by well disciplined and veteran troops, and _three
times_ did they successfully repel the assault, and thus
preserve our army from capture. They fought through the war.
They were brave, hardy troops. They helped to gain our
liberty and independence."

From the opening to the closing scene of the Revolutionary War; from
the death of Pitcairn to the surrender of Cornwallis; on many fields
of strife and triumph, of splendid valor and republican glory; from
the hazy dawn of unequal and uncertain conflict, to the bright morn of
profound peace; through and out of the fires of a great war that gave
birth to a new, a grand republic,--the Negro soldier fought his way to
undimmed glory, and made for himself a magnificent record in the
annals of American history. Those annals have long since been
committed to the jealous care of the loyal citizens of the Republic
black men fought so heroically to snatch from the iron clutches of
Britain.

FOOTNOTES:

[578] Bancroft, vol. vii., 6th ed., p. 421.

[579] An Historical Research, p. 93.

[580] History of Leicester, p. 267.

[581] Orations and Speeches of Everett, vol. iii. p. 529.

[582] MS. Archives of Massachusetts, vol. clxxx, p. 241.

[583] Memoir of Samuel Lawrence, by Rev. S.K. Lothrop, D.D., pp. 8, 9.

[584] Frank Moore's Diary of the American Revolution, vol. i. p. 468.

[585] Thatcher's Military Journal, p. 87.

[586] Arnold's History of Rhode Island, vol. ii. pp. 427, 428.

[587] Chastellux' Travels, vol. i. p. 454; London, 1789.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LEGAL STATUS OF THE NEGRO DURING THE REVOLUTION.

1775-1783.

THE NEGRO WAS CHATTEL OR REAL PROPERTY.--HIS LEGAL STATUS
DURING HIS NEW RELATION AS A SOLDIER.--RESOLUTION INTRODUCED
IN THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO PREVENT THE
SELLING OF TWO NEGROES CAPTURED UPON THE HIGH SEAS.--THE
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS APPOINTS A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER WHAT
SHOULD BE DONE WITH NEGROES TAKEN IN VESSELS OF WAR IN THE
SERVICE OF THE UNITED COLONIES.--CONFEDERATION OF THE NEW
STATES.--SPIRITED DEBATE IN CONGRESS RESPECTING THE DISPOSAL
OF RECAPTURES.--THE SPANISH SHIP "VICTORIA" CAPTURES AN
ENGLISH VESSEL HAVING ON BOARD THIRTY FOUR NEGROES TAKEN
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA--THE NEGROES RECAPTURED BY VESSELS
BELONGING TO THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.--THEY ARE DELIVERED
TO THOMAS KNOX, AND CONVEYED TO CASTLE ISLAND.--COL. PAUL
REV