"Whites. Because though requiring more effort to control,
they possess a greater energy of character and
susceptibility of enthusiasm than the black race, which can
be called into action by an emergency or by a sufficient
effort on the part of their officers.

"V. 'What is the difference, considering the above points,
between colored troops recruited from the free States and
those from the slave States?'

"I have observed a decided difference in favor of those
recruited from the free States.

"The problem involved in the foregoing investigation is more
difficult of a solution than appears at first sight, owing
to the fact that the degree of efficiency peculiar to any
company of troops depends so much on the character of their
officers, an element that must eliminate from the question
in order to ascertain the quality of the material of which
the troops are composed.

"I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

"H. FARRAND,

"_1st Lieut. New York Volunteer Engineers._"

In his report to Major-General Gillmore, dated "Morris Island, Sept.
27th, 1863," Major Brooks, his Assistant Engineer, says: "Of the
numerous infantry regiments which furnished fatigue details, the Fourth
New Hampshire Volunteers did the most and best work. Next follow the
blacks, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, and Third United
States Colored Troops."

Annexed to these reports is also a statement of the labor days of the
troops.

"WORKING PARTIES AND HEALTH OF TROOPS.

"The total number of days' work, of six hours each, expended
in Major Brooks' operations was, by engineers, 4,500, and by
infantry 19,000, total 23,500; of the 19,000 days' work by
infantry, one-half was performed by colored troops. In
addition to the above, 9,500 days' work was expended in
preparing siege materials for Major Brooks' operations. The
infantry soldiers' days' work is about one-fifth what a
citizen laborer would do on civil works. Of my work, over
eight-twentieths was against Wagner, about seven-twentieths
on the defensive lines, and nearly five-twentieths on the
batteries against Sumter.

"The approximate amount of labor actually expended on the
more important works is as follows: One emplacement for a
siege