New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS
ARMY LIFE IN A BLACK REGIMENT.

ARMY LIFE IN A BLACK REGIMENT
ARMY LIFE IN A BLACK REGIMENT. BY THOMAS
WENTWORTH HIGGISsOH, late Colonel LIST SOuth caro-
lima Volunteers 12uO PIP. 2gG. Fields Osgood, y 20.
1t is a great piece of good fortune that the com
mand of the first slave regiment ever mustered INTO
The service Of the United States intrusted TO a
man at once so competent TO manage coiored troops
and peculiarly well fitted 10 tell the history ol tlo
interesting experiment rs Col T. w. HigglnSon. nc
truly remarks that upon the success or failure OF tS
FIRST attempt depended far more than most peopie
imagine "A single mutiny,-such as has happened
in the infancy of hundred regments,-a single MN
nature Bull Run, stampede OF descruohS' anu IL
yonld have been all over with us; the party OF as
trnst wonld have got the upper hand ana !pere
might not have been during the whole contest an
other effort TO arm the negro" Col lliggnsoh seems
10 have possessed just the organizing ana governing
eapacity inst the appreciation of slave character
inst the sympathy with the poor people ana
ability TO win their affections, that were needed IN
this critical work; and besides the service he was
TINS enabled to render both TO the nation and 10 the
eolored race he has rendered a similar service 10
American history by a truly fascinating record oil MS
experinent and it's success He took conUnaTd OF
his men near Beaufort s G., soon as they were re-
cruted. and ms first conversation with some OF them
gave him a very pleasant anticipation of what was
to follow:
The first 70 whom spoke had been wounded In small
exnsdtjon after lumber from which party had just re-
1urned and in which they had been under fire ana had
done very we'll I said pointing to his lame arm: -.
Did you think that was more than you barganed for
my n.y., man li 9, oor,o rroro,,v and stoutv:
been atnkin Masr dGfs cess EhGt %s,t S, ~
dialogue with my recruits.
The patriotism of the men was all that the most
ardent of commanders could desire. The following
scene in camp was a specimen OF what might be W.T.
messed frequently
This evening. after working themselves mp 70 the IgI
pitch, party suddenly rushed on g9t a oaldse,
and mounted some man upon IT, who said, GID aoder
s SOM ooy a snnT bot of Rise de sing some
body" and stan mp for Jesus, DruGoeI ,iii nv
John Brown song always fayorlte AIDING l43iant
which had never before 9ear4 " IL V sh ,a
lsed speech and then less than seven oher speecs
by as many men on variety Si par, fS and et ON
end by his special constituency Every speech Was soo
nbrase and Recommendations there was an invariable
IhusiasD. pungeucy of statement ana an understanu
Thrilling Those long winded slaves in Among the
Pines rather fictitious and literary ~ COMPARISON
kin just arrived from Fernandina, who evidently had
previous reputation among them his niSt S tt no
ences were very interesting lie remlnGea mem ta' o
had predicted this war ever since Fremont tne 10
which the crowd assented ne gave very intel
Mgent OF that Presidential campaigns ana men
described most mpressiyely the secret o1ey OF Tue
election and told how they all refused TO w0rK9n hs stu
March expecting their freedom 10 date from that DAY
Hc finally brought Of the few really Impressive
sppeas for me American flag that have ever heard
Onr maSrs dey ha0 No under de nag uGy goe GeIo
Under II Gey nave Sna US ; SnS "t rink ef ole nag
freedom for we coored people, dey pnll IL ngnt
down and run up the rag ob dere own Immense ap
pause) Bu we n uebtr desert de ole flag bows, neber
hab hb under IL for eighteen hundred ana sItytto
years and we II die for tuow' With which oyeIpower
ing discharge Of chronological long range lNl5 lnOS
effective Of stump speeches closed. see ALREADY Win
for haraugueS from the officers give the men an enpy
barrel for stump and they VIII do their own eNhof'"
ton.
The Proclamation of Freedom was duly celebrated
of course and the following description Of the prep
aratious for the feast affords good sample of the
mild flavor OF humor which makes all Col. liiggin-
sons writings so delightful
On the lst of January have slight collation.
zen or So barbecuedor not properly oarDecntd pe
d" do" OK no two housekeepeTs appear 10 agree AZ
counts vary from two hours 10 t~eny dS 10 We saa
suit an tastes from Miss As 10 mine. But fancy me
What ever spoons aud forks and plates
Every soldier has his own, and is sterny held response
the mnlttudei Is t customary, ASK you 10 nrip 70
10 see TO that department Great the advantages OF
military discipline: for anything perpeXing' detal
My Housekeeping home is not, perhaps. on any very
extravagant scale Buying heefsteak usually go To the
extent Of two three pounds Yet when this morning
AT daybreak the quarternaSteT called 10 inquire how
many cattle would have killed for roasting tnInel
over IN bed, and answered eOmpOseuy 1eh--ahu AeeP
three 20 be fatted.'
Fated QuOtha! Not one OF the beasts az present al
pear to possess Of superfuous flesh. Never
were seen such lean kline. they swing vast Splits
composed of young trees the freight glmmers through
theT they great lanterns But no matter
they are cOokmg-nay, they are cooked.
One least taken of % cool aud VIII be replaced 10
morrow 10 warm up n roasted three hours and
well done, for tasted of i. II is so long since tasted
fresh beef that foTgeluuess j. possible but fnCicd
this 10 successful tried imagine that liked the
HOmeuc repaSt, ard certainly the whole thing has been
far agreeable than 70 De expected The doubt
now Is. whether made q sufficient provision for
my household should have roughly guessed that ten
beeVcs people,
stupendOus sound; but Gen. saNton predicts q small
social party Of 300 aud we fear that meat VIII rum short
unless they prefer hone. one OF the cattle is 90 small, We
are hoping 10 may turn out veal.
For drink 10 the simple luxury OF moiasscsand-
keepers may like know that barrel Of water 1e
allow three gallons Of moiasses nail pound OF g4EgeT
and quart of vuegaT-t,s last being ncW Iugr dent
for my untutOred palate, though al the rest are amazed
at my ignorance Hard bread, Win more moiassts ana
dessert OF tobacco, complete the festive rcpas destined
TO cheer, but not IueDIlate
As soon as the regiment had been brought into
shape the Colonel gratifed his men with bit Of the
pomp and circumstance Of war which they certainly
rclished to the full:
And Crit sitting proud . Ming his throne
Al the bead n them III rodeS .r Tv,oae"
But fancy that s- Richard felt not much better salts
he'd WIN us Following man t3ddy j. u - s'lu olee
mOckture; and nave heard officers declare that moth
ing stirring as real war except some exciting pa
rade. To-day, the first tine, marched the whole
regiment through Beaufort and bacl-thc first appear
anee Of such novelty on any stage. Ihsy nd march
filed: " wall not - be IN bliss thousand men, every
twenty broad doubeauks OF men (or they marched by
patOOns)-Cyery polished muSket having a black face
beside C. AMI every face set steadily tO the fronta reg
of freed slaves marching on into tie nture-It was
something 10 remombcr and when they returned
through The same streets marching by the HANK WITH
leader handsomely the effect almost as
nt n, nc 1o gS9 and u escorted ms m sergeant Rivers t
When DAT b"nd wheel in before Ms and march on-rny
Codt I nit | III Ia