"HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,

"ENGINEER'S OFFICE, MORRIS ISLAND, S. C., Sept. 10th, 1863.

"As the important experiment which will test the fitness of
the American negro for the duties of a soldier is now being
tried, it is desirable that facts bearing on the question be
carefully observed and recorded.

"It is probable that in no military operations of the war
have negro troops done so large a proportion, and so
important and hazardous, fatigue duty, as in the siege
operations on this island.

"As you have directed the operations of working parties of
both white and black troops here, I respectfully ask, for
the object above stated, an impartial and carefully prepared
answer to the following inquiries, together with such
statements as you choose to make bearing on this question:

"I. Courage as indicated by their behavior under fire.

"II. Skill and appreciation of their duties, referring to
the quality of the work performed.

"III. Industry and perseverence, with reference, to the
quantity of the work performed.

"IV. If a certain work were to be accomplished in the least
possible time, _i. e._, when enthusiasm and direct personal
interest is necessary to attain the end, would whites or
blacks answer best?

"V. What is the difference, considering the above points
between colored troops recruited from the free States and
those from the slave States?

"Very respectfully your obedient servant,

"T. B. BROOKS,

"_Major, Aide-de-Camp and Ass't Engineer._"

_Six_ replies to these enquiries were received from engineer officers
who had been engaged in the siege, the substance of which is embraced in
the following summary, following which two replies are given in full,

"1. To the first question all answer that the black is more
timorous than the white, but is in a corresponding degree
more docile and obedient, hence more completely under the
control of his commander, and much more influenced by his
example.

"2. All agree that the black is less skillful than the white
soldier, but still enough so for most kinds of siege work.

"3. The statements unanimously agree that the black will do
a greater amount of work than the white soldier because he
labors more constantly.