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recruiting, and by night had succeeded in enlisting over five hundred negroes.
Eight men were detailed from the division to take charge of the men as they were organized into companies.
The eighth was spent in examining those I had enlisted the day before.
Captain W. G. Young, Ninety-eighth Illinois, Dr. Briggs, Fourth O. V. C., L. C. Remmington, Fourth Michigan, Acting Adjutant, reported to assist me in my work.
On that night I received orders to cross the Alabama river, but a break in the pontoon bridge prevented, and I returned to the barracks, where I had previously been encamped.
On the ninth we drilled some, in order to have the regiment so we could move out in some order when we received orders to do so.
On that night we crossed the river and moved out three miles on the Montgomery road, and camped near the division for the night.
Next morning Lieutenant C. L. Conner. Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, reported to me for duty, moved at ten A. M., and marched twenty miles, camping near Brandon.
On the eleventh I moved out again about noon in advance of train; the roads being very bad, I employed my men in working the road, in order to facilitate the passage of the train.
Distance marched was twenty miles.
On the twelfth I received orders to march in rear of the train, which necessitated a late start, but by marching late at night we were enabled to make a march of twenty miles.
The colored regiment of the Fourth division reported to me on the evening of the twelfth, numbering about five hundred men.
On the thirteenth I reached Montgomery and camped four miles east, on the Columbus, Georgia, road, having marched fifteen miles.
On the morning of the fourteenth I procured about one hundred Mississippi rifles, but could get no ammunition; moved about noon and marched late at night, making twenty-five miles.
The colored regiment of the First division reported to me this day, numbering about four hundred men.
On the fifteenth I made twenty miles, and camped three miles east of Tuskeegee.
On the sixteenth I moved about ten o'clock A. M., marched very hard all day, and until two o'clock the morning of the seventeenth.
On the seventeenth I reached Columbus, Georgia, moved out four miles on the Macon road and camped, having marched fifteen miles: at this place I procured a lot of clothing and arms; most of the arms were given to the regiment belonging to the First division, which was ordered to report this eve to the quartermaster of that division.
Our march all the way from Selma to Columbus, was over the worst of roads, made almost impassable by the passage of the entire command and all the trains.
The number of men were constantly increasing, so that when I reached Columbus my regiment alone numbered fourteen hundred men, of whom about twelve hundred men were mounted on horses and mules turned over daily by the division to me.
Great difficulty was experienced in procuring provisions for these men and forage for the animals, and it was only by the utmost diligence that sufficient could be obtained.
I moved at daylight on the morning of the eighteenth, and camped at twelve o'clock at night at Flint river, having marched forty miles; next day made fifteen miles, camping five miles east of Thomsonville.
On the twentieth I made another hard day's march of thirty miles, and camping within fifteen miles of this place; next day I reached this place with two thousand seven hundred men belonging to my regiment and the regiment of the Fourth division.
In compliance with orders received from the Brevet Major-General commanding cavalry corps, M. D. M., on the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of April the men were examined by the surgeon, and the regiments each reduced to one thousand men.
On the first of May, in compliance with orders received from headquarters cavalry corps, each regiment reported to their division commanders.
My regiment is progressing finely in discipline and the drill.
We have nine hundred and fifty stand of arms, and four hundred and fifty sets of accoutrements.
The officers are well supplied with tents, and the men have tents and sheds sufficient to cover them and protect them from the inclemency of the weather, and will do very well until better shelter can be obtained; the greater portion of them are very well clothed in rebel uniforms.
The most difficult part of the organization of the colored troops was that of subsistence, as we were compelled to subsist entirely upon the country.
And when we take into consideration that a large cavalry force were constantly in our advance, nearly clearing the whole country of subsistence, making the procuring of rations for the regiments a difficult matter indeed, which was only accomplished by industry and perseverance on the part of officers and men of the command.
I cannot speak in terms of too high praise of the officers and men that were ordered to report to me to assist in the organization of the regiment; to them is due great praise for the energy and efficiency evinced on all occasions, ever at their post at all times doing their whole duty.
To Lieutenant L. C. Remmington, Fourth Michigan cavalry, Acting Adjutant, Captain Young, Ninety-eighth Illinois volunteers, Lieutenant Conner, Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, Dr. Briggs, Fourth Ohio cavalry, I am greatly indebted for their industry, energy, and faithful performance of their whole duty.
I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Martin Archer, Major Commanding Colored Troops. Major E. B. Beaumont, A. A. G. Cavalry Corps, M. D. M.
