lantly leading his no less
gallant men, even after he had been wounded, and while the
blood almost streamed down his face. Seeing him thus was to
ever remember him and his noble work with his regiment.

"Colonel Beecher when encamped neglected no opportunity to
form schools of instruction for his men, in order that they
might become not only intelligent, efficient soldiers, but
also intelligent, self-respecting citizens, should they
survive the perils of war. I do not know what are his
thoughts to-day, but judging from the grand work of Colonel
Beecher in his black regiment, I can not doubt that he looks
back to it all with satisfaction and pride, and as forming
the richest experience of his life.

"I know another ex-colonel and scholar, of high rank as a
man of letters and in social life, who yielding to the call
of duty, not less to country than to a struggling race, left
his congenial studies and took command of a colored
regiment, becoming not only their leader, but, as chance
afforded, their school-teacher also. However, as he has
given to the world his army experience in a book abounding
in passages of thrilling dramatic interest, I need only in
this connection make mention of him. I refer to that true
and tried friend of the colored race, Colonel T. W.
Higginson.

"But let it not be supposed for a moment that only officers
and men of another race were engaged in this noble work of
school-teaching in our colored army. Not a few of the best
workers were colored chaplains, who wisely divided their
time between preaching, administering to the sick by reason
of wounds or otherwise, and to teaching the old 'young idea
how to shoot;' while many non-commissioned officers and
private soldiers cheerfully rendered effective service in
the same direction. Nor must we close without expressing
warm admiration for those earnest, ambitious soldier pupils
who, when finding themselves grown to man's estate, having
been debarred by the terrible system of slavery from
securing an education, yielded not to what would have been
considered only a natural discouragement, but, instead,
followed the advice and instruction of their comrade
teachers, and, bending themselves to most assiduous study,
gained in some cases great proficiency,