ered out of the United States service. The men returned to their
wonted fields of labor to provide for their long-neglected families,
upon a new career of peace and happiness, rising, Phoenix like, from
the ashes of slavery to join the Phalanx of industry in upbuilding the
greatness of their country, which they had aided in saving from
desolation and ruin.

Such is the history of the negro in the wars of the United States.
Coming to its shores in the condition of slavery, it required more than
two centuries for the entire race to reach the estate of freedom. But
the imperishable records of their deeds show that however humble and
despised they have been in all political and social relations they have
never been wanting in patriotism at periods of public peril. Their
devotion has been not only unappreciated, but it has failed to receive a
fitting commemoration in pages of national history. It has been the
purpose of the writer of this volume to relate herein the patriotic
career of the negro race in this country in an authentic and connected
form. In the time to come the race will take care of itself. Slavery is
ended, and now they are striking off link by link the chains of
ignorance which the servitude of some and the humility of all imposed
upon them. If the past is the story of an oppressed race, the future
will reveal that of one uprisen to great opportunities, which they will
improve from generation to generation, and guard with the same vigilance
that they will the liberties and boundaries of the land.

FOOTNOTES:

[31] The reader will bear in mind that there were several changes in the
command of these troops during the campaign, on account of promotions,
but the troops remained in the Department and Army of the James. See
Roster, for changes.

[32] THE PHALANX AT NEW MARKET HEIGHTS.[A]

"On the 29th of September, 1864, Gen. Grant ordered Gen. Butler to cross
the James River, at Two Points, and attack the enemy's line of work, in
the centre of which was Fort Harrison; on the left, at New Market
Heights, was a very strong work, the key of the enemy's flank on the
north side of the river. It was a redoubt built on the top of a hill of
some considerable elevation, then running down into a marsh. In that
marsh was a brook--then rising again to a plain, which gently rolled
toward the river. On that plain, when the flash of dawn was breaking,
Butler placed a column of the black Phalanx," [which consisted of the
5