Army Life in a Black Regiment

Army Life in a Black Regiment

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Title: Army Life in a Black Regiment
Author: Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6764] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on January 24,
2003]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, ARMY
LIFE IN A BLACK REGIMENT ***

This eBook was provided by Eric Eldred.

Army Life in a Black Regiment
Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911)
Originally published 1869 Reprinted, 1900, by Riverside Press

CONTENTS


CHAPTER 1
Introductory


CHAPTER 2
Camp Diary


CHAPTER 3
Up the St. Mary's


CHAPTER 4

Up the St. John's


CHAPTER 5
Out on Picket


CHAPTER 6
A Night in the Water


CHAPTER 7
Up the Edisto


CHAPTER 8
The Baby of the Regiment


CHAPTER 9
Negro Spirituals


CHAPTER 10
Life at Camp Shaw


CHAPTER 11
Florida Again?

CHAPTER 12
The Negro as a Soldier


CHAPTER 13
Conclusion
APPENDIX
A. Roster of Officers B. The First Black Soldiers C. General Saxton's
Instructions D. The Struggle for Pay E. Farewell Address
Index


Chapter 1
Introductory
These pages record some of the adventures of the First South Carolina
Volunteers, the first slave regiment mustered into the service of the
United States during the late civil war. It was, indeed, the first colored
regiment of any kind so mustered, except a portion of the troops raised
by Major-General Butler at New Orleans. These scarcely belonged to
the same class, however, being recruited from the free colored
population of that city, a comparatively self-reliant and educated race.
"The darkest of them," said General Butler, "were about the
complexion of the late Mr. Webster."
The First South Carolina, on the other hand, contained scarcely a
freeman, had not one mulatto in ten, and a far smaller proportion who
could read or write when enlisted. The only contemporary regiment of
a similar character was the "First Kansas Colored," which began
recruiting a little earlier, though it was not mustered in the usual basis
of military seniority till later. [_See Appendix_] These were the only
colored regiments recruited during the year 1862. The Second South

Carolina and the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts followed early in 1863.
This is the way in which I came to the command of this regiment. One
day in November, 1862, I was sitting at dinner with my lieutenants,
John Goodell and Luther Bigelow, in the barracks of the Fifty-First
Massachusetts, Colonel Sprague, when the following letter was put into
my hands:
BEAUFORT, S. C., November 5, 1862.
MY DEAR SIR.
I am organizing the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, with
every prospect of success. Your name has been spoken of, in
connection with the command of this regiment, by some friends in
whose judgment I have confidence. I take great pleasure in offering you
the position of Colonel in it, and hope that you may be induced to
accept. I shall not fill the place until I hear from you, or sufficient time
shall have passed for me to receive your reply. Should you accept, I
enclose a pass for Port Royal, of which I trust you will feel disposed to
avail yourself at once. I am, with sincere regard, yours truly,
R. SAXTON, _Brig.-Genl, Mil. Gov._
Had an invitation reached me to take command of a regiment of
Kalmuck Tartars, it could hardly have been more unexpected. I had
always looked for the arming of the blacks, and had always felt a wish
to be associated with them; had read the scanty accounts of General
Hunter's abortive regiment, and had heard rumors of General Saxton's
renewed efforts. But the prevalent tone of public sentiment was still
opposed to any