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of the educational labors among the liberated slaves, which has been attended with so much good.
On the 19th of May, the
Secretary of War telegraphed to the
Governor to know if he could raise four more new regiments at short notice, to which he replied affirmatively; but, in the letter expressing his readiness to comply with the
Secretary's demand, he says,—
If our people feel that they are going into the South to help fight rebels, who will kill and destroy them by all the means known to savages, as well as civilized man, —will deceive them by fraudulent flags of truce and lying pretences, will use their negro slaves against them both as laborers and as fighting men, while they themselves must never fire at the enemy's magazine,—I think that they will feel that the draft is heavy on their patriotism.
But, if the President will sustain General Hunter,—recognize all men, even black men, as legally capable of that loyalty the blacks are waiting to manifest, and let them fight with God and human nature on their side,—the roads will swarm, if need be, with multitudes whom New England would pour out to obey your call.
A copy of this letter was sent to the
Governors of the
New-England States, in the thought that mutual conference might be useful, and tend to unite and concentrate opinion in
New England upon the subject to which it relates.
On the 25th of May, received from
Mr. Stanton the following telegrams:—
Send all the troops forward that you can, immediately.
Banks is completely routed.
The enemy are, in large force, advancing on Harper's Ferry.
Intelligence from various quarters leaves no doubt that the enemy, in great force, are advancing on Washington.
You will please organize and forward immediately all the volunteer and militia force in your State.
Upon the receipt of these telegrams, orders were immediately issued by the
Adjutant-General for the militia of the
Commonwealth to report at once for duty on Boston Common, to proceed to
Washington; and four thousand men were in
Boston, and ready to start, on the 27th.
But, on the morning of the
