NOTE: The first letter addressed to the Confederate States' Secretary of War by a citizen of Helena, Arkansas. The second letter is the reply from that office.
Hon. L. P. Walker:
DEAR SIR: I wrote you a few days since for myself and many others
in this district to ascertain if we could get negro regiments
received for Confederate service, officered, of course, by white
men. All we ask is arms, clothing, and provisions, and usual pay
for officers and not one cent pay for negroes. Our negroes are
too good to fight Lincoln hirelings, but as they pretend to love
negroes so much we want to show them how much the true Southern
cotton-patch negro loves them in return. The North cannot
complain at this. They proclaim negro equality from the Senate
Chamber to the pulpit, teach it in their schools, and are doing
all they can to turn the slaves upon master, mistress, and
children. And now, sir, if you can receive the negroes that can
be raised we will soon give the Northern thieves a gorge of the
negroes' love for them that will never be forgotten. As you well
know, I have had long experience with negro character. I am
satisfied, they are easy disciplined and less t rouble than
whites in camp, and will fight desperately as long as they have a
single white officer living. I know one man that will furnish and
arm 100 of his own and his son for their captain. The sooner we
bring a strong negro force against the hirelings the sooner we
shall have peace, in my humble judgment. Let me hear from you.
Your old friend,
W. S. TURNER, Helena, Ark.:
SIR: In reply to your letter of the 17th of July I am directed by
the Secretary of War to say that this Department is not prepared
to accept the negro regiment tendered by you, and yet it is not
doubted that almost every slave would cheerfully aid his master
in the work of hurling back the fanatical invader. Moreover, if
the necessity were apparent there is high authority for the
employment of such forces. Washington himself recommended the
enlistment of two negro regiments in Georgia, and the Congress
sanctioned the measure. But now there is a superabundance of our
own color tendering their services to the Government in its day
of peril and ruthless invasion, a superabundance of men when we
are bound to admit the inadequate supply of arms at present at
the disposal of the Government.
Respectfully,