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844 DOUGLASS' MONTHLY JUNE, 1863 [[line]] [[3 columns]] [[column 1]] heads, Secesh, or traitors, they are all the same to men: enemies of our country, against whom I have taken a solemn oath, and called God as my witness, to whip them wherever I found them.' Mr. Mitchell, a Member of Congress from Indiana, next spoke, indorsing what had been said, and concluded by paying his respects to the Copperheads, and declaring that he was going home to labor to fill up the decimated ranks of the regiments before him. Brig. Gen. Alvin P. Hovey was then called out. Though a life long Democrat he said he fully approved of the policy of the Administration in using the negroes. He would go a step further and prohibit all commerce with the Rebels, and hand every Yankee, Jew, or Copperhead found trading with them. He would burn all the cotton found, and, if possible, kill the seed forever. It was the curse of the Union, and the great curse of the army. Le: bayoneta, not commerce, follow the flag until the rebels submit. In concluding, he said if he lived to see the permanent separation of the Union, he would tear the record leaf from the family Bible and never own that his children were born in Indiana. Col. Cameron of the 34th Indiana, in response to call, next spoke, and made some excellent points. He had enlisted for twenty-five years, and did not want a furlough till his time was out or the Rebels were whipped. If our twenty millions could not whip their eight millions he wanted to surrender his life with the Union. Col. C. R. Gill, of the 29th Wisconsin, was brought out by the shouts and cries for him. He said he believed it was good for him to be here. He felt as good over it as a Methodist ever did over a love feast. But, like a Methodist, he must repent of his sins. There had been a time since he had been at Helena when he was demoralized, but he now felt strong in the cause. The commerce our noble General had spoken of had done more to injure the Union cause than this whole army has done to help it. When at Friar's Point and in the country he had seen loads of cavalry boots, salt, quinine, &c., conveyed to the rebels. This fighting an enemy with the little finger and feeding him with the other nine is an unequal game.--Stop this infernal traffic, and it will be as good as a half million of men in the field. In regard to arming the negroes, he felt as Aunt Hannah did at the funeral of her husband: The coffin was opened, and the friends took a departing look, after which the minister shut the lid of the coffin and asked, 'Are you all satisfied?' whereupon Aunt Hannah interposed as follows: 'Elder Tinkham, I am perfectly satisfied.' He then turned to the assemblage and inquired how many were satisfied, and was answered by a mighty yea, swelled by thousands of voices. How many are there here who are not satisfied? A profound silence was the only reply; and turning to the General the Colonel said: 'The verdict is unanimous. When you go back tell the President he is indorsed by the army, and that there is power in the army.' Gen. Washburn, Col. Dusy and Capt. Cameron also spoke. The meeting broke up, giving three mighty cheers for the policy of the administration. Gen. Thomas arose and said this was the happiest day of his life, and he should be happy to make known to the President the feeling prevailling among the troops with the sound of his voice. The foregoing gives but a faint idea of the enthusiasm, and patriotism, and outpouring of loyalty that took place on this occassion. [[line]] MECHANICAL SKILL OF A COLORED MAN. [[short line]] From the Newport (R.I.) News. We had the pleasure of examining yesterday a very remarkable mechanical curiosity, which, having been produced under circumstances of an interesting nature, calls for at least a mention in our columns. The curiosity, for such we shall term it, is a small steam-engine, the total weight of which is only three-fourths of an ounce and so diminutive in size that it could be accommodated with sufficient room for motion under an ordinary sewing thimble. The whole [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] machine is supported upon an upright boiler by the tabular point of an ordinary silver leadpencil, the opening through which forms the steam pipe of this Lilliputian motor, the power of which is rated at one seven-hundred and twenty-eighth part of a horse power. The machine is no mere toy, but it is a perfect high-pressure engine, containing all the parts and characteristics of the most most improved patterns; although the bore of the cylinder is only one-tenth, the stroke two-tenths, and the motion of slide valve one thirty-second of an inch. The inventor of this engine, or perhaps more properly the builder, who yesterday exhibited to us this (his third similar) work of patience and ingenuity in full motion, is, as before mentioned, a young colored man, Benjamin Boardley by name, connected with the Naval Academy in a subordinate capacity, and notwithstanding his humble origin in slavery, is certainly a mechanic of more than ordinary intelligence and skill. His history, so far as we know it, is simple, and does much to combat the doctrine of the inferiority of the colored race. Benjamin, as a Maryland slave, was hired from his master while the Academy was stationed at Annapolis to do menial duty for the professors and assist in handling the apparatus used for experiments before the midshipmen. He evinced so much intelligence and was withal so attentive and desirous to obtain information for his own improvement, that he became a general favorite, in consequence of which a purse was made up and he was purchased from his master. Since his freedom has been secured he has continued to remain in his old position at the Academy, improving himself by the advantages which surrounded him in various intellectual acquirements. As a mechanic he certainly possesses extraordinary merit, and if we do not greatly mistake will eventually make his mark in the world. [[line]] AN IMPORTANT LETTER FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW [[short line]] BOSTON, March 23d, 1863. George T. Downing, Esq., New York.: DEAR SIR: In reply to your inquiries made [[words missing at beginning of line because part of paper missing]] who may be enlisted and [[words missing because part of paper missing]] into the volunteer service of the United States, I would say that their position in respect to pay, equipments, bounty, or any aid and protection, when so mustered, will be precisely the same, in every particular, as that of any and all other volunteers. I desire further to state to you, that when I was in Washington on one occasion, in an interview with Mr Stanton, the Secretary of War, he stated, in the most emphatic manner, that he would never consent that free colored men should be accepted into the service to 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. Their present acceptance and muster-in as soldiers, pledges the honor of the nation in the same degree and to the same rights with all other troops. They will be soldiers of the Union; nothing less and nothing different. I believe they will earn for themselves an honorable fame, vindicating their race and redeeming their future from the aspersions of the past. I am, yours truly, JOHN A. ANDREW [[line]] NEGRO TROOPS IN FLORIDA [[short line]] L.D. Stickney, United States Tax Collector of Florida and South Carolina, reported to-day to the Government the absolute success of the experiment of arming and organizing the slaves. He says that the late expedition which took and held Jacksonville, Florida, was composed entirely of black troops. They held the post two weeks, were engaged almost every day with superior numbers of the rebels, and in every instance drove them. Afterward, these black troops were reinforced by a white regiment-- the Sixth Connecticut Volunteers--by no means favorable to negro soldiers. In an engagement with the rebels' cavalry and artillery, the Sixth Connecticut supported the First and Second South Carolina (colored.) After a severe engagement, in which the blacks were victorious, this white regiment declared it had no further prejudices against negroes who showed such pluck. While our troops occupied Jacksonville, the rebel camp was eight miles distant. The commander of the United States forces, before making [[/column 2]] [[column 3]] an attack, wished to destroy a railroad bridge three miles in the rear of the enemy. A negro volunteered to perform this perilous feat. Taking three days' rations in his knapsack, a bottle of turpentine, a box of matches, and a pair of Colt's revolvers, he disappeared at night. The third day after, he returned, having burned the bridge and reconnoitered the enemy's camp, so as to furnish much valuable information. A former expedition up St. Mary's River, by five companies of the First regiment South Carolina Volunteers, furnished equally conclusive evidence of the bravery of the negro troops. Marching at night, through a thick wood, they were attacked by rebel cavalry. At the first discharge one man was killed and four wounded; but instead of a panic, the blacks promptly returned the fire, emptying twelve rebel saddles at the first discharge. The uniform testimony of all the officers is that the colored troops, when brought under fire, need check more than spur. -- Washington Cor. Times. [[line]] IRISHMEN ASSAULTING NEGROES. On Monday last an effort was made by four or five hundred 'longshoremen, most of whom are Irishmen, to prevent negroes from working on the docks, or in the First Ward, which comprises the lower part of the city. Several disturbances had previously occurred, without important results; but on this occasion it was determined that not only the negroes should not work, but that they should be punished for working hitherto. The Evening Post says: 'The plan of the attack was arranged in an underground bar room in South street, and simultaneously this forenoon the Irishmen, among whom the mode of operations appeared to have been previously agreed on, set out upon a negro hunt. The largest proportion of the Irishmen proceeded to the docks, where about two hundred of the negroes were employed, and they pummelled them without mercy. The negroes defended themselves as well as they could, and one of their number presented a pistol at the rioters, which he fired three or four times, but it does not appear that any shots took effect. the police interfered and drove off the assailants, arresting the negro who fired the pistol, and one of the rioters. The others fled. Meanwhile, the Irishmen who had gone into the Ward attacked all the negro porters and laborers whom they could find, and subsequently the police went after the rioters, who were routed without a conflict. They were desirous of assaulting negroes, but declined to face the policemen, on sight of whom they made their escape. The negroes are all at work. They are represented by the police as sober, peaceable men, industrious, but declining to work for less than usual rates, and as being of a better class relatively than their persecutors.' It was feared that the Irish ruffians would renew their assault on Tuesday, but, thanks to to the efficiency of our Metropolitan Police, they did not. One Irishman, however, according to the Tribune, filled his pockets with paving stones and his stomach with whisky, walked forth and hit a 'nagur,' and in twenty minutes was at the Tombs anxiously looking for $300 bail to guarantee his appearance at the Sessions. It was a bad speculation. [[line]] THE MONITORS AT CHARLESTON. The following letter of Capt. Ericsson, concering the Monitors, has appesred in the city dailies: 'SIR: I feel called npon to state, for the information of the country, that the imperfection of the Monitors, shown by Admiral Dupont's trial of their strength at Charleston, are not of a serious character. What has happened will be readily obviated, for the future. Everything connected with our new fighting machines worked precisely as intended--not a single change of plan being called for. The pilohouse proving of insufficient thickness was not an unforeseen circumstance. The limited experience which have had in actual conflict intdicated that eight inches thickness would be sufficient, but it was by no means assumed to be a settled point. Hence such a construction was adopted that, without removing the structure or changing its interior arrangements any number of additional plates might be attached to the exterior, and its thickness increased to any extent. So with regard to the turret; it is constructed of an interior skeleton cylinder composed of plates firmly riveted together, to which any number of plates may be bolted. It is by no means yet established that our turrets require increased thickness, excepting possibly, at the base. The public will do well not to be alarmed by the remarks of inexperienced observers [[/column 3]]
