Proclamation offering Protection to all Negroes seeking his Command,—­Col.  Laurens is called to France on Important Business.—­His Plan for securing Black Levies for the South upon his Return.—­His Letters to Gen. Washington in Regard to his Fruitless Plans.—­Capt David Humphreys recruits a Company of Colored Infantry in Connecticut.—­Return of Negroes in the Army in 1778. 324

CHAPTER XXVII.

Negroes as soldiers.

1775-1783.

The Negro as a Soldier.—­Battle of Bunker Hill—­Gallantry of Negro Soldiers.—­Peter Salem, the Intrepid Black Soldier.—­Bunker-hill Monument.—­The Negro Salem Poor distinguishes himself by Deeds of Desperate Valor.—­Capture of Gen. Lee.—­Capture of Gen. Prescott—­Battle of Rhode Island.—­Col.  Greene commands a Negro Regiment.—­Murder of Col.  Greene in 1781.—­The Valor of the Negro Soldiers. 363

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LEGAL STATUS OF THE NEGRO DURING THE REVOLUTION

1775-1783.

The Negro was Chattel or Real Property.—­His Legal Status during his New Relation as a Soldier—­Resolution introduced in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to prevent the selling of Two Negroes captured upon the High Seas—­The Continental Congress appoints a Committee to consider what should be done with Negroes taken by Vessels of War in the Service of the United Colonies.—­Confederation of the New States.—­Spirited Debate in Congress respecting the Disposal of Recaptures.—­The Spanish Ship “Victoria” captures an English Vessel having on Board Thirty-four Negroes taken from South Carolina.—­The Negroes recaptured by Vessels belonging to the State of Massachusetts.—­They are delivered to Thomas Knox, and conveyed to Castle Island.—­Col.  Paul Revere has Charge of the Slaves on Castle Island—­Massachusetts passes a Law providing for the Security, Support, and Exchange of Prisoners brought into the State.—­Gen Hancock receives a Letter from the Governor of South Carolina respecting the Detention of Negroes—­In the Provincial Articles between the United States of America and His Britannic Majesty, Negroes were rated as Property.—­And also in the Definite Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and His Britannic Majesty.—­And also in the Treaty of Peace of 1814, between His Britannic Majesty and the United States, Negroes were designated as Property.—­Gen. Washington’s Letter to Brig-Gen Rufus Putnam in regard to a Negro in his Regiment claimed by Mr. Hobby.—­Enlistment in the Army did not always work a Practical Emancipation. 370

CHAPTER XXIX.

The negro intellect.—­Banneker the astronomer.—­Fuller the mathematician.—­Derham the physician.