calls upon them to maintain their organization
and hold themselves prepared for such orders as
may be transmitted to them.”
These native guards did not leave the city when the Confederates did and explained to General Butler that
they dared not refuse to work with the Confederates and that they hoped by their service to
gain greater equality with the whites and that
they would be glad now to join the Union forces.
Two weeks after the fall of Sumter colored
volunteers passed through Georgia on their way
to Virginia.
There were 16 or more companies. In November, 1861, a regiment of 1,400
free colored men were in the line of march at
New Orleans. The idea of calling the Negroes
grew as the power of the Confederacy waned and
the idea of emancipation as compensation spread.
President Davis said “Should the alternative ever
be presented of subjugation or of the employment
of slaves as soldiers there seems no reason to
doubt what should be our decision."
There was, of course, much difference of opinion. General Cobb said “If slaves make good soldiers our whole theory of slavery is wrong, while a Georgian replied “Some say that Negroes will not fight, I say they will fight. They fought at Ocean Pond, Honey Hill and other places. General Lee, in January ’64, gave as his opinion
