132 AN HISTORICAL RESEARCH. "HEADQUARTERS, March 14, 1779. Alexander "To JOHN Jay. "DEAR SIR, Col. Laurens, who will have the honor of delivering you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I think, in the present situation of affairs there, is a very good one, and deserves every kind of support and encouragement. This is, to raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance of the government of that State, by contributions from the owners, in proportion to the number they possess. If you should think proper to enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan. He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the State; and, as an inducement, that they should engage to take those battalions into Continental pay. "It appears to me, that an expedient of this kind, in the present state of Southern affairs, is the most rational that can be adopted, and promises very important advantages. Indeed, I hardly see how a sufficient force can be collected in that quarter without it; and the enemy's operations there are growing infinitely more serious and formidable. I have not the least doubt that the negroes will make very excellent soldiers with proper management; and I will venture to pronounce, that they cannot be put into better hands than those of Mr. Laurens. He has all the zeal, intelligence, enterprise, and every other qualification, necessary to succeed in such an undertaking. It is a maxim with some great military judges, that, with sensible officers, soldiers can hardly be too stupid; and, on this principle, it is thought that the Russians would make the best troops in the world, if they were under other officers than their own. The King of Prussia is among the number who maintain this doctrine; and has a very emphatic saying on the occasion, which I do not exactly recollect. I mention this because I hear it frequently objected to the scheme of embodying negroes, that they are too stupid to make soldiers. This is so far from appearing to me a valid objection, that I think their want of cultivation (for their natural faculties are probably as good as ours), joined to that habit of subordination which they acquire from a life of servitude, will make them sooner become soldiers than our white inhabitants. Let officers be men of sense and sentiment; and the nearer the soldiers approach to machines, perhaps the better. "I foresee that this project will have to combat much opposition from prejudice and self-interest. The contempt we have been taught Hamilton. to entertain for the blacks makes us fancy many things that are Alexander founded neither in reason nor experience; and an unwillingness to part with property of so valuable a kind will furnish a thousand arguments to show the impracticability or pernicious tendency of a scheme which requires such a sacrifice. But it should be considered, that, if we do not make use of them in this way, the enemy probably will; and that the best way to counteract the temptations they will hold out will be to offer them ourselves. An essential part of the plan is to give them their freedom with their muskets. This will secure their fidelity, animate their courage, and, I believe, will have a good influence upon those who remain, by opening a door to their emancipation. This circumstance, I confess, has no small weight in inducing me to wish the success of the project; for the dictates of humanity, and true policy, equally interest me in favor of this unfortunate class of men. “With the truest respect and esteem, "I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, recom negro en (Life of John Jay, by William Jay, vol. ii. pp. 31, 32.) Congress, although it had no power to control the action of Congress the individual States in this matter, considered the subject so mends important, that it was referred to a special committee, who listments. prepared a report, that led to the adoption of a series of resolutions, recommending to "the States of South Carolina and Georgia, if they shall think the same expedient, to take measures immediately for raising three thousand able-bodied negroes." "IN CONGRESS, March 29, 1779. "The Committee, consisting of Mr. Burke, Mr. Laurens, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Dyer, appointed to take into consideration the circumstances of the Southern States, and the ways and means for their safety and defence, report, "That the State of South Carolina, as represented by the delegates of the said State and by Mr. Huger, who has come hither, at the request of the Governor of the said State, on purpose to explain the particular circumstances thereof, is unable to make any effectual efforts with militia, by reason of the great proportion of Congress recom mends negro enlistments. citizens necessary to remain at home to prevent insurrections among the negroes, and to prevent the desertion of them to the enemy. "That the state of the country, and the great numbers of those people among them, expose the inhabitants to great danger from the endeavors of the enemy to excite them either to revolt or desert. "That it is suggested by the delegates of the said State and by Mr. Huger, that a force might be raised in the said State from among the negroes, which would not only be formidable to the enemy from their numbers, and the discipline of which they would very readily admit, but would also lessen the danger from revolts and desertions, by detaching the most vigorous and enterprising from among the negroes. "That, as this measure may involve inconveniences peculiarly affecting the States of South Carolina and Georgia, the Committee are of opinion that the same should be submitted to the governing powers of the said States; and, if the said powers shall judge it expedient to raise such a force, that the United States ought to defray the expense thereof: whereupon, 66 Resolved, That it be recommended to the States of South Carolina and Georgia, if they shall think the same expedient, to take measures immediately for raising three thousand able-bodied negroes. "That the said negroes be formed into separate corps, as battalions, according to the arrangements adopted for the main army, to be commanded by white commissioned and non-commissioned officers. "That the commissioned officers be appointed by the said States. "That the non-commissioned officers may, if the said States respectively shall think proper, be taken from among the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental battalions of the said States respectively. "That the Governors of the said States, together with the commanding officer of the Southern army, be empowered to incorporate the several Continental battalions of their States with each other respectively, agreeably to the arrangement of the army, as established by the resolutions of May 27, 1778; and to appoint such of the supernumerary officers to command the said negroes as shall choose to go into that service. "Resolved, That Congress will make provision for paying the proprietors of such negroes as shall be enlisted for the service of the United States during the war a full compensation for the property, at a rate not exceeding one thousand dollars for each active, able bodied negro man of standard size, not exceeding thirty-five years of Congress age, who shall be so enlisted and pass muster. recommends ne ments. "That no pay or bounty be allowed to the said negroes; but that gro enlistthey be clothed and subsisted at the expense of the United States. "That every negro who shall well and faithfully serve as a soldier to the end of the present war, and shall then return his arms, be emancipated, and receive the sum of fifty dollars." Secret Journals of Congress, vol. i. pp. 107-110. On the same day that the report in favor of raising negro troops was made, Congress passed the following resolution: "Whereas John Laurens, Esq., who has heretofore acted as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-chief, is desirous of repairing to South Carolina, with a design to assist in defence of the Southern States Resolved, That a commission of lieutenant-colonel be granted to the said John Laurens, Esq."-Journals of Congress, vol. v. p. 123. Col. John Laurens was the son of the Hon. Henry Laurens, the distinguished member of Congress and at one time President of that body. He was one of the most patriotic and brave of the Southern officers, and has not improperly been called the "Chevalier Bayard of America." He was the intimate friend of Washington and Hamilton. Having been in active service in Rhode Island and elsewhere, and having had the best opportunities of witnessing the usefulness of the colored soldiers, he entered into the spirit of the undertaking with his whole heart, and used his best efforts to promote its success. For this purpose, he went to his native State, and used his personal influence to induce the Legislature to take the necessary steps for raising black troops. In a letter to Hamilton, he says, Laurens. "Ternant will relate to you how many violent struggles I have Colonel had between duty and inclination, how much my heart was with you, while I appeared to be most actively employed here. But it appears to me, that I should be inexcusable in the light of a citizen, if I did not continue my utmost efforts for carrying the plan of the Colonel tion. black levies into execution, while there remain the smallest hopes of success." Works of Hamilton, vol. i. pp. 114, 115. On the 14th of February, 1780, Col. Laurens wrote to Washington from Charleston: "Private accounts say that General Prevost is left to command at Savannah; that his troops consist of the Hessians and Loyalists that were there before, re-enforced by a corps of blacks and a detachment of savages. It is generally reported that Sir Henry Clinton commands the present expedition." - Sparks's Correspondence of the American Revolution, vol. ii. p. 402. Sir Henry It should be borne in mind that Sir Henry Clinton had Clinton's Proclama- several months previously issued a proclamation, calling upon negroes to join his army, either as soldiers, or with full security to follow any occupation within his lines which they thought proper. This proclamation was first printed in New York, in Rivington's "Royal Gazette," on the 3d of July, 1779. It is here reprinted from that journal. The words in Italics were added in the issue of August 25th, with a note stating that they had, "through the mistake of the printers, been hitherto omitted." "By his Excellency Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B. General and Commanderin-chief of all his Majesty's Forces within the Colonies laying on the Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to West-Florida, inclusive, &c., &c., &c. PROCLAMATION. "Whereas the enemy have adopted a practice of enrolling NEGROES among their Troops, I do hereby give notice That all NEGROES taken in arms, or upon any military Duty, shall be purchased for the public service at a stated Price; the money to be paid to the Captors. "But I do most strictly forbid any Person to sell or claim Right over any NEGROE, the property of a Rebel, who may take Refuge with any part of this Army: And I do promise to every NEGROE who shall desert the Rebel Standard, full security to follow within these Lines, any Occupation which he shall think proper. "Given under my Hand, at Head-Quarters, PHILIPSBURGH, the 30th day of June, 1779. "H. CLINTON. แ 'By his Excellency's command, "JOHN SMITH, Secretary." |