H.Q. 5th Mom Cav’y
Point Lookout, Md., September 18, 1864
The week has n’t been very exciting here; in fact, they rarely are. I am in command of the Regiment and very busy and so keep contented. I am organising now and, while I see things all around daily growing and improving, I am quiet and satisfied. The officers know their duty and are well disposed and zealous. I see here none of that bickering and eternal family discord which was ever the bane of the 1st. As for the “nigs” they are angelic — in all respects. I am now convinced the race is superior to the whites. Their whole philosophy of life is sounder in that it is more attainable. You never saw such fellows to eat and sleep! Send a Corporal to take charge of a working party and go down in ten minutes to see how they’re coming on, you’ll find them all asleep and the Corporal leading the snore. Now whites have n’t that degree of philosophy. Then they’re built so much better than white men. Their feet — you never saw such feet! Some of them love to walk in the fields round here, as the road fences are too close together. And their heads! All brain. A white man’s head is flat, but they — sometimes when they uncover in the sacred precincts of my quarters I think that the highest pinnacle of their sugar loaf craniums will never be exposed! I assure you, in their presence I am lost in wonder and overwhelmed with humility! Jesting apart, however, my first impression of this poor, humiliated, down-trodden race is both favorable and kindly. They lack the pride, spirit and intellectual energy of the whites, partly from education and yet more by organisation; but they are sensitive to praise or blame, and yet more so to ridicule. They are diffident and eager to learn; they are docile and naturally polite, and in them, I think, I see immeasurable capacity for improvement. My first impressions are of little value and it would not be well for me to make them the basis of my continued action; but these impressions incline me to the opinion that they must as a race be approached by their affections. The rugged discipline which improves whites is too much for them. It is easy to crush them into slaves, but very difficult by kindness and patience to approach them to our own standard. So far, you see, my impressions are not encouraging either for my success individually or for theirs as a race. Patience, kindness and self-control have not been my characteristics as an officer, any more than they have been characteristics of ourselves as a dominant race. I fear I shall often find myself pursuing towards them a course in which I have no faith, and I have little hope for them in their eternal contact with a race like ours. However, closer acquaintance will lead to increased knowledge.
Meanwhile I last week again went up to Washington. My first inquiry was for a paper and I eagerly looked for returns from Maine. So far all is well. I found our friends in Washington more quiet and confident than jubilant. They seemed to think that what with President and Vice President, platform, letters and records, the opposition was just where they wanted to have them, and that nothing but terrible disaster on the field could now defeat Lincoln. This is as we would have it. My information from before Petersburg is that Grant has, within twenty days, received for the corps now there, 40,000 recruits besides many thousand convalescents, and that that Army is now stronger than when it took the field in the spring. This is reliable. General Lee does not seem to be aware of the fact, as the whole thing has been done very quietly. As Sherman has nothing now fit to be called an army in his front, Petersburg would seem to be the point of danger. Of disaster there I feel no apprehension, but I do shudder at the thought of the fighting and slaughter which must soon take place there. I am very sanguine of the result. I have seen Grant and feel as if I knew him. He has of late so thoroughly deserved success and been so often defeated by accident, that mere luck if nothing else must turn and ultimately he can hardly fail.
In Washington I saw John M. Forbes and Governor Andrew, dining with them and having a very long conversation with the Governor. I made a dead set at him to induce him to go down to the army and urge upon Grant the expediency of forming a colored Corps. I came within an ace of success. Mr. Forbes and all his staff joined me and the Governor half promised; but next morning the draft was ordered for the 19th and he had to go home to see to that. So the draft, you see, put my pipe out, and I hope that at least Peter and Shep., Willie and Sidney will be drawn if only as a sweet recompense. . .
