Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

“I don't know but what you are right,” said I. “I think that would be a logical necessity of insurrection.”

“If the colored men had begun such a war as that, General, which general of the United States army should we have called on to help us fight our battles?”

That was unanswerable.

“Well,” I said, “why do you think your men will fight?”

“General, we come of a fighting race. Our fathers were brought here slaves because they were captured in war, and in hand to hand. fights, too. We are willing to fight. Pardon me, General, but the only cowardly blood we have got in our veins is the white blood.”

“Very well,” I said, “recruit your men and let them be mustered into the service at” --I mentioned a large public building--“in a fortnight from to-day, at ten o'clock in the morning. Report, and I will meet you there. I will give orders that the building be prepared.”

On that morning I went there and saw such a sight as I never saw before: Two thousand men ready to enlist as recruits, and not a man of them who had not a white “biled shirt” on.

Changing sentinels of first colored troops in New Orleans, August, 1862, from an oil Painting.

One regiment was mustered within fourteen days of the call, the first regiment of colored troops ever mustered into the service of the United States during the War of the Rebellion, established and became soldiers of the United States on the 22d day of August, 1862. In a very short time three regiments of infantry and two batteries of artillery were equipped, drilled, and ready for service. Better soldiers never shouldered a musket. They were intelligent, obedient, highly appreciative of their position, and fully maintained its dignity. They easily learned the school of the soldier. I