oficiency,
says of this regiment that no honest-minded, unprejudiced
observer could come to any other conclusion than that it had
attained a remarkable proficiency in the short period during
which it had been drilled. We have in addition from an officer of
the regiment, who is thoroughly informed as to its condition, a
very interesting statement of its remarkable progress, and some
valuable suggestions on the employment of negro troops in
general.

"'This regiment--the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, Colonel
Thomas Wentworth Higginson--marched on the 17th for the first
time through the streets of Beaufort. It was the remark of many
bitterly pro-slavery officers that they looked "splendidly." They
marched through by platoons, and returned by the flank; the
streets were filled with soldiers and citizens, but every man
looked straight before him and carried himself steadily. How many
white regiments do the same? One black soldier said: "We didn't
see a thing in Beaufort; ebery man hold his head straight up to
de front, ebery step was worth a half dollar."

"'Many agreed with what is my deliberate opinion,' writes this
officer, 'that no regiment in this department can, even now,
surpass this one. In marching in regimental line I have not seen
it equalled. In the different modes of passing from line into
column, and from column into line, in changing front,
countermarching, forming divisions, and forming square, whether
by the common methods, or by Casey's methods, it does itself the
greatest credit. Nor have I yet discovered the slightest ground
of inferiority to white troops.

"'So far is it from being true that the blacks as material
soldiers are inferior to white, that they are in some respects
manifestly superior; especially in aptness for drill, because of
their imitativeness and love of music; docility in discipline,
when their confidence is once acquired; and enthusiasm for the
cause. _They_ at least know what they are fighting for. They have
also a _pride_ as soldiers, which is not often found in our white
regiments, where every private is only too apt to think himself
specially qualified to supersede his officers. They are above all
things faithful and trustworthy on duty from the start. In the
best white regiments it has bee