Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-05-21


A Letter of Glen. Lee Asvisans Thaar
Uss In ths Gsufcds<nte Army.
In q speech delivered In the Com
federate House of Representatives in
February, 1865, by Mr.. e. Rarksdale,
of Mississippi, on the bill to authorize
the employment of negro troops by
voluntary enlistment, he quoted q let
ter Of Gen. Lee, which, it is said, has
not been generally Published. Mr..
Barksdale, who Il nseinher-eisct Of
the 49th Congress, furnished copy of
she letter frsn his mnsfy FLEA It is
Ne EellowEsvz 4z-=--s--...rs
HDQRs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
February, Is, 1866.
e. Barksdale, House of Representa-
tives, Richmond: Sir have the hon
or to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 18th inst, with reference
to the employment of negroes as SOL
diers. I think the measure not only
expedient but necessary. The enemy
will certainly use them against us If
he can get possession of them, and as
his present numerical superiority will
enable him to penetrate many parts of
the country, | cannot see the wisdom
of the policy of holding them to await
his arrival, when we may, by timely
action and judicious management, use
them to arrest his progress. do not
think that our white population can
supply the necessities of a long war
without overtaxing its capacity and
imposing great suffering upon our
people; and believe we should pro-
vide resources for protracted strug-
gle, not merely for battle or cam
paign.
In answer to your second qoestion I
can only say that in my opinion the
negro under proper circumstances,
will make an efficient soldier. I think
we could do as well with them as the
enemy, and he attaches great impor-
tance to their assistance. Under good
officers and good instructions, do not
see why they should not become SOL
diers. They possess all the physical
qualifications, and their habits of obe-
dience constitute good foundation
for discipline. They furnish q more
promising material than many armies
Of which we read in history, which
owed their efficiency to discipline
alone. [ think those who are employ.
ed should be freed. It would be Meth.
er just nor wise, in my opinion, to re.
quire them to serve as slaves. The
best course to pursue, it seems to me,
would be to call for such as are will
ing to come, with the consent of their
| owners. An impressment or draft
would not be likely to bring out the
best class, and the use of coercion
would make the measure distasteful tc
them and to their owners.
[ have no doubt that if Congress.
would authorize their reception into
service and empower the President tc
call upon individuals or States foi
such as they are willing to contribute
| with the condition of emancipation tt
all enrolled, a sufficient number would
be forthcoming to enable us to try the
experiment. If it proves successful
| most of the objections to the measur;
would disappear and if individuals
| still remained unwilling to send thei,
! negroes to the army, the force of pub
lie opinion in the States would sooI
bring about such legislation al woult
remove all obstacles. I think the mat
ter should De left as far as possible
with the people and to the States which
alone can legislate as the necessitie
| Of this particular service may require
AS to the mede of organizing them, i
should be left as free from restraint
as possible. Experience will sugges
the best course, and it would be mex
pedient to trammel the subject Will
provisions that might in the end pre-
vent the adoption of reforms suggested
by actual trial.
With great respect, your obedieni
servant. Z. L. LEE, General.