and whose laws, even in freedom, oftener oppressed
than protected. Bravery, under such circumstances, has a peculiar
beauty and merit.

"And their white brothers--may remember that generosity,
disinterested courage and bravery, are of no particular race and
complexion, and that the image of the Heavenly Father may be
reflected alike by all. Each record of worth in this oppressed and
despised people should be pondered, for it is by many such that the
cruel and unjust public sentiment, which has so long proscribed
them, may be reversed, and full opportunities given them to take
rank among the nations of the earth."

Estimates from competent sources state that not less than 3,000 Negro
soldiers did service in the American army during the Revolution. Rhode
Island first made her slaves free men and then called on them to fight.
A black regiment was raised there, of which Colonel Christopher Green
was made commander. Connecticut furnished a black battalion under
command of Colonel David Humphrey.

Prior to the Revolution, two Virginia Negroes, Israel Titus and Samuel
Jenkins, had fought under Braddock and Washington in the French and
Indian war.

It has been said that one of the men killed when Major Pitcairn
commanding the British advance on Concord and Lexington, April 19, 1775,
ordered his troops to fire on the Americans, was a Negro bearing arms.
Peter Salem a Negro did service during the Revolution, and is said to
have killed this same Major Pitcairn, at the battle of Bunker Hill. In
some old engravings of the battle, Salem is pictured as occupying a
prominent position. These pictures were carried on some of the currency
of the Monumental bank of Charlestown, Massachusetts and the Freeman's
bank of Boston. Other black men fought at Bunker Hill, of whom we have
the names of Salem Poor, Titus Coburn, Alexander Ames, Barzillai Lew and
Gato Howe. After the war these men were pensioned.

Prince, a Negro soldier, was Colonel Barton's chief assistant in
capturing the British officer, Major General Prescott at Newport, R.I.
Primus Babcock received an honorable discharge from the army signed by
General Washington. Lambo Latham and Jordan Freeman fell with Ledyard at
the storming of Fort Griswold. Freeman is said to have killed Major
Montgomery, a British officer who was leading an attack on Americans in
a previous fight. History does not record whether or not this was the
s