d at the battle of Cannae a regiment
of Roman slaves made Hannibal's cohorts reel before their unequalled
courage. When Abraham heard of the loss of his stock, he armed his
slaves, pursued the enemy, and regained his possessions. Negro
officers as well as soldiers had shared the perils and glories of the
campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte; and even the royal guard at the Court
of Imperial France had been mounted with black soldiers. In two wars
in North America Negro soldiers had followed the fortunes of military
life, and won the applause of white patriots on two continents. So
then all history furnished a precedent for the guidance of the United
States Government in the Civil War in America.

But there were several aggravating questions which had to be referred
to the future. In both wars in this country the Negro had fought a
foreign foe--an enemy representing a Christian civilization. He had a
sense of security in going to battle with the colonial fathers; for
their sacred battle-songs gave him purpose and courage. And, again,
the Negro knew that the English soldier had never disgraced the
uniform of Hampden or Wellington by practising the cruelties of
uncivilized warfare upon helpless prisoners. In the Rebellion it was
altogether different. Here was a war between the States of one Union.
Here was a war between two sections differing in civilization. Here
was a war all about the _Negro_; a war that was to declare him forever
bond, or forever free. Now, in such a war the Negro appeared in battle
against his master. For two hundred and forty-three years the Negro
had been learning the lesson of obedience and obsequious submission to
the white man. The system of slavery under which he had languished had
destroyed the family relation, the source of all virtue, self-respect,
and moral growth. The tendency of slavery was to destroy the
confidence of the slave in his ability and resources, and to
disqualify him for those relations where the noblest passion of
mankind is to be exercised in an intelligent manner--_amor patriae_.

Negro soldiers were required by an act of Congress to fight for the
Union at a salary of $10 per month, with $3 deducted for
clothing--leaving them only $7 per month as their actual pay. White
soldiers received $13 per month and clothing.[97]

The Negro soldiers had to run the gauntlet of the persecuting hate of
white Northern troops, and, if captured, endure the most barbarous
treatment of the rebe