Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, was so well satisfied with the black troops, which he found in the service on his arrival in New Orleans, and was so confident in the ability and disposition of the negroes to become good soldiers, that he ordered a whole army corps to be raised, consisting of 18 regiments, of 500 men each, to be called the "Corps d'Afrique." His general order on the subject was in the following terms: Corps D'Afrique. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, NINETEENTH ARMY CORPS, OPELOUSAS, May 1st, 1863. General Orders, No. 40.-The Major-General commanding the Department proposes the organization of a Corps d'Armée of colored troops, to be designated as the "Corps d'Afrique." It will consist ultimately of eighteen regiments, representing all arms infantry, artillery, cavalry—making nine brigades of two regiments each, and three divisions of three brigades each, with appropriate corps of engineers, and flying hospitals for each division. Appropriate uniforms, and the gradation of pay to correspond with the value of the services, will be hereafter awarded. In the field the efficiency of every corps depends upon the influence of its officers upon the troops engaged, and the practical limits of one direct command is generally estimated at 1,000 men. The most eminent military historians and commanders, among others Thiers and Chambray, express the opinion upon a fall review of the elements of military power, that the valor of the soldier is rather acquired than natural. Nations, whose individual heroism is undisputed, have failed as soldiers in the field. The European and American continents exhibit instances of this character, and the military prowess of every nation may be estimated by the centuries it has devoted to military contest, or the traditional passion of its people for military glory. With a race unaccustomed to military service, much more depends on the immediate influence of officers apoa individual members, than with those that have acquired more or less of warlike habits and spirit by centuries of contest. It is deemed best, therefore, in the organization of the Corps d'Afrique, to limit the regi ments to the smallest number of men consistent with efficient service in the field, in order to secure the most thorough instruction and discipline, and the largest influence of the officers over the troops. At first they will be limited to five hundred men. The average of American regiments is less than that number. The Commanding General desires to detail for temporary or permanent duty the best officers of the army for the organization, instruction, and discipline of this corps. With their aid he is confident that the corps will render important service to the Government. It is not established upon any dogma of equality or other theory, but as a practical and sensible matter of business. The Government makes use of mules, horses, uneducated and educated white men in the defence of its institutions. Why should not the negro contribute whaterer is in his power for the cause in which he is as deeply interested as other men? We may properly deniand from him whatever service he can render. The chief defect in organizations of this character has arisen from incorrect ideas of the officers in command. Their discipline has been lax, and in some cases the Conduct of their regiments unsatisfactory and discreditable. Controversies unnecessary and injurious to the service have arisen between them and other troops, The organization proposed will reconcile and avoid many of these troubles. Officers and soldiers will consider the exigencies of the service in this Department, and the absolute necessity of appropriating every element of power to the support of the Government. The prejudices or opinions of men are in nowise involved. The cooperation and active support of all officers and men, and the nomina tion of men from the ranks, and from the list of noncommissioned and commissioned officers, are respectfully solicited from the Generals commanding the respective divisions. By command of Maj.-Gen. BANKS. RICHARD B. IRWIN, A. A.-General. With a view of systematizing the enlistment of colored troops, the following order, furnishing rules and regulations on the subject, was issued by the War Department after the return of Gen. Thomas to Washington: General Orders, No. 143. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, May 22d, 1863. 1. A bureau is established in the Adjutant-General's office for the record of all matters relating to the organization of colored troops. An officer will be assigned to the charge of the bureau, with such number eral. of clerks as may be designated by the Adjutant-Gen 2. Three or more field officers will be detailed as in spectors, to supervise the organization of colored troops, at such points as may be indicated by the War Department, in the Northern and Western States. 3. Boards will be convened at such posts as may be plicants for commissions to command colored troops, decided upon by the War Department, to examine apceive authority to present themselves to the board of who, on application to the Adjutant-General, may re examination. 4. No person shall be allowed to recruit for colored troops except specially authorized by the War Department, and no such authority will be given to persons who have not been examined and passed by a board; nor will such authority be given to any one person to raise more than one regiment. 5. The reports of the boards will specify the grade of commission for which each candidate is fit, and ausions will be issued from the Adjutant-General's office thority to recruit will be given in accordance. Commiswhen the prescribed number of men is ready for muster into the service. be afterward consolidated in battalions and regiments 6. Colored troops may be accepted by companies, to by the Adjutant-General. Regiments will be numbered seriatim, in the order in which they are raised, the numbers to be determined by the Adjutant-General. They will be designated Regiment of U. S. Colored Troops." 7. Recruiting stations and depots will be established by the Adjutant-General, as circumstances shall require, and officers will be detailed to muster in and inspect troops. be selected and appointed from the best men of their 8. Non-commissioned officers of colored troops may number, in the usual mode of appointing non-commissioned officers. Meritorious commissioned officers will be entitled to promotion to higher ranks, if they prove themselves equal to it. 9. All personal applications for appointments in the colored regiments, or for information concerning them, must be made to the Chief of the Bureau. All written the Bureau, to the care of the Adjutant-General. communications should be addressed to the Chief of By order of the Secretary of War. E. D. TOWNSEND, A. A.-General. Early in August, Gen. Thomas again left Washington for the Southwest, under instructions from the War Department to continue, within the region previously visited by him, the "organization into the military service of the United States of all able-bodied male persons of African descent, who may come within our lines, or who may be brought in by our troops, or who may have already placed themselves under the protection of the Federal Gov ernment." An order issued by him at Vicksburg, on August 18th, developed the adoption of a new policy by the Government, the effect of which would be to very largely increase the number of colored troops in the service, and to make the negro, in a degree, work out his own emancipation. The practice of receiving all negroes who sought the protection of the Government, and allowing them to remain, in many instances, in a state of almost complete inactivity, was thenceforth to be abolished, experience having shown that it was "not only injustice to the service, but to the welfare of the negroes themselves, resulting in habits of idleness, sickness, and disease." Hence the following clause: In future all able-bodied male negroes of the above class will at once be organized by such officers as may be detailed for that duty, into the military service of the United States, when they will be assigned to regiments composed of persons of African descent now in process of formation or to be formed hereafter. Suitable provision was also made in other parts of the order for male negroes incapacitated by age or sickness, and for women and children. The enlistment of negroes in the rebel States, or of colored refugees from such States, was attended with little or no difficulty in respect to claims of service or labor from such persons. The owners were, for the most part, enemies, and after the Emancipation Proclamation of the President the question of property was considered definitively settled. When, however, the Government determined to make requisitions upon the colored population of the border slave States, or upon those portions of the seceded States expressly excepted from the operation of the Emancipation Proclamation, it became necessary to adopt some rule of compensation for slaveholders, whose rights might be affected. With this view an order was issued, on Oct. 3d, from the War Department, directing the establishment of recruiting stations in Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee, and prescribing the method of enlistment. "All ablebodied free negroes, slaves of disloyal persons, and slaves of loyal persons, with the consent of their owners," were declared eligible for military service, and the State and county in which the enlistments were made were to be credited with the recruits thus obtained. Loyal slave owners offering slaves for enlistment were to receive $300 for each recruit accepted, upon filing a deed of manumission for him, and making satisfactory proof of title. But if within thirty days from the date of opening enlistments, a sufficient number of recruits should not be obtained to meet the ex igencies of the service, then enlistments might be made by slaves, without requiring the consent of their owners, the latter to receive the same compensation, and, upon the same terms, provided for owners offering their slaves for enlistment. Special boards were also appointed for each State to determine all claims of owners, and to further the objects of the order. The number of colored soldiers obtained from the sources above described has been variously stated, but it appears by the report of the bureau of enlistments, created in May, that, by December, over 50,000 men had been organized and were in actual service. Notwithstanding the declarations of Governor Andrew and others, that they would be placed on an equal footing with white troops, in respect to bounty, pay, etc., they have been allowed no bounty from the General Government, and under the construction given by the War Department to the act of 1862, they can only receive the pay of $10 per month while other soldiers are paid $13 per month, with clothing and daily rations. As colored men are subject, like white men, to be drafted under the Conscription Act, and no discrimination in color is recognized by the President's call for volunteers in October, this distinction was strongly urged upon the Government as unjust, and the Secretary of War, in his annual report, recommended that their bounties and pay should be made the same as for other troops. "As soldiers of the Union," he added, "fighting under its banner, exposing their lives to uphold the Government, colored troops are entitled to enjoy its justice and beneficence." The apprehensions entertained in some quarters that negroes would be found unfitted for military service have not been justified by events. Officers competent to judge have concurred in describing them as, for the most part, obedient, patient, orderly, and temperate; apt in learning drill; proud of their occupation, and when well led, gallant soldiers. The habit of implicit obedience acquired during their long subjection to the dominant race in the South has rendered them peculiarly amenable to discipline, and not a few officers who have had experience of colored regiments, have declared their preference to command that class of troops. Some cases of insubordination have, nevertheless, occurred; a notable one being that of the 4th regiment of the Corps d'Af rique garrisoning Fort Jackson, on the Missis sippi. But these can be generally traced to the neglect or bad conduct of commanding officers. The Secretary of War cites instances of their efficiency as infantry, artillery, and cavalry soldiers, and the following extract from Gen. Banks's official report of the assault on the fortifications of Port Hudson, on May 27th, illustrates their bravery under trying circumstances: On the extreme right of our line I posted the 1st and Ed regiments of negro troops. The 1st regiment of Louisiana engineers, composed exclusively of colored men, excepting the officers, was also engaged during the operations of the day. The position occupied by these troops was one of importance, and called for the utmost steadiness and bravery in those to whom it was confided. It gives me pleasure to report that they answered every expectation. In many respects their conduct was heroic, no troops could be more determined or more daring. They made, during the day, three charges on the batteries of the enemy, suffering very heavy 1ses, and holding their position at nightfall with the other troops on the right of our lines. The highest commendation is bestowed upon them by all the officers in command on the right. Whatever doubt may have existed heretofore as to the efficiency of organizations of this character, the history of this day proves conclusively to those who were in condition to observe the conduct of these regiments, that the Government will find in this class of troops efficient supporters and defenders. The severe test to which they were subjected, and the determined manner in which they encountered the enemy, leave upon my mind no doubt of their ultimate success. They require only good officers, commands of limited num bers, and careful discipline to make them excellent soldiers. The following testimony to their general good conduct, both in and off the field, was contributed by Gen. Hunter, while commanding the Department of the South. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON I am happy to be able to announce to you my complete and eminent satisfaction with the results of the organization of negro regiments in this Department. In the field, so far as tried, they have proved brave, active, enduring, and energetic, frequently outrunning, by their zeal and familiarity with the Southern country, the restrictions deemed prudent by certain of their officers. They have never disgraced their uniform by pillage or cruelty, but have so conducted themselves, upon the whole, that even our enemies, though more anxious to find fault with these than with any other portion of our troops, have not yet been able to allege against them a single violation of any of the rules of civilized warfare. These regiments are hardy, generous, temperate, patient, strictly obedient, possessing great natural aptitude for arms, and deeply imbued with that religious sentiment-call it fanaticism, such as likewhich made the soldiers of Cromwell invincible. They believe that now is the time appointed by God for their deliverance; and under the heroic incitement of this faith, I believe them capable of showing a courage and persistency of purpose which must in the end extort both victory and admiration. In this connection, I am also happy to announce to Tou that the prejudices of certain of our white soldiers and oflicers against these indispensable allies are rapidly softening or fading out; and that we have now opening before us in this Department, which was the first in the present war to inaugurate the experiment of emploring colored troops, large opportunities of putting them to distinguished and profitable use. The important subject of the treatment of colored soldiers whom the fortunes of war have thrown into the hands of the enemy, will be treated under the head of PRISONERS; also FREEDMEN. An important element of usefulness was introduced into the army during the year by the organization, under the direction of the provostmarshal-general, of the invalid corps. Its objeets were: 1. To give honorable employment, with suitable compensation, in garrison, hospital, or provost duty, to that numerous class of deserving officers and men who, from wounds received in action, or disease contracted in service, were unfit for further duty in the field; and to bring back, for like purposes, those who had been previously discharged on similar grounds, and were still unfit for active duty and not liable to draft; and, 2. To in crease the strength of the armies in the field by relieving able-bodied soldiers now employed in the duties about to be assigned to this new organization. The corps, on November 1st, consisted of 491 commissioned officers, and 17,762 enlisted men, organized as infantry and comprising 203 companies, of which 160 had been formed into 16 regiments. Each regiment contains 6 companies of the 1st battalion, and 4 companies of the 2d battalion, the former only being armed with muskets, and assigned to garrison duty, while the latter are armed with swords and pistols, and are on duty as guards, cooks, nurses, etc. The report of the Secretary of War, presented a month later, estimated the whole number of men in the corps at 22,000. At the close of the year it was in the full performance of the duties for which it was organized, and had rendered efficient service in arresting deserters, beside releasing for active duty a corresponding number of ablebodied men. The officers were selected on the recommendation of the military superiors under whom they had experience in the field, and were assigned to duty without regard to the States from which they were appointed. A similar plan was adopted in assigning the men to companies. In connection with this subject it may be stated that during the year two boards have been in session-one at Annapolis and the other at Cincinnati-before one of which all officers who have left their commands in consequence of ill health are ordered to appear as soon as they are able to travel. They undergo an examination by the board, and are recommended, according to their condition, for light duty, for further leave of absence, or for medical treatment in a general hospital of the city where the board is in session. But if found fit for duty, the president of the board orders them forthwith to their regiments. The reports of the board are a guide to the adjutantgeneral in making details for mustering, recruiting, or other light duty, and in recommendations for leave of absence or discharge where the nature of the disability requires. The reports of the boards, taken in connection with regimental reports of absent officers, and the surgeons' certificates from such officers, form a complete system of accountability for absence from duty. During the 2d session of the 37th Congress, a bill was introduced for the organization of a special ambulance corps, the duties pertaining to which had previously been performed by officers and men detailed from other branches of the service, and not by men enlisted for the purpose.. On Feb. 24th, the Senate Military Committee, to whom the matter had been referred, after consultation with army officers and medical directors from all parts of the country, with members of the sanitary commission, and with other competent persons, reported that it was inexpedient to make any change in the system then in operation, which employed 4,000 ambulances, 10,000 horses, and 10,000 picked men, and had attained a state of great efficiency. In view of the speedy opening of the spring campaign, and the probability of battles being fought, the project to entirely reorganize this department, and to substitute raw recruits for the practised men then attached to it, was deemed too hazardous an experiment, and no further action was taken in the matter. The various corps at present in existence have been organized in compliance with general orders from generals commanding the several departments, and form essentially one system. A signal corps was organized under an act of the 37th Congress, of which the average number of officers on duty has been about 200. The Secretary of War observes that the full capacity of this branch of the service has not been developed, and different opinions as to its value seem to be entertained by the commanding officers. In combined land and naval operations it has been considered useful, and commanding officers of Western armies have commended it with favor. The continuance of the corps was recommended by the War Department, with proper restrictions upon number of officers, and limiting them to their proper scope of duties. During the year, 1,755 miles of land and submarine telegraph were constructed under the direction of the military telegraph corps, making the total number of miles of land and submarine military telegraph lines in operation during the year five thousand three hundred and twenty-six. At least 1,200,000 telegrams were sent and received over the military lines in operation during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1863-being at the rate of about 3,000 per diem. These messages varied in length from ten to one thousand words and upward, and generally were of urgent or important character. The number of Revolutionary soldiers borne upon the pension rolls had dwindled down to eighteen on the 30th of June, 1863, of whom only ten had made application for their stipends on the 4th of March. The number of widows of Revolutionary soldiers on the rolls at the same period, was 1,578. The whole number of army invalid pensioners on the rolls the 30th of June was 7,248, most of whom were pensioned on account of wounds received or disease contracted in the service during the The widows, orphans, and depresent war. pendent mothers of 8,578 deceased soldiers of the present war were inscribed upon the rolls during the fiscal year, making the whole number of this class on the rolls at the close of the year, 4,820. The number of army pensioners of-all classes, on the rolls on the 30th June was 13,659, drawing pay to the amount of $1,227,641 per annum. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30th, for arms and munitions of war, furnished by the Ordnance Department for sea coast and frontier fortifications, and for the forces in the field, amounted to $42,313,630. The cannon, small arms, accoutrements, and equipments for men and horses, and ammunition obtained during the same period by purchase and manufacture, were as follows: 1,577 field, siege, and sea-coast cannon, with carriages, caissons, and other implements. 1,082,841 muskets and rifles for foot soldiers. 282,389 carbines and pistols for mounted troops. 1,251,995 cannon balls and shells. 48,719,862 pounds of lead and lead bullets. 1,435,046 cartridges for artillery. 259,022,216 cartridges for small arms. 347,273,400 percussion caps. 8,925,369 friction primers. 5,764,768 pounds of gunpowder. 919,676 sets of accoutrements for men. 94,639 sets of equipments for cavalry horses. 8,281 sets of artillery harness, each set for two Irvin McDowell, relieved Sept. 6, 1862; president of a Retiring Board since July 12, 1563. W. S. Rosecrans, relieved Oct. 19, 1563; ordered to Department of Missouri. D. C. Buell, relieved Oct. 30, 1862. J. A. McClernand, relieved June 18, 1863. Lewis Wallace, relieved Nov. 10, 1862; on court martial duty until Nov. 5, 1863. George Cadwallader, relieved Aug. 16, 1862; commanding post at Philadelphia since July 18, 1863. E. O. C. Ord, relieved Oct. 28, 1863, for sickness; has since joined his corps. S. P. Heintzelman, relieved Oct. 18, 1863; president of General Court Martial in Washington. E. D. Keyes, relieved July, 1963; member of Retiring Board at Wilmington, Del. A. McDowell McCook, relieved Oct. 9, 1863. T. L. Crittenden, relieved Oct. 7, 1963. D. E. Sickles,relieved July 3, 1863; severely wounded. R. H. Milroy, relieved June 20, 1863. A. Doubleday, relieved July 1, 1863; wounded; on court martial duty. R. J. Oglesby, relieved July 27, 1863. G. L. Hartsuff, relieved Oct. 3, 1863; ordered before the Retiring Board. BRIGADIER-GENERALS. Andrew Porter, relieved July, 1862. T. W. Sherman, relieved May 27, 1863; severely wounded. W. R. Montgomery, relieved June, 1862; commanding post at Philadelphia until March 11, 1863. J. B. Ricketts, relieved Nov. 1, 1862; on Military Board to try officers in Washington. J. S. Wadsworth, relieved July 17, 1863; member of Court of Inquiry. G. W. Morrell, relieved Feb. 1863; commanding depot for drafted men at Indianapolis. J.J. Abercrombie, relieved Dec. 9, 1863. L. P. Graham, relieved Aug. 19, 1862; president of board for examining sick officers at Annapolis. W. A. Gorman, relieved June 27, 1863. J. G. Barnard, has had no command; chief engineer of the defences of Washington. J. P. Hatch, relieved Aug. 30, 1862; wounded at second battle of Bull Run; commanding cavalry depot at St. Louis. A. Schoepf, relieved Oct. 15, 1862; commanding Fort Delaware. G. W. Cullum, has had no command; chief of Gen. Halleck's staff. G. B. Tower, relieved Aug. 31, 1862; severely Wounded at the second battle of Bull Run. L. G. Arnold, relieved May 23, 1863; sick, and ordered before the Retiring Board. W. S. Ketchum, has had no command; on duty in the War Department. D. Tyler, relieved June, 1863; commands the dis trict of Delaware. R. B. Mitchell, relieved Oct. 23, 1863; on General Court Martial at Washington. E. R. S. Canby, relieved Sept. 10, 1863; on duty in the War Department. C. Devens, Jr., relieved May 26, 1863, on account of sickness; commanding depot for drafted men in Boston harbor. Max Weber, relieved Sept. 7, 1862; wounded; on General Court Martial at Washington. Neal Dow, relieved May 27, 1863; wounded and a prisoner at Richmond, Va. C. S. Greene, relieved Oct. 29, 1863; badly wounded; on General Court Martial at Washington. John Gibbon, relieved July 3, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg; commanding depot for drafted men at Philadelphia. Charles Griffin, relieved Oct. 23, 1863, on account of sickness; on General Court Martial at Washington. Greene C. Smith, relieved Aug. 28, 1861; member of Congress. B. S. Roberts, relieved Dec. 2, 1863. F. C. Barlow, relieved July 4, 1963; wounded at Gettysburg. Mason Brayman, relieved May 31, 1963; commanding Camp Dennison, Ohio. N. J. Jackson, relieved April 17, 1863; commanding depot for drafted men at Riker's Island, N. Y harbor. F. B. Spinola, relieved July 23, 1863; wounded; on recruiting service at Brooklyn, N. Y. Solomon Meredith, relieved Oct. 19, 1863; absent on sick certificate. H. B. Carrington, has had no command; on duty with the governor of Indiana. William Hays, relieved Sept. 16, 1863; Assistant Provost Marshal-General, Southern Division of New York. A. K. Slemmer, has had no command; President of Board of Examination of sick officers at Cincinnati. P. G. Pitcher, has had no command; assistant to Provost Marshal-General at Brattleboro', Vt. S. A. Meredith, has had no command; agent for exchange of prisoners. E. W. Heath, relieved March 26, 1863; commanding depot for drafted men at Concord, N. H. W. W. Orme, relieved Aug. 31, 1863; commanding at Chicago, Ill. J. T. Copeland, relieved July 14, 1863; commanding depot for drafted men at Pittsburg, Pa. S. G. Chaplin, has had no command; commanding depot for drafted men at Grand Rapids, Michigan. T. A. Rowley, relieved July 3, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg; commanding depot for drafted men at Portland, Me. C. T. Campbell, relieved July 30, 1863; on General Court Martial at Milwaukie, Wisconsin. H. E. Paine, relieved July 3, 1563; lost a leg at Port Hudson; on General Court Martial at Washington. G. R. Paul, relieved July 3, 1869; severely wounded at Gettysburg, and nearly blind. Robert Allen, has had no command; Chief Quartermaster, Department of the West. D. H. Rucker, has had no command; Chief Depot Quartermaster at Washington. At the close of the year the several army corps were commanded as follows: of the Monongahela-Maj.-Gen, W. T. H. Brooks. of the Susquehanna-Maj.-Gen. D. N. Couch. of Western Virginia-Brig.-Gen. B. F. Kelly. 66 of New Mexico-Brig. Gen. J. H. Carleton. "of the Pacific-Brig.-Gen. George Wright. 46 of Kansas-Maj.-Gen. James G. Blunt. of the Middle Department-Brig.-Gen. H. II. Lockwood. of the South-Maj.-Gen. Q. A. Gillmore. "of Missouri-Maj.-Gen. John M. Schofield. The three departments of the Tennessee, the Cumberland, and the Ohio, were, in October, formed into the military Division of the Mississippi, of which Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant assumed the command on the 16th of that month. |