icers say, as so many whites. Most of them are wholly raw, but there are many
who have already been for months in camp in the abortive "Hunter Regiment,"
yet in that loose kind of way which, like average militia training, is a doubtful
advantage. I notice that some companies, too, look darker than others, though
all are purer African than I expected. This is said to be partly a geographical
difference between the South Carolina and Florida men. When the Rebels evacuated
this region they probably took with them the house-servants, including most
of the mixed blood, so that the residuum seems very black. But the men brought
from Fernandina the other day average lighter in complexion, and look more intelligent,
and they certainly take wonderfully to the drill.
It needs but a few days to show the absurdity of distrusting the military availability
of these people. They have quite as much average comprehension as whites of
the need of the thing, as much courage (I doubt not), as much previous knowledge
of the gu
