ish, French, Portuguese and
Spanish,--all a mixture of the African,--and the American
Negro,--mulatto,--numerically stronger than either of the others, but
socially and politically less considered and privileged; the former
enjoyed distinctive rights, somewhat as did the mulattoes in the West
Indies before slavery was abolished there. Of these foreign classes many
were planters, and not a few merchants, all owning slaves. It was from
these classes that the 1,400 colored men, forming the Native Guard
regiment, came, and which recruited to 3,000 before the city was
captured by the Union fleet. This brigade was placed at the United
States Mint building, under command of a creole, who, instead of
following the confederate troops out of the city when they evacuated it,
allowed his command to be cut off, and surrendered to General Butler.

Of course, prior to this date, the negro at the South had taken an
active part in the preparations for war, building breastworks, mounting
cannon, digging rifle-pits and entrenchments, to shield and protect his
rebelling master.

January 1st, 1861, Hon. J. P. Walker, at Mobile, Ala., received from R.
R. Riordan, Esq., of Charleston, S. C., a dispatch rejoicing that--

"Large gangs of negroes from plantations are at work on the
redoubts, which are substantially made of sand-bags and
coated with sheet-iron."

These doubtless were slaves, and mere machines; but the Charleston
_Mercury_ of January 3rd, brought the intelligence that--

"One hundred and fifty able-bodied free colored men
yesterday offered their services gratuitously to the
governor, to hasten forward the important work of throwing
up redoubts, wherever needed, along our coast."

Only the fire-eaters based their hope of success against the North,--the
National Government,--upon the stubborn energies of the white soldiery;
the deliberate men rested their hopes,--based their expectations, more
upon the docility of the negro, than upon the audacity of their white
troops.

The legislature of Tennessee, which secretly placed that State in the
Southern Confederacy, enacted in June, 1861, a law authorizing the
governor--

"To receive into the military service of the State all male
free persons of color, between the age of 15 and 50, who
should receive $8 per month, clothing and rations."

And then it further provided--

"That in the event a sufficient number of free pers