Evening star., 1932-01-24

South as well as in the North who
strongly believed Gen. Washington was
right In accepting the colored man as
a soldier Especially did the number OF
those who took this view increase when
conditions in the army enabled them to
call the public's attention to the ne
cessity of taking this step. Washington
needed reinforcements. The army in
camp at Valley Forge was in desperate
straits The encampment consisted OF
huts and there was danger of famine.
The soldiers we're nearly destitute of
comfortable clothing. Many had no
ground Few, if any, had blankets.
Great numbers became Ill. Moreover,
the British army was in Philadelphia
only Is miles away. 1t was then that
the advocates of enlisting colored men
in the army again put forth strenuous
efforts to carry out their plan.
After the British transferred their
military activities from the North to
the South some of the ablest men in
that section strongly advocated enlist
ing colored men.
The necessity for recruiting the army
became so great that Congress for the
second time debated enrolling the COL
ored man as soldier A series of res
olutionS were adopted recommending to
Georgia and South Carolina that 5000
able-bodied Negroes should be armed.
Col. John Laurens, a distinguished
South Carolinian, went to his native
State to use his personal influence to
induce the Legislature to authorize the
enlistment of colored men. He had
been commissioned lieutenant colonel
by Congress, had acted as aide-de camp
to Gen. Washington and hao seen serv-
ice in Rhode Island and elsewhere. In
letter to Alexander Hamilton he wrote:
1T appears to me that l should be in
excusable in the light of citizen if I
did not continue my utmost efforts for
carrying out of the black levies into
execution while there remains the small
est hope of success"
Col. Laurens' Mission.
Alexander Hamilton whote a letter to
John Jay concerning Col. Laurens' mis-
sion to South Carolina and strongly
approved of it. He urged that the
slaves be given their freedom with their
muskets. He declared that 1.-The die
tates of humanity as well as true policy
equally interest me in favor of this class
of men" James Madison also favored
the plan of arming the colored men.
Gen. Lincoln, who commanded the
American forces at Charleston, S. c.,
wrote to Gov. Rutledge of that State:
Give me leave to add once more that
I think the measure of raising a black
corps a necessary one; that l have rea-
son to believe that if permission is
given for it that many men would soon
be obtained. I have repeatedly urged
this matter. not only because Congress
has recommended 1t, and it thereby
becomes my duty to have it executed,
but because my own mind suggests the
utility and importance of the measure,
as the safety of the town makes it
necessary"
But the advice of her own great mill
tary leaders was not haDded by the
South; neither were the recommenda-
tions that Congress adopted. Never
theless, the slaves of the South
rendered invaluable service to the
cause of independence by building
breastworks, driving teams and s.lot-
ing the Army through dense woods:
swamps and across rivers. Some OF
them acted as spies and scouts James
Armistead was spy for Gen. Lafayette
during his campaign in Virginia, ana
on one occasion he informed the mar
quiS that the British intended to sur
prise his forces. There is no doubt that
this information enabled the French
officer to prevent what would probably
have been rout of his army After
the surrender of CORVALLIS at York
town Armistead was returned to MS
master. But the Legislature OF Vlr-
ginia passed a special act to free the
slave In recognition of the great service
he had rendered the American Army.
Referring to CORVALLIS, recalls 10
mind what colored soldier is reported
to have said to him after his surrender;
You used to be named CORVALLIS,
said the colored soldier to the British
officer, but 1t is 'Cornwallis no longer.
1t must now be Corvallis for Gen
Washington has shelled off all the
corn"
Proves Himself Prophet.
When Gen. Washington wrote Con-
gress, stating that he had presumed 70
depart from the resolution" which nao
excluded colored men from the Army
he declared that 1t was ito be appre-
hended that they would seek employ
ment in the ministerial army II tney
were not allowed to fight with and ior
The colonies. The commander In. cnltA