,
bv negroes at the risk of their lives,
while escaping from rebel prisons
wherever a Unlon soldier in the South
saw a black face, he knew he was look
ing in the face of friend. Shall we
show our ingratitude by denying to a
few thousand of this race in Ohio the
full rights of citizenship ? / trust not.
And now, Mr.. President, cali upon