Colored troops for work, Department of the South, Morris Island, September 10 1863 [Recto]

TitleColored troops for work, Department of the South, Morris Island, September 10 1863 [Recto]
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CollectionsThomas Benton Brooks Papers

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Transcription[Letter] Note No. [Number] 19; Colored Troops for Work; Headquarters Dept. [Department] of the South; Morris Island S.C. Engineers Office; September 10th 1863; Circular; As the important experiment which will test the fitness of the American Negro for the duties of of a soldier is now being tried, it is desirable that facts bearing on the question be carefully observed and recorded.  It is probable that in no military operations of the war have negro troops done so large a proportion and so important and hazardous fatigue duty as in the siege operations on this Island.  As you have directed the operations of working parties of both white and black troops here, I respectfully ask for the objects above stated, an impartial and carefully prepared answer to the following enquiries, together with such other statements as you choose to make, bearing on the question; I. Courage as indicated by their behavior under fire;

LocationsMorris Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States(32.71573,-79.89037)

TopicsSouth Carolina--History
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Armed Forces
African American troops

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RightsU.S. Government Work Learn More