Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-04-08
NEGRO SOLDIERS.
CBy John +. Bruce Grit.)

iBy John T. Bruce Grit-b
1t may not be generally known to
the present generation of Negroes
that the Confederates at or soon after
the beginning of hostilities between
the North and the South. made a very
strenuous effort to popularize senti-
ment In the South in favor OF arming
the blacks TO fight against the Yam
KEGS" and incidentally against them
selves. Col. ]. T. Wilson in his book
The Black Phalanx." says: "Preju-
dice against the Negro at the North
was SO strong that 1t required the arm
OF public authority to protect him
from assault. though he declared in
favor OF the union. Not SO at the
South. for Ms early as April. 1861, the
free Negroes of New Orleans. La.
held public meeting and begun the
organization of battalion. with Of
ficers OF their own race. with the ap-
proval of the state government which
commissioned their Negro officers.
When the Louisiana militia was re-
viewed the Native Guards (Negro)
made up. in part. the first division OF
the state troops. Elated at the sue
cess OF being the first to place Ne
groes in the field with white troops.
the commanding general sent the
Confederacy:
New Orleans. Nov. %. 81.
Over $4,000 troops were reviewed
today by Governor Moore. Maj. Gen.
Lowell and Brig. Gen. Ruggles. The
line was over seven miles long. One
regiment comprised ! 400 free colored
men" Again. quoting from Col. VIII
sons book: "Emissaries OF Mr.. Davis
had just returned from the peace con-
ference at Fortress Monroe where
they met representatives of the Unit
ed States government and learned
that the conditions upon which the
southern states could resume their re-
lations were those which they were
compelled to accept finally"
"On Feb. S. Senator Brown of Miss
issippi introduced resolution which.
II IL had been adopted. would have
freed 100000 Negroes and put them
into the Confederate army: but on the
next day II was voted down in secret
session Upon this very day. Feb. 2.
Judah p. Benjamin. the Confederate
secretary of state, addressed a large
public meeting Mt Richmond. He made
n very extraordinary speech. in the
course OF which he said: I'VE have
Csc, 600 blacks capable of bearing arms
and who ought now to be in the field.
Let us now say to every Negro who
wishes TO go into the ranks on con-
dition of being free. go and fight: you
are free. My own Negroes have been
to me and said: Master, set us free
and we1l fight for you You must
make up your mind to try this or see
your army withdrawn from before
your town know not where white
men can be found"
Jefferson Davis only few days be-
fore he became wanderer upon the
earth. disguised in woman's attire.
sent the following letter to the gov
ernor OF Virginia. William Smith:
Richmond. Va. March 80. '65.
Upon receipt Of your letter of the
27th instant. I had a conference with
the secretary of war and adiutant
general In relation to your sagges-
ton as to the published order for the
organization OF Negro troops. and
hope that the modification which has
been made will remove the objection
which yeu pointed out. II was never
my intention to collect Negroes in
depots for purposes OF instruction. but
only as to the best mode Of forward
ing them either as individuals or as
companies, to the command with
which they were to serve. The offic-
ers In the different posts will aid in
providing for the Negroes in their re-
spective neighborhood. and in for
warding them to depots whore trans
portation will be available. and aid
them In reaching the field Of service
for which they were destined. The
aid Of gentlemen who are willing and
able to raise this character Of troops