e to-day:
'In one essential respect, sir, I believe that in a short
time these colored soldiers will surpass any we have in our
army--I mean in subordination--without which no army can be
effective. We are in the habit of carrying our citizenship
with us into the field, and that begets an amount of undue
familiarity between officers and men that is often
destructive of obedience. Toward the black man we feel none
of these delicate sentiments of equality, and he, on his
part, has always been accustomed to be commanded. Beside
this he is acclimated, knows the country thoroughly, and if
called upon to fight will fight in earnest, for he knows
that if taken prisoner he will meet no mercy.'

"Colonel Nelson, anxious to have an opportunity of
exhibiting to the world what his command is capable of, and
thus put their manhood beyond all question, has implored
General Banks to put him in the foremost point of danger in
the coming struggle, and says that his men are as ready as
himself to stake their lives upon the result; but the
general--doubtless acting upon explicit orders--says they
must, at present at least, be confined to manning the
fortifications here.

"I am happy to say that the feeling toward these colored
regiments throughout the army is undergoing the most rapid
and extraordinary changes. Soldiers that only a few months,
nay, weeks ago, would have flown into a furious passion at
the bare idea of a black man carrying a musket like
themselves, now say, 'O, if you are going to give them white
officers that is another affair altogether.'"

* * * *

The following letter gives some interesting recollections of the
military events of the Department of the Gulf:

"NEW ORLEANS, January 18th, 1883.

"_To Colonel J. T. Wilson, Norfolk, Va._:

"FRIEND: Your two circulars issued from Cailloux Post No. 2
on the 13th inst. are received. It is quite a compliment to
Louisiana to have named your Post after the hero of Port
Hudson, who immortalized himself in those celebrated charges
in May, 1863.

"It is over twenty years ago that I took a commission in the
3d Louisiana Native Guard as a senior lieutenant of Company
H. I was quite intimate with Captain Andre Cailloux.

"Grave doubts