William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[416] he would never consent that colored men should be accepted into the service, and serve as soldiers in the South, until he should be assured that the Government of the United States was prepared to guarantee and defend, to the last dollar and the last man, to these men all the rights, privileges, and immunities that are given, by the laws of civilized warfare, to other soldiers.

The promise here made by the Governor in regard to the pay of colored troops was not redeemed by the Government. For more than a year after the two colored regiments had left Massachusetts, the Government refused to pay them the same as white soldiers. The Legislature of the State, at the extra session of 1863, appropriated money to make up the deficiency, of which we shall speak hereafter.

On the twenty-third day of March, the Governor detailed the Adjutant-General to visit Washington and Fortress Monroe, to inquire concerning the feasibility of procuring men of color to enlist in the colored regiments of Massachusetts. At this time, there were a great number of contrabands who were at those two points, who desired to come North and enter into the service. The Adjutant-General was directed to confer with the military authorities, and to offer to colored men wishing to enlist the State bounty of fifty dollars, if the War Department would credit the men to the contingent of the State. Upon arriving at Washington, he found plenty of men at the colored camp, on the Virginia side of the Potomac, who were willing and anxious to come North and enlist in our regiments. But the War Department at that time would not allow it to be done; and therefore he was unsuccessful in his mission.

This policy was afterwards changed, and colored men were permitted to come North and enlist in our colored regiments. Time appeared to ripen almost every scheme of policy devised by the Governor, and cause it to be adopted, to the healing of the nation.

On the 23d of March, the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance forwarded a memorial to the Governor, setting forth the danger to which soldiers were exposed from the use of intoxicating drinks, and asking him to ‘fix his seal of condemnation upon the example of drinking officers.’ To