Viewing page 5 of 16

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

June, 1863,   DOUGLASS' MONTHLY.   837
[[line across page]]
[[3 columns]]
[[column 1]]
notice, feeling assured that your warm sympathy and deep grief will be united with mine at the loss of this dear and much-valued friend, this kind generous, disinterested friend of the oppressed.

Another memorial card met me on reaching home, informing me of the death of one of the friends with whom I landed in New York this day fourteen years!——Mr. Charles Brown, then a British subject, but now (the card says) "Citizen of South Carolina, C. S. A."  You will, I know, remember this gentlemanly young Englishman, by whom you were ushered into a drawing-room of one of the leading New York hotels, nearly fourteen years ago, just landed, and fresh from the free soil of our own free country, Mr. Brown could not at that time believe in complexional aristocracy, and behaved to any colored friend of mine as if he had been white!  Amidst the denizens of the "Old Dominion," and the fierce citizens of South Carolina, this once gallant young Englishman heard a different creed, and it would seem adopted it also, or whence is it, after returning to his fatherland to die, that the ominous words appear, associated with his name, "Citizen of South Carolina, C. S. A."

My deep sympathies are with his sorrowing family, who have long been looking anxiously for the return of the absent son and brother.

Doubtless there are others besides Hazael, who, could they have their future course predicted to them by another Elijah, would explain "Is they servant a dog that he should do this thing."

I must close in haste.  With our united kindest regards and best wishes for the prosperity of the cause of Right, and the speedy freedom of every slave in the American states, 
I remain, as ever,
Your faithful and affectionate friend,
JULIA G. CROFTS.
[[line]]

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 1863.

DEAR FREDERICK:——I am beginning to feel proud of my country, and almost with an intoxication of delight do I rejoice with you in the great strides which the nation is taking towards the goal of human freedom, of universal, untramelled liberty.  I do earnestly rejoice that the cause for which we have so long battled, and to which you have devoted your life, is now being embraced and aided forward by many wno, [sic] in times past, have been found in the ranks of its fiercest opponents.  May the wheels of Liberty's triumphal car still continue to roll across this great country till we shall hear no more the appeal, "Am I not a man and a brother," but in every state may the black man stand nobly up the acknowledged and respected citizen of the United States.  You must know that I am living in an entirely different element from that by which you are surrounded.  The people here seem to feel something of an interest in the struggle of the nation for its existence, but yet they do not fully realize its magnitude.  They seem absorbed in the desire for gain.  The majority, and a vast one, too, would like very well to see the national arms victorious, but outside of wishing the cause "God speed," they think they have nothing more to do.  The greatest interest now manifested since the passage of the bill giving the right of oath, is the support of the churches.  We have one church which is very creditable to our people.  It was 
[[/column 1]]

[[column 2]]
purchased about a year ago at a cost of $5,500, and is nearly paid for.  The members expect to discharge the debt before the year is completed.  Its pastor, Rev. Thos. M. D. Ward, is quite zealous in his field, and highly deserves the support of the colored people.  I am sorry to state that his general health is not good.  But still he is ever ready, as of old, to give battle for the right.  Doubtless you have heard ere this of my sickness and misfortunes, but never for one moment do I despair of making everything right again.  I feel at present most sanguine of success.  If you ever visit New B., I hope you will call and see my wife, and give her all the encouragement you can.  Before I close I must express my admiration of your noble efforts in this great civil commotion.  I must mention particularly the Slaves' Appeal to G. B., and your late War Speeches.  Depend on it, if my humble opinion is worth anything, they will not return unto you void.  Please send your paper, the monthly, and oblige
Your old friend,
SOLOMON PENCTON.
[[line]]

DONATIONS in aid of contrabands alias fugitives, and for the amelioration of their condition, sent to Frederick Douglass:

                                        £   s.
From Mrs. Goodrick, being part of the
  proceeds of her drawing-room bazaar,  14  0
Liverpool Ladies' A. S. Society.......  10  0
  Donation in aid of F. D.'s general
mission:
Dalkeith A. S. Society................   4  0
Aberdeen A. S. Society................   2 10
  For Rosetta Douglass:
From [[???]]
[[line]]

The First Massachusetts Regiment of Colored Men About to take the Field——Their Arrival in Boston——March to the Common——Review, Embarkation, &c., &c.
[[short line]]

The 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers composed of colored men of this and other Northern States, took its departure for the field of active service to-day.  This is the pioneer colored regiment raised in the Northern States.  At different times and in different places since the war commenced there has been talk of raising bodies of colored troops for service in the field, but it remained for Gov. Andrew to first carry out the idea, which he, in common with others, had so long entertained.  The official order for raising this regiment, which is for three years' service, was issued about the first of February.

The first commission to a recruiting officer was made out on the 7th of February, to John W. M. Appleton, and within a day or two of that time he opened a recruiting office in Cambridge street.  Soon after another office was open in New Bedford, and within a few weeks at Providence, Philadelphia, and various places in New York and the Western States.  It was also proposed to obtain recruits from among the contrabands at Fortress Monroe, but this the government would not allow.

Within a short time after the opening of the first recruiting office, the volunteers were ordered into camp at Readville, and officers were commissioned as fast as the rules of the service would allow.  The regiment was filled on the 14th of this month.

Since the men have been at Readville the encampment has been visited by thousands of our citizens, and the men have received words of approval and encouragement, and more substantial tokens of regard from our citizens.  They have been well-behaved, have devoted themselves assiduously to learning their duties, and have improved to a degree that has cheered the hearts of their friends, and silenced the objections of those who doubted the expediency of placing muskets in the hands of colored men, under the impression that they
[[/column 2]]

[[column 3]]
would not fight.  In all the showy qualities of the soldier they are the equal, anyone who has seen them will admit, of white men, but their endurance, and above all their bravery in battle, is yet to be tested.  They have the advantage, however, of being well led.

There is among them a pride in their organization; they are strong active men, having confidence in themselves and their officers, and there is no doubt, no fear, on the part of their friends that they will disgrace the cause for which they fight.

The regiment is armed with Enfield rifles and is in all respects equipped and clothed in the same manner as the white regiments——Like the white soldiers, they have received the advance pay and bounty of the government, and the bounty of the State, and the families of those residing in this Commonwealth are entitled to State aid.  In all respects except that they have only white officers, the men of this regiment are placed on all equality with those of any other new regiment in the service.  Their future position depends upon themselves.

The complete roster of the regiment is as follows:

Colonel——Robert G. Shaw.

Lieut Colonel——Norwood P. Hallowell.

Major——Edward N. Hallowell.

Surgeon——Lincoln R. Stone.

Assistant Surgeon——C. B. Bridgham.

Captains——Alfred S. Hartwell, David A. Partridge, Samuel Willard, John W. M. Appleton, Watson W. Bridge, George Pope, Wm. H. Simpkins, Cabot J. Russell, Edward L. Jones and Louis F. Emilio.

1st Lieutenants——John Ritchie, Garth W. James, Wm. H. Homans, Orin E. Smith, Erik Wulff, Walter H. Wild, Francis L. Higginson, James M. Walton, James M. Grace, R. K. L. Jewett.

2d Lieutenants——Thomas L. Appleton, Benjamin F. Dexter, J. Albert Pratt, Charles F. Smith, Henry W. Littlefield, William Nutt, [[???]] and William Howard.

The regiment reached this city from Readville at 9 A. M., and marched to the Common which was thronged with people.

The regiment broke camp at an early hour in the morning, and took the cars for Boston.  The rain bearing them reached the depot, in this city, soon after nine o'clock.  At first it had been arranged to have the regiment march direct to the warf, to embark, but so great was the desire to see them, not only of the people of Boston, but of all the neighboring towns, that it was decided to afford the opportunity. 

Arrangements were accordingly made for a review on the Common by Gov. Andrew.——One hundred policemen were detailed to clear the streets on the route, and keep the parade ground on the Common, and this service they performed in a satisfactory manner, under the direction of Col. Kurtz.

At the depot a large crowd was collected, and the regiment was received with hearty cheers, and other demonstrations of welcome.  The regiment was accompanied by Gilmore's Band.

A line was formed, and the command at once took up the march through the following streets:——Pleasant, Boylston, Essex, Chauncy, Sumner, High, Federal, Franklin, Washington, School, Tremont, Pemberton Square, Somerset and Beacon streets, to the State House.  All along the route the sidewalks were crowded, and the windows and balconies were thronged.  Men cheered and women waved their handkerchiefs, many of them more enthusiastically than ever they had done before.  There was nowhere along the line a word of disapproval——not a sneer was heard, nor an unkind word expressed.  In several places flags were thrown out by the occupants of stores or dwellings.  In Essex street, a lady presented Col. Shaw with a handsome bouquet.

The regiment halted in front of the State House a few minutes allowing a good opportunity for the friends of the men to say a few parting words to them.  Most of them, however, are strangers here, and recognized no
[[/column 3]]