color
of a soldier's skin to be recorded or regarded. A prejudice existed in
the legislature that prompted that body to begin a series of special
enactments, regarding negroes, which did not exclude them altogether
from the army, but looked to their organization into exclusive
companies, batallions and regiments.

Notwithstanding the record made by the negroes who had swollen the ranks
of the American army a few weeks after the battle of Bunker Hill,
General Gates, then at Cambridge, issued the following order to the
officers, then recruiting for the service:

"You are not to enlist any deserter from the Ministerial
army, nor any stroller, negro, or vagabond, or persons
suspected of being an enemy to the liberty of America, nor
any under eighteen years of age. As the cause is the best
that can engage men of courage and principle to take up
arms, so it is expected that none but such will be accepted
by the recruiting officer. The pay, provision, &c., being so
ample, it is not doubted but that the officers sent upon
this service will, without delay, complete their respective
corps, and march the men forthwith to camp. You are not to
enlist any person that is not an American born, unless such
person has a wife and family, and is a settled resident in
this country. The persons you enlist must be provided with
good and complete arms."

This was in July, and on the 26th of the following September, Edward
Rutledge, of South Carolina, moved in the Colonial Congress that all
negroes be discharged that were in the army. As might be expected, his
proposition was strongly supported by the Southern delegates, but the
Northern delegates being so much stronger, voted it down. The negroes
were crowding so rapidly into the army, and the Northern colonists
finding their Southern comrades so strongly opposing this element of
strength, submitted the question of their enlistment to a conference
committee in October, composed of such men as Dr. Franklin, Benjamin
Harrison and Thomas Lynch, with the Deputy Governors of Connecticut and
Rhode Island. This committee met at Cambridge, with a committee of the
council of Massachusetts Bay. The object and duty of the meeting was to
consider the condition of the army, and to devise means by which it
could be improved.

General Washington was present at the meeting, and took part in the
discussions. Among others, the following