[
516]
they have been thus suddenly bereft.
To the third interrogatory, it is my painful duty to reply that I never have received any specific authority for issues of clothing, uniforms, arms, equipments, and so forth, to the troops in question — my general instructions from
Mr. Cameron to employ them in any manner I might find necessary, and the military exigencies of the Department and the country, being my only, but, in my judgment, sufficient justification.
Neither have I had any specific authority for supplying these persons with shovels, spades, and pickaxes, when employing them as laborers, nor with boats and oars when using them as lightermen: but these are not points included in
Mr. Wickliffe's resolution.
To me, it seemed that liberty to employ men in any particular capacity implied with it liberty also to supply them with the necessary tools; and, acting upon this faith, I have clothed, equipped and armed, the only loyal regiment yet raised in
South Carolina.
I must say, in vindication of my own conduct, that, had it not been for the many other diversified and imperative claims on my time, a much more satisfactory result might have been hoped for; and that, in place of only one, as at present, at least five or six well-drilled, brave, and thoroughly Acclimated regiments, should by this time have been added to the loyal forces of the
Union.
The experiment of arming the Blacks, so far as I have made it, has been a complete and even marvelous success.
They are sober, docile, attentive, and enthusiastic; displaying great natural capacities for acquiring the duties of the soldier.
They are eager beyond all things to take the field and be led into action; and it is the unanimous opinion of the officers who have had charge of them, that, in the peculiarities of this climate and country, they will prove invaluable auxiliaries — fully equal to the similar regiments so long and successfully used by the
British authorities in the
West India islands.
In conclusion, I would say it is my hope — there appearing no possibility of other reenforcements, owing to the exigencies of the campaign in the
Peninsula — to have organized, by the end of next Fall, and to be able to present to the
Government, from 48,000 to 50,000 of these hardy and devoted soldiers.
Trusting that this letter may form part of your answer to
Mr. Wickliffe's resolutions, I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your very obedient servant,