Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-01-21
mr.porAnrrns. $50, u. 5. c, T.,

Moeus isLANp, :. G.. FrB 18th, 1860.
/ CoNilADFs.- The hour Is NJ hand when
we must separate ioreNeIi anu no III =, hon
we look bnclx updn the history of the lrst
South carolina Voluntecrs-the first black
regiment that ever bore arms IN uGno"'o VI
ON the 9th dny of May, 1862, NJ when tline
there were nearly four millions Oh you,s
| race I'm bondage sanctioned by the lhWs oi
| the land ana protected by our nng,Uon III.
/ div I'm the fnce of floods of prejudice thnt
| well nigh deugcd every avenue 10 mum.
/ hood and true liberty, YOU came iorli, 10
| do battle for your country UNI SUu ui,hnut
/ nay, or even the privilege OF being recog-
niZed as soldiers you labored on, ohly 10
| be disbandcd and sent To your MONIES, WIN.
/ out even "A hone of reward, ana when our
| country necessitatcd by the dreadful strug
/ gle with armed traitors, finally granted you
! the opportunity again 10 come torth III &c
/ fence of the nations life, the Alhcrl,y Win
which Won responded to the call, gave
abundant evidence of your readiness 70
To strike n manly blow for the liberty Oh
And from that little band of hopeful,
trusting and brave men who gathered NJ
Camp SaXton on Port Royal Island, IN lne
fan of 1862, amid the terrible prcJudices
that then surrounded us, has grown an ar
my of n hundred and forty thousand Dlack
soldiers, whose vulor and hcroism has Won
your race name which will live as long as
the undying pages OF history sri'i H. enu hits
man. armed rebellion has been conquered,
the millions of bondsmen have been cmnn'
cipated, and the fundamental law oil the
land has been so altered rs 10 remove 1of-
ever the possibility of human slavery being
rc.established within the borders OF re-
deemed America. , 4. "a.
The flag of our fathers, restored to its
rightful Significance, now floats over every
foot of territory from Maine To California
and beholds only freemen. The preJuulces
which formerly existed against you hre
g..l. ont
done Your duty and acquitted yourselves
like men, who actuatcd by such ennoDlng
motions could not tail; and ns the result OF
your fidelity and obedlence you i nav o,,. noM
IL seems fitting to me that the last hours
of our existence ms Il regiment shoulu DC
passed amidst the unmarked graves OF your
comrades-at Fort wagner. Near you rest
the bones of Colonel shaw buried by an
encmy's hand In the same grave Win MS
black soldiers who fell AT his side, where IN
future your childrens children VIII come on
pilgrimage TO do homage To the ashes OF
those that fell In this glorious struggle.
The flag which was presented To us by
Rev. Geo. II. Cheever and his congregation
i'm New York City, on the LIST OF january,
lSE3-the day when Lincoln's immortal pro-
cIamation of freedom was given To the
world-and which you have borne so nobly
through the war, is now to be rolled up Tor
ever and deposited in our nations capltol,
and while there IL shall +, st with the battles
in which you have participated inscribed
upon its folds IL will DC Il source of pride
TO us all TO remember that II has never been
disgraced by n ALTERING in the hour OF dan
ger or polluted by "A traitors touch.
Now that you are to lay aside your arms,
and return to the peaceful avocations OF
life, | adjurc you by the associations ana
history of the past, and the love you bear
for your liberties, to harbor no feelings OF
hatred toward your former masters, but TO
seek in the paths OF honesty; virtue, soorle,
10 the laws of the land, to grow up 10 the