termined 'that the free
negroes who had served faithfully in the army at Cambridge may be
reenlisted therein, but no others.'

"The entire aspect of the affairs changed when, in 1779, the
South began to be invaded. South Carolina, especially, was unable
to make any effectual efforts with militia, by reason of the
great proportion of citizens necessary to remain at home to
prevent insurrections among the colored men and their desertions
to the enemy, who were assiduous in their endeavors to excite
both revolt and desertion.

"The result was that in all the Southern States the legislatures
passed resolutions to enlist the colored men, and the colored
patriots of the Revolution are as much entitled as their white
brethren for the ardor with which they fought the common enemy,
whether they were bondmen or freemen. It has never been possible
to give an exact statement as to the number of colored men who
served in the Revolution, for the reason that they were generally
mixed in regiments and not calculated separately."

The following was taken from the columns of the _Boston Journal_,
June, 1897, by Mr. Frederic S. Monroe.

A GALLANT NEGRO

_How Salem Poor Fought at the
Battle of Bunker Hill_

There is an interesting record in the Massachusetts Archives
(clxxx, 241) which Dr. Samuel A. Green ran across during his
historical researches, and which the _Journal_ prints below. It
relates to a colored man at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The Subscribers begg leave to Report to your Honble. House (Which
Wee do in justice to the Caracter of so Brave a Man) that under
Our Own observation, Wee declare that A Negro Man Called Salem
Poor of Col Fryes Regiment. Capt. Ames. Company in the late
Battle at Charleston, behaved like an Experienced Officer, as
Well as an Excellent Soldier, to Set forth Particulars of his
Conduct Would be Tedious, Wee Would Only begg leave to say in the
Person of this sd. Negro Centers a Brave & gallant Soldier. The
Reward due to so great and Distinguisht a Caracter, Wee submit to
the Congress----

Cambridge Decr. 5th 1775

JONA. BREWER. _Col_
THOMAS NIXON _Lt. Col_
WM PR