ssee, where I spent
five rather anxious hours. When I entered the army I knew
absolutely nothing of the details of army life; had never
even drilled with a fire company. During the first three
months I gathered little except a somewhat rough
miscellaneous experience. As a lieutenant and staff officer
I learned something, but as I had never had at any time
systematic instruction from any one, I appeared before the
Board with little else than vigorous health, a college
education, a little experience as a soldier, a good
reputation as an officer, a fair amount of common sense and
a good supply of zeal. The Board averaged me, and
recommended me for a Major.

"A few days after the examination, I received an order to
report to Major George L. Stearns, who had charge of the
organization of colored troops in that Department. He
assigned me to duty temporarily in a camp in Nashville.
Major Stearns was a merchant in Boston, who had been for
years an ardent abolitionist, and who, among other good
deeds, had befriended John Brown. He was a large-hearted,
broad-minded genial gentleman. When the policy of organizing
colored troops was adopted, he offered his services to the
Government, received an appointment as Assistant Adjutant
General, and was ordered to Nashville to organize colored
regiments. He acted directly under the Secretary of War, and
independently of the Department Commander. To his zeal, good
judgment and efficient labor, was due, very largely, the
success of the work in the West.

"November 1st, 1863, by order of Major Stearns, I went to
Gallatin, Tennessee, to organize the 14th United States
Colored Infantry. General E. A. Paine was then in command of
the post at Gallatin, having under him a small detachment of
white troops. There were at that time several hundred negro
men in camp, in charge of, I think, a lieutenant. They were
a motley crowd,--old, young, middle aged. Some wore the
United States uniform, but most of them had on the clothes
in which they had left the plantations, or had worn during
periods of hard service as laborers in the army. Gallatin at
that time was threatened with an attack by the guerilla
bands then prowling over that part of the State. General
Paine had issued a hundred old muskets and rif