Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-29
NEGRO SOLDIERS FOR THE In.
DIAN WARS.


rently reported and generally believed by
our most observant citizens of town and
country, that we are to have long and
bloody war with the Indians war that
will run through many years, and dwarf
all Of our other Indian wars into insig-
ni6canee. The Florida war with the
Seminole Indians lasted some five years,
from first to last; and though there were
but few hundred warriors, they foiled
all attempts to conquer them, and peace
was restored only by their leaving the
country. The number of white soldiers
killed by them greatly exceeded the mum.
Der of their own fighting men. If these
few hundred Seminole warriors could
keep the United States at bay for SO long
time, how long will this present war
last, when the Indians can muster thou
sands instead of hundreds, and when the
plains and mountains they roam over or
hide in are OF vast extent2 The Govern
ment evidently intends preparing for an
earnest and prolonged contest, and on a
grand scale, and hence soldiers must be
enlisted or drafted. The Radicals are
said to be secretly urgipg the Govern
ment to compel all able.bodied negroes,
not engaged in agricultural pursuits, to
enlist for five years in the regular army.
They argue that in all our towns and
cities can be found thousands of strong
negro men, who are just the material to
put in fighting trim against the Indians.
1t seems the owners of cotton factories
are becoming alarmed about the price of
cotton. They fear India can raise il at
less cost than we can, if negro labor is
Interrupted much longer on the planta-
tions of the South and hence they say
they do not propose to take any negroes
from the cotton farms of the cotton
States. But the Government wants sol
diers for this Indian war as much as the
Radicals need cheap cotton for their
factories The latter do not want tohite
men to 60 out as soldiersJ and hence
they intend to make the poor darkies do
all the fighting They say there can be
found in all our cities, men who do moth
ing but idle and steal, and that the army
will need all such for this great Indian
war. This idea is creating great alarm
among the negroes, and in some of the
counties below us, in Mississippi, they
are actually leaving their farms and
hiding out in the woods, for fear of
being drafted 1t seems to be a part
of the Radical plan TO get the negro to
register as the first step towards securing
him as a soldier. When be records his
name there is but one more step. He
must vote, and then they formally trans
fer his name to their secret books, in
order to let the Government know how
many negro soldiers can be gotNt any
given place. For instance, suppose six
thousand negroes register at Memphis.
That record is against them. They have
taken the first step towards declaring
themselves ready to claim all the priv.
leges and discharge all the duties Of ciii-
zens. Then, if they vote, the matter is
concluded, and their names are copied |
and transferred to books that are TO be |
placed in the hands Of Government Of |
6cials. They are then liable to be drafted
into service whenever the Radical gov
ernment needs them; and they will be
sent to the frontier 10 meet death at the
hands Of indians The poor darky will
soon find oat who is bis friend Instead
Of remaining quietly in the country eul.
fivating the soil aud raising che food We
Al so much need, he comes to the towns
and cities, is consumer instead Of
! producer, and is just the idler
needed for the srmy-just the idler whom
! Camanche would scalp with a yell
Radical chicanery is showing its cloven
ioot They know the Government must
Ind will have soldiers Cor this Indian
var, which viii last for many years
rhsy do not want to put their own !