n speaking of colored seamen, who showed great heroism, Nathaniel
Shaler, commander of the private armed schooner _General Thompson_, said
of an engagement between his vessel and a British frigate: "The name of
one of my poor fellows, who was killed, ought to be registered in the
book of fame, and remembered with reverence as long as bravery is
considered a virtue. He was a black man by the name of John Johnson. A
twenty-four pound shot struck him in his hip, and took away all the
lower part of his body. In this state, the poor brave fellow lay on the
deck, and several times exclaimed to his shipmates, 'Fire away, my boy!
No haul color down!' Another black by the name of John Davis was wounded
in much the same way. He fell near me, and several times requested to be
thrown overboard, saying he was only in the way of others. When America
can boast of such tars she has little fear from the tyrants of the
ocean."

British gold and promises of personal freedom served as futile
incentives among the Negroes of the American navy; for them, the proud
consciousness of duty well done served as a constant monitor and nerved
their strong black arms when thundering shot and shell menaced the
future of the country; and, although African slavery was still a
recognized legal institution and constituted the basic fabric of the
great food productive industry of the nation, it was the Negro's trusted
devotion to duty which ever guided him in the nation's darkest hours of
peril and menace.

NEGROES IN THE WAR OF 1812.

In the second period, the War of 1812, a second fight with Great
Britain, again made it necessary to call upon the Negro for his
assistance. Whether with Perry on Lake Erie, Commodore MacDonough,
Lawrence or Chauncey, the black man played his heroic and sacrificing
role, struggling and dying that American arms and valor, the security of
American lives and property, would suffer no destruction at the hands of
the enemy. The fine words of Commodore Chauncey, commending their
dauntless intrepidity and unswerving obedience and loyalty to the
rigorous demands of duty, should be read and carefully studied by all
men friendly to human excellence and courage.

COMMODORE CHAUNCEY'S TRIBUTE.

The following is a statement of Commodore Perry, expressing
dissatisfaction at the troops sent him on Lake Erie: "I have this moment
received by express the enclosed letter of General Harrison. If I had
officers and men,--and I have no d