in the armed service that few men had the
courage of conviction; few had the temerity to express their views
publicly. In the summer of 1860,--before the election of Abraham
Lincoln,--General J. Watts De Peyster, of New York, wrote an article
for a Hudson paper, in which he advocated the arming of Negroes as
soldiers, should the Southern States declare war against the
Government of the United States. The article was reproduced in many
other papers, pronounced a fire-brand, and General De Peyster severely
denounced for his advice. But he stood his ground, and when the war
did come he gave to his country's service three gallant sons; and from
the first to the last was an efficient and enthusiastic supporter of
the war for the Union.

The rebels took the first step in the direction of the military
employment of Negroes as soldiers. Two weeks after the firing upon
Sumter took place, the following note appeared in the "Charleston
Mercury":

Several companies of the Third and Fourth Regiments of Georgia
passed through Augusta for the expected scene of
warfare--Virginia. Sixteen well-drilled companies of volunteers
and one negro company, from Nashville, Tennessee, offered their
services to the Confederate States."[91]

In the "Memphis Avalanche" and "Memphis Appeal" of the 9th, 10th, and
11th of May, 1861, appeared the following notice:

"ATTENTION, VOLUNTEERS: Resolved by the Committee of Safety, that
C. Deloach, D. R. Cook, and William B. Greenlaw be authorized to
organize a volunteer company composed of our patriotic free men
of color, of the city of Memphis, for the service of our common
defence. All who have not enrolled their names will call at the
office of W. B. Greenlaw & Co.

"F. TITUS, _President_.

"F. W. FORSYTHE, _Secretary_."

On the 9th of February, 1862, the rebel troops had a grand review, and
the "Picayune," of New Orleans, contained the following paragraph:

"We must also pay a deserved compliment to the companies of free
colored men, all very well drilled, and comfortably uniformed.
Most of these companies, quite unaided by the administration,
have supplied themselves with arms without regard to cost or
trouble. One of these companies, commanded by the well-known
veteran, Captain Jordan, was presented, a little before the
parade, with a fine war-flag of the