armed Rebels themselves, had a tendency to disquiet the public mind with apprehensions as to the result of the Proclamation, and whether, indeed, Mr. Lincoln himself would be able to resist the pressure, and stand up to his promise of that Supplemental Proclamation which would give definiteness and practical effect to the preliminary one, the masses of the people of the Loyal States had faith in him.

There was also another element, in chains, at the South, which at this time must have been trembling with that mysterious hope of coming Emancipation for their Race, conveyed so well in Whittier's lines, commencing: “We pray de Lord; he gib us signs, dat some day we be Free" -a hope which had long animated them, as of something almost too good for them to live to enjoy, but which, as the War progressed, appeared to grow nearer and nearer, until now they seemed to see the promised Land, flowing with milk and honey, its beautiful hills and vales smiling under the quickening beams of Freedom's glorious sun. But ah! should they enter there?-or must they turn away again into the old wilderness of their Slavery, and this blessed Liberty, almost within their grasp, mockingly elude them?

They had not long to wait for an answer. The 1st of January, 1863, arrived, and with it as a precious New Year's Gift-came the Supplemental Proclamation,* bearing the sacred boon of Liberty to the Emancipated millions.

At last, at last, no American need blush to stand up and proclaim his land indeed, and in truth, "the Land of Freedom."

* For which see pages 459-461.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE ARMED-NEGRO.

"WHO WOULD BE FREE, HIMSELF MUST STRIKE THE BLOW!"-THE

L

COLORED TROOPS AT PORT HUDSON-THEIR HEROISM-STIRRING
INCIDENTS - AT MILLIKEN'S BEND--AT FORT WAGNER- AT
PETERSRURG AND ABOUT RICHMOND-THE REBEL CONSPIRATORS
FURIOUS OUTLAWRY OF GENERAL BUTLER, ETC.-JEFFERSON
DAVIS'S MESSAGE TO THE REBEL CONGRESS ATROCIOUS, COLD-
BLOODED RESOLUTIONS OF THAT BODY-DEATH OR SLAVERY, TO
THE ARMED FREEMAN-PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S RETALIATORY
ORDER-THE BLOODY BUTCHERY AT FORT PILLOW-SAVAGE
MALIGNITY OF THE REBELS A COMMON ERROR, CORRECTED—
ARMING OF NEGROES COMMENCED BY THE REBELS-SIMILAR
SCHEME OF A REVOLUTIONARY HERO, IN 1778-REBEL CON-
GRESSIONAL ACT, CONSCRIPTING NEGROES-JEFFERSON DAVIS'S
POSITION-GENERAL LEE'S LETTER TO BARKSDALE ON THE SUB-

JECT

Pages 501 to 512.

ITTLE over five months had passed, since the occurrence of the great event in the history of the American Nation mentioned in the preceding Chapter, before the Freed Negro, now bearing arms in defense of the Union and of his own Freedom, demonstrated at the first attack on Port Hudson the wisdom of emancipating and arming the Slave, as a War measure. He seemed thoroughly to appreciate and enter into the spirit of the words; "who would be Free, himself must strike the blow.”

At the attack (of May 27th, 1863), on Port Hudson, where it held the right, the "Black Brigade" covered itself with glory.* Banks, in his Report, speaking of the Colored

* At Baton Rouge, before starting for Port Hudson, the color-guard of the First Louisiana Regiment—of the Black Brigade-received the Regimental flags from their white colonel, (Col. Stafford,) then under arrest, in a speech which ended with the injunction: "Color-guard, protect, defend, die for, but do not surrender these flags;" to which Sergeant Planciancois replied: "Colonel, I will bring these colors to you in honor, or report

regiments, said: "Their conduct was heroic. No troops could be more determined or more daring. They made, during the day, three charges upon the batteries of the Enemy, suffering very heavy losses, and holding their positions at nightfall with the other troops on the right of our line. The highest commendation is bestowed upon them by all the officers in command on the right."

The New York Times' correspondent said:-" The deeds of heroism performed by these Colored men were such as the proudest White men might emulate. Their colors are torn to pieces by shot, and literally bespattered by blood and brains. The color-sergeant of the 1st Louisiana, on being mortally wounded (the top of his head taken off by a sixpounder), hugged the colors to his breast, when a struggle ensued between the two color-corporals on each side of him, as to who should have the honor of bearing the sacred standard, and during this generous contention one was seriously wounded."

So again, on Sunday the 6th of June following, at Milliken's Bend, where an African brigade, with 160 men of the 23rd Iowa, although surprised in camp by a largely superior force of the Enemy, repulsed him gallantly-of which action General Grant, in his official Report, said: "In this battle, most of the troops engaged were Africans, who had but little experience in the use of fire-arms. Their conduct is said, however, to have been most gallant."

So, also, in the bloody assault of July 18th, on Fort Wagner, which was led by the 54th Massachusetts (Colored) Regiment with intrepidity, and where they planted, and for some time maintained, their Country's flag on the parapet, until they "melted away before the Enemy's fire, their bodies falling down the slope and into the ditch." *

And from that time on, through the War-at Wilson's Wharf, in the many bloody charges at Petersburg, at Deep

to God the reason why!" He fell, mortally wounded, in one of the many desperate charges at Port Hudson, with his face to the Enemy, and the colors in his hand.

* See, Letter of Edward L. Pierce, Esq., to Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts.-Moore's Rebellion Record, vol. vii., pp. 215, 216.