ional capital exclusively
by the race he has set free.

"Very truly yours,

"J. W. DAVIDSON, _Brevet Major-General._"

"HEAD PAY DEPARTMENT, NATCHEZ, MISS., June 15th, 1865.

"_James E. Yeatman, Esq., President Western Sanitary Commission,
St. Louis_:

"SIR: The colored soldiers of this district, Brevet
Major-General Davidson commanding, feeling the great
obligations they are under to our late president, Mr.
Lincoln, and desiring to perpetuate his memory, have
contributed to the erection of a monument at the national
capital, as follows:

73th. United States Colored Infantry, Colonel W. C. Earle $2,949.50
Three Companies 63d U. S. Colored Infantry--A, C, and E--
Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell 263.00
Freedmen of Natchez 312.38
---------
Total $3,529.85

"Added to this Major John P. Coleman, of the 6th United
States Colored Heavy Artillery, (those that Forrest's men
did not murder at Fort Pillow), stationed here, has sent you
nearly five thousand dollars for the same fund, and the 57th
United States Colored Infantry desire me, at the next
pay-day, to collect one dollar per man, which will swell the
amount to nearly ten thousand dollars. This is a large
contribution from not quite seventeen hundred men, and it
could have been made larger--many of the men donating over
half their pay, and in some instances the whole of it--but
it was thought best to limit them.

"Will you please publish this, that the colored soldiers and
their friends may know that their money has gone forward,
and send me a copy of the paper.

"I am, sir, with regard,

"W. C. LUPTON, _Pay-master United States Navy._"

"These noble contributions are a striking evidence of the
favor with which this movement is regarded by the colored
people, and especially the brave soldiers (the Phalanx who
fought to maintain their freedom) of this oppressed race who
have been fighting to carry out the proclamation of their
benefactor, securing them their liberty."

There is still another evidence of the appreciation of freedom by