battle, or served through the war, and came home to tell stories of hard fighting, and draw his pension.  In my own native town,—­not a large one,—­I remember five such pensioners, three of whom, I believe, had been slaves, and, in fact, were slaves to the day of their death; for (and this explains the uniform action of the General Assembly on petitions for emancipation) neither the towns nor the State were inclined to exonerate the master, at a time when slavery was becoming unprofitable, from the obligation to provide for the old age of his slave."[546]

Gen. Varnum, a brave and intelligent officer from Rhode Island, early urged the employment of Negro soldiers.  He communicated his views to Gen. Washington, and he referred the correspondence to the governor of Rhode Island.

     GEN.  WASHINGTON TO GOV.  COOKE.

     HEADQUARTERS, 2d January, 1778

SIR:—­Enclosed you will receive a copy of a letter from General Varnum to me, upon the means which might be adopted for completing the Rhode Island troops to their full proportion in the Continental army.  I have nothing to say in addition to what I wrote the 29th of the last month on this important subject, but to desire that you will give the officers employed in this business all the assistance in your power.

                    I am with great respect, sir,
                         Your most obedient servant,
                                   G. WASHINGTON.

     “To GOVERNOR COOKE."[547]

The letter of Gen. Varnum to Gen. Washington, in reference to the employment of Negroes as soldiers, is as follows:—­

     GEN.  VARNUM TO GEN.  WASHINGTON.

     “CAMP, January 2d, 1778.

“SIR:—­The two battalions from the State of Rhode Island being small, and there being a necessity of the state’s furnishing an additional number to make up their proportion in the Continental army; the field officers have represented to me the propriety of making one temporary battalion from the two, so that one entire corps of officers may repair to Rhode Island, in order to receive and prepare the recruits for the field.  It is imagined that a battalion of negroes can be easily raised there.  Should that measure be adopted, or recruits obtained upon any other principle, the service will be advanced.  The field officers who go upon this command, are Colonel Greene, Lieutenant Colonel Olney, and Major Ward; seven captains, twelve lieutenants, six ensigns, one paymaster, one surgeon and mates, one adjutant and one chaplain.

“I am your Excellency’s most obedient servant,
“J.M.  VARNUM.

“TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON."[548]

Gov.  Cooke wrote Gen. Washington as follows:—­

“STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, &c,
“PROVIDENCE, January 19th, 1778.