E QUESTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES.--THE REBELS TAKE THE
FIRST STEP TOWARD THE MILITARY EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES.--GRAND
REVIEW OF THE REBEL TROOPS AT NEW ORLEANS.--GENERAL HUNTER ARMS
THE FIRST REGIMENT OF LOYAL NEGROES AT THE SOUTH.--OFFICIAL
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND GENERAL HUNTER
RESPECTING THE ENLISTMENT OF THE BLACK REGIMENT.--THE ENLISTMENT
OF FIVE NEGRO REGIMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESIDENT.--THE POLICY
OF GENERAL PHELPS IN REGARD TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES AS
SOLDIERS IN LOUISIANA.--A SECOND CALL FOR TROOPS BY THE
PRESIDENT.--AN ATTEMPT TO AMEND THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL SO AS
TO PROHIBIT THE FURTHER EMPLOYMENT OF COLORED TROOPS.--GOVERNOR
JOHN A. ANDREW, OF MASSACHUSETTS, AUTHORIZED BY SECRETARY OF WAR
TO ORGANIZE TWO REGIMENTS OF COLORED TROOPS.--GENERAL LORENZO
THOMAS IS DESPATCHED TO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TO SUPERINTEND THE
ENLISTMENT OF NEGRO SOLDIERS IN THE SPRING OF 1863.--AN ORDER
ISSUED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT IN THE FALL OF 1863 FOR THE
ENLISTMENT OF COLORED TROOPS.--THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB OF NEW YORK
CITY.--RECRUITING OF COLORED TROOPS IN PENNSYLVANIA.--GEORGE L.
STEARNS ASSIGNED CHARGE OF THE RECRUITING OF COLORED TROOPS IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND.--FREE MILITARY SCHOOL
ESTABLISHED AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.--ENDORSEMENT OF THE
SCHOOL BY SECRETARY STANTON.--THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
SCHOOL.--OFFICIAL TABLE GIVING NUMBER OF COLORED TROOPS IN THE
ARMY.--THE CHARACTER OF NEGRO TROOPS.--MR. GREELEY'S EDITORIAL ON
"NEGRO TROOPS."--LETTER FROM JUDGE ADVOCATE HOLT TO THE SECRETARY
OF WAR ON THE "ENLISTMENT OF SLAVES."--THE NEGRO LEGALLY AND
CONSTITUTIONALLY A SOLDIER.--HISTORY RECORDS HIS DEEDS OF
PATRIOTISM.

At no time during the first two years of the war was the President or
the Congress willing to entertain the idea of employing Negroes as
soldiers. It has been shown that the admission of loyal Negroes into
the Union lines, and into the service of the Engineer's and
Quartermaster's Department, had been resisted with great stubbornness
by the men in the "chief places." There were, however, a few men, both
in and out of the army, who secretly believed that the Negro was
needed in the army, and that he possessed all the elements necessary
to make an excellent soldier. Public sentiment was so strong against
the employment of Negroes