29th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Colored)
Connecticut's Own Black Civil War Regiment
Taken from the Connecticut War Record, p 147
The U.S. rendezvous at Fair Haven was on Friday, January 29th, the scene of an event very unique, yet characteristic of to-day, and as such it finds a fitting place in our columns.
The colored soldiers of the 29th and 30th C.V. were addressed by the colored orator, Frederick Douglass.
The soldiers were drawn up beneath the large garrison flag in front of the officers’ headquarters. Mr. Douglass stood in full view upon a sort of rude balcony of the officers’ quarters. He is a large, well formed and dignified man, and is, without question, one of the finest orators of the country. His speech was brief, not rhetorically brilliant or eloquent, but it was clear in statement-packed with sound sense—made powerful and effective by deep and earnest felling.
He said to the negro soldiers, “You are pioneers of the liberty of your race. With the United States cap on your head, the United States eagle on your belt, the United States musket on your shoulder, not all the powers of darkness can prevent you from becoming American citizens. And not for yourselves alone are you marshaled-you are pioneers-on you depends the destiny of four millions of the colored race in this country. If you rise and flourish, we shall rise and flourish. If you win freedom and citizenship, we shall share your freedom and citizenship.”
Again, he says, “There is a difference between natural equality and actual equality-between theoretical equality and practical equality. Naturally we may not be equal to the white man; in fact, we are not equal to the white man. The white man is superior in knowledge and in skill.
Who spans yonder stream with a firm bridge? The white man. Who plans and builds yonder ships to balance perfectly in the water and stand the storms of the ocean? The white man. Who makes your caps? The white man. The whites. Who your coats? The whites. Who makes your guns and bayonets? The whites. We have not had the advantages which they have had. But we are capable of learning whatever they know—whatever they have done we can do. But this is yet to be done. Let us acquire knowledge from all sides. Let us resolve to know and do as much as the white man.
“Some of you complain that you are commanded by white officers. I should like to see you commanded by black officers. But the color makes little difference. Now I am, on the whole, glad that you are at first to be commanded by white officers, because I want you to be led by the very best officers. You would not yet have so much confidence in a colored officer as you have in a white officer. I should not. We have not had the opportunities to learn. Be content, therefore, for the present and learn. Obey orders; be cleanly; guard your morals; take care of your health; do your duty always, at any cost, without a murmur. The future is yours.”
The views of this intelligent and well-educated colored man are well worth pondering. We may clearly see whither we are tending.
The orator was greeted at the close with three rousing, hearty cheers. The speech had a powerful effect on the colored men. They understand, or think they understand, well the meaning of what they are doing. It is a momentous hour with them. This speech renewed and strengthened their purpose to write on this conflict a historic record which shall command respect and win for the colored race that high privilege-American citizenship.
The whole affair was, to a white observer, very characteristic and suggestive.
The feelings and purposes of the colored soldiers, indeed all the circumstances of the event, are worthy of the careful consideration of every American citizen.
QUOTES Here are some quotations taken from the official records attesting to the bravery and courage of Black Soliders in the Civil War: It gives me pleasure to bear witness to the good conduct of the negro troops. They fought with the most determined bravery. Although scarcely one month since the organization of this regiment was commenced, in that short: period these untrained soldiers have captured from the enemy an amount of property equal in value to the cost of the regiment for a year. They have driven back equal numbers of rebel troops, and have destroyed the salt-works along the whole line of this coast.” Brigadier General Rufus Saxton, Beaufort, S. C., November 25, 1862 “No officer in this regiment now doubts that the key to the successful prosecution of this war lies in the unlimited employment of black troops. Their superiority lies simply in the fact that they know the country while white troops do not, and, moreover, that they have of temperament, position, and motive which belong to them alone. Instead of leaving their homes and families to fight they are fighting for their homes and families, and they show the resolution and the sagacity which a personal purpose gives. It would have been madness to attempt, with the bravest white troops what I have successfully accomplished with black ones.” Colonel T. W. HIGGINSON, Commanding. First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. February 1, 1863 “You say you are fighting for liberty. Yes, you are fighting for liberty -- liberty to keep 4,000,000 of your fellow-beings in ignorance and degradation; liberty to separate parents and children, husband and wife, brother and sister; liberty to steal the products of their labor, exacted with many a cruel lash and bitter tear; liberty to seduce their wives and daughters, and to sell your own children into bondage; liberty to kill these children with impunity, when the murder cannot be proven by one of pure white blood. This is the kind of liberty - the liberty to do wrong - which Satan, chief of the fallen angels, was contending for when he was cast into hell.” Major General David Hunter in a letter to President Jefferson Davis. Hilton Head, S.C., April 23, 1863 “The conduct of the colored soldiers was highly creditable, fighting with hearty good will and doing good service. The expedition was eminently successful, capturing 75 mules, 8 horses, and subsistence for the whole force. The colored population hailed with joy the appearance of the colored soldiers. One hundred and twenty-five recruits were obtained on the expedition. The regiment is rapidly filling up, and it is hoped it will be full in a few days.” Lieutenant-Colonel Walter B. Scates, Assistant Adjutant-General, Thirteenth Army Corps. Near Vicksburg, June 2, 1863 “Milliken's Bend and Young's Point were both attacked day before yesterday by a body of rebels reported at about 1,500. At Milliken's Bend the negro troops at first gave way, but hearing that those of their number who were captured were killed, they rallied with great fury and routed the enemy. The white troops at Young's Point also repulsed him decisively.” Mr. Charles A. Dana, special commissioner of the United States War Department. Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 8, 1863 “The Ninth Louisiana lost 62 killed and 130 wounded; the Eleventh, 30 killed and 120 wounded; the Twenty-third Iowa, 26 killed and 60 wounded; the Ninth has also a great number missing. Of the rebels, we buried 130. General McCulloch died on the field from the effects of a wound. ‘It is impossible,’ says General Dennis, ‘for men to show greater gallantry than the negro troops in this fight.’ He does not know whether it is true that the rebels murdered their negro prisoners.” Mr. Charles A. Dana, special commissioner of the United States War Department. Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 10, 1863 after the Battle of Milliken’s Bend “I then withdrew our skirmishers and marched the Eighth Louisiana Volunteers, of African descent, in line of battle up to the bayou. They fired four volleys into the rebels, which cleaned them out, and greatly encouraged the darkies. We had 1 man wounded; they had 2 men killed and 5 wounded.” Brigadier-General H. T. Reid, Providence, Louisiana, June 10, 1863 “The African regiments being inexperienced in the use of arms, some of them having been drilled but a few days, and the guns being very inferior, the enemy succeeded in getting upon our works before more than one or two volleys were fired at them. Here ensued a most terrible hand-to-hand conflict of several minutes' duration, our men using the bayonet freely and clubbing their guns with fierce obstinacy, contesting every inch of ground, until the enemy succeeded in flanking them, and poured a murderous enfilading fire along our lines, directing their fire chiefly to the officers, who tell in numbers. Not till they were overpowered and forced by superior numbers did our men fall back behind the bank of the river, at the same time pouring volley after volley into the ranks of the advancing enemy.” Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis, Young's Point, Louisiana, June 12, 1863 “In this battle most of the troops engaged were Africans, who had but little experience in the use of firearms. Their conduct is said, however, to have been most gallant, and I doubt not but with good officers they will make good troops.” Major-General U. S. Grant. Near Vicksburg, Miss., June 16, 1863 "The colored men fought with astonishing coolness and bravery. For alacrity in effecting landings, for determination, and for bush fighting I found them all I could desire--more than I had hoped. They behaved bravely, gloriously, and deserve all praise. BEAUFORT, S.C., November 25, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to inclose for your information the report of our expedition to Doboy River, Georgia: Brigadier-General. Hon. E. M. STANTON,
“The expedition was composed of three companies of the First South Carolina Volunteers (colored), under the command of Lieut. Col. Oliver T. Beard, Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, and was in every respect a success.
“As might be expected, the moral effect of the presence of these colored soldiers under arms was very great, and caused a perfect panic among the rebels throughout the State. The colored soldiers behaved bravely in all their various actions with the enemy, and in no case did they display any inferiority in point of courage to other soldiers.I am glad to report that the hostility which at one time existed among the white troops in this department against the employment of colored troops has passed away, and they are now perfectly willing to go into action with them.” Brigadier General Rufus Saxton, Beaufort, South Carolina – April 4, 1863
“I addressed some 7,000 troops to-day, and the policy respecting arming the blacks was most enthusiastically received. Generals Prentiss, Washburn, and Hovey made speeches in high commendation of it. Other officers, also the Honorable Mr. Mitchell, addressed the troops. It has infused new life into the troops and they say now they see that the rebellion will be crushed.” Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, Helena, Arkansas, April 6, 1863 “I cannot close this communication without referring to the chivalrous and soldierly conduct of the entire command during the engagement; the whole command crossing this difficult ford, and forming in the face of the enemy, with as much ease and little confusion as if upon parade. Had there been no train to guard, so that the whole force could have been employed against the enemy, I don't know but I should have been able to capture the whole force.” Colonel J. M. Williams, First Regiment Kansas Colored Volunteers, Fort Blunt, Cherokee Nation, July, 1863
“The conduct of the First Mississippi Cavalry (African Descent) could not have been excelled by veterans, wounded men refusing to go to the rear. It was the first fight for most of them, but, in the language of Major Cook, their commanding officer, ‘I could have held them till the last man was shot.’" Colonel E. D. OSBAND, First Mississippi Cavalry (African Descent) Skipwith's Landing, Miss., December 14, 1863
“General Fitzhugh Lee abandoned his attack on our post on Wilson's Wharf during the night, having completely failed. He lost 20 killed, whom he left on the ground in our hands. Among these is reported Major Breckinridge, of the Second Virginia Cavalry. He removed his wounded. We took 19 prisoners from him. Our own loss is 1 man killed, 20 wounded, and 2 missing. The defense was commanded by Brigadier-General Wild in person, commanding a force of 1,800 men, all of whom were negroes.” Major-General Benjamin F. Butler, May 25, 1864
“I have directed Adjutant-General Thomas to bring up 5,000 negro troops from Kentucky, who are said to be superior to any others that he has organized in the South, and to take them to your command. He leaves Washington for that purpose to-day, and has orders to hasten them forward with all dispatch.” Secretary of War EDWIN M. STANTON in a dispatch to Major General Benjamin F. Butler, Washington, DC, October 3, 1864
“The column sent to the left moved rapidly, the Third U.S. Colored Cavalry in advance, and met a severe fire from Gober's cavalry, as the command rose the hill in rear of the rebel position. The artillery of the column, Fifth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry supporting, opened at about 1,000 yards range, and did fine execution. Maj. J. B. Cook, with Third U.S. Colored Cavalry, pushing rapidly to the rear, stampeded Gober's command, and gained the rear of the battery, when, forming line of battle, he charged through the woods, one battalion with revolver and one with saber, cutting down the rebels, who were now deserting the battery, driving the gunners from and capturing the guns.” Colonel E. D. Osband, Third U.S. Colored Cavalry. Vicksburg, Mississippi, October 12, 1864
“I have seen white troops fight in twenty-seven battles and I never saw any fight better. At dusk the colored troops were withdrawn from the enemy’s works which they had held for over two hours with scarcely a round of ammunition in their cartridge boxes. On the return of the forces those who had scoffed at the colored troops on the march out were silent. Nearly all the wounded were brought off, though we had not an ambulance in the command. The negro soldiers preferred present suffering to being murdered at the hands of a cruel enemy. I saw one man riding with his arm off, another shot through the lungs, and another shot through both hips. Such of the colored soldiers as fell into the hands of the enemy during the battle were brutally murdered. The negroes did not retaliate, but treated the rebel wounded with great kindness; carrying them water in their canteens and doing all they could to alleviate the sufferings of those whom the fortunes of war had placed in their hands”. Colonel James S. Brisbin. Report on Battle of Saltville, Virginia, October 2, 1864
I started from Saint Simon's with 62 colored fighting men and returned to Beaufort with 156 fighting men (all colored). As soon as we took a slave from his claimant we placed a musket in his hand and he began to fight for the freedom of others.
Besides these men we brought off 61 women and children. We destroyed nine large salt-works, together with $20,000 worth of horses, salt, corn, rice, which we could not carry away." Lieutenant Colonel O. T. BEARD, Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, Commanding Expedition, Beaufort, South Carolina, November 10, 1862.
"On the last expedition the fact was developed that colored men would fight behind barricades; this time they have proved, by their heroism, that they will fight in the open field. Captain Trowbridge aided me greatly. Captain Crandel of the Darlington, I found a trifling, childish pest. Captain Meriam, of the gunboat Madgie, rendered me valuable assistance." Lieutenant Colonel O. T. BEARD, Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, Commanding Expedition, Beaufort, South Carolina, November 22, 1862.
COMPLETE REPORT
The expedition was composed of three companies of the First South Carolina Volunteers (colored), under the command of Lieut. Col. Oliver T. Beard, Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, and was in every respect a success.
It gives me pleasure to bear witness to the good conduct of the negro troops. They fought with the most determined bravery. Although scarcely one month since the organization of this regiment was commenced, in that short period these untrained soldiers have captured from the enemy an amount of property equal in value to the cost of the regiment for a year. They have driven back equal numbers of rebel troops, and have destroyed the salt-works along the whole line of this coast.
Great credit is due to Lieutenant-Colonel Beard for his energy and skill in the management of this expedition.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
R. SAXTON,
Secretary of War.
"The colored troops made for themselves on this occasion a brilliant record. Their gallant and soldierly bearing, and the zeal and persistence with which they fought, elicited the warmest encomiums from all officers of the command. Their claims to be considered as among the very best soldiers of our army can no longer, in my opinion, be seriously questioned." Excerpt from report by Major General C. C. Washburn, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Memphis, Tennessee, July 20, 1864 - Battle of Brice's Crossroads, Mississippi (55th, 59th U. S. Colored Infantry Regiments and Battery F, 2nd U. S. Colored Light Artillery)
"Of the colored soldiers of the Third Divisions of the Eighteenth and Tenth Corps and the officers who led them, the general commanding desires to make special mention.
In the charge on the enemy's works by the colored division of the Eighteenth Corps at Spring Hill, New Market--better men were never better led, better officers never led better men. With hardly an exception officers of colored troops have justified the care with which they have been selected. A few more such gallant charges and to command colored troops will be the post of honor in the American armies. The colored soldiers by coolness, steadiness, and determined courage and dash have silenced every cavil of the doubters of their soldierly capacity, and drawn tokens of admiration from their enemies; have brought their late masters even to the consideration of the question whether they will not employ as soldiers the hitherto despised race. Be it so; this war is ended when a musket is in the hands of every able bodied negro who wishes to use one." Ed. W. Smith, Assistant Adjutant-General. By command of Major-General Benjamin F. Butler: Headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, Army of the James in a letter to the soldiers of the Army of the James, October 11, 1864.
SOURCE: The Official Records
