s in abundance, and among them there are
able-bodied, strong and brave fellows."[52] "Here too," said he, "there
are many families of free negroes who live in good homes, have property
and live just like the rest of the inhabitants." In 1777 Alexander
Scammell, Adjutant-General, made the following report as to the number
and placement of the Negroes in the Continental Army:

RETURN OF NEGROES IN THE ARMY, 24TH AUGUST, 1778

|-----------------|---------|--------------|------------|--------
| Brigades | Present | Sick, Absent | On Command | Total
|-----------------|---------|--------------|------------|--------
|North Carolina | 42 | 10 | 6 | 58
|Woodford | 36 | 3 | 1 | 40
|Muhlenburg | 64 | 26 | 8 | 98
|Smallwood | 20 | 3 | 1 | 24
|2d Maryland | 43 | 15 | 2 | 60
|Wayne | 2 | .. | .. | 2
|2d Pennsylvania | 33 | 1 | 1 | 35
|Clinton | 33 | 2 | 4 | 62
|Parsons | 117 | 12 | 19 | 148
|Huntington | 56 | 2 | 4 | 62
|Nixon | 26 | .. | 1 | 27
|Paterson | 64 | 13 | 12 | 89
|Late Learned | 34 | 4 | 8 | 46
|Poor | 16 | 7 | 4 | 27
|-----------------|---------|--------------|------------|--------
| Total | 586 | 98 | 71 | 755
------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexander Scammell,
_Adjutant-General_.[52a]

But this report neither included the Negro soldiers enlisted in several
other States nor those that joined the army later. Other records show that
Negroes served in as many as 18 brigades.

Some idea of the number of Negroes engaged may be obtained from the
context of documents mentioning the action taken by States. Rhode Island
we have observed undertook to raise a regiment of slaves. Governor Cooke
said that the slaves found there were not many but that it was generally
thought that 300 or more would enlist. Four companies of emancipated
slaves were finally formed in that Sta