esires to inform the
slave-holders of Georgia that he has received authority from the
Secretary of War to impress a number of negroes sufficient to
construct such additional fortifications as are necessary for the
defence of Savannah.

"He desires, if possible, to avoid the necessity of impressment,
and therefore urges the owners of slave property to volunteer the
services of their negroes. He believes that, while the planters
of South Carolina are sending their slaves by thousands to aid
the defence of Charleston, the slave-holders of Georgia will not
be backward in contributing in the same patriotic manner to the
defence of their own seaport, which has so far resisted
successfully all the attacks of the enemy at Fort McAllister and
other points.

"Remember, citizens of Georgia, that on the successful defence of
Georgia depends the security of the interior of your State, where
so much of value both to yourselves and to the Confederacy at
large is concentrated. It is best to meet the enemy at the
threshold, and to hurl back the first wave of invasion. Once the
breach is made, all the horrors of war must desolate your now
peaceful and quiet homes. Let no man deceive himself. If Savannah
falls the fault will be yours, and your own neglect will have
brought the sword to your hearth-stones.

"The Brigadier-General Commanding, therefore, calls on all the
slave-holders of Eastern, Southern, and Southwestern Georgia, but
especially those in the neighborhood of Savannah, to send him
immediately one fifth of their able-bodied male slaves, for whom
transportation will be furnished and wages paid at the rate of
twenty-five dollars per month, the Government to be responsible
for the value of such Negroes as may be killed by the enemy, or
may in any manner fall into his hands. By order of

"Brig.-Gen. MERCER, _Commanding_.

"JOHN MCCRADY,
"_Captain and Chief Engineer, State of Georgia_."[89]

Negroes built most of the fortifications and earth-works for Gen.
Grant in front of Vicksburg. The works in and about Nashville were
cast up by the strong arm and willing hand of the loyal Blacks. Dutch
Gap was dug by Negroes, and miles of earthworks, fortifications, and
corduroy-roads were made by Negroes. They did fatigue duty in every
dep