Here are a few lines from Higginson's book about one of his black soldiers in the 33rd USCT (recruited at Port Royal, S.C.). The words must be placed in perspective. They are written by a New Englander of the 1860s. In it, he describes Corporal Robert Sutton.
"Of course his interest in the war and the regiment was unbounded; he did not take to drill with especial readiness, but he was insatiable of it, and grudged every moment of relaxation. Indeed, he never had any such moments; his mind was at work all the time, even when he was singing hymns, of which he had an endless store. He was not, however, one of our leading religionists, but his moral code was solid and reliable, like his mental processes. Ignorant as he was, the 'years that bring the philosophic mind' had yet been his, and most of my young officers seemed boys besides him. He was a Florida man, and had been chiefly employed in lumbering and piloting on the St. Mary's River, which divides Florida from Georgia. Down this stream, he had escaped in a 'dug-out,' and after thus finding the way, had returned (as not a few of my men in other cases) to bring away wife and child. 'I would n't have leff my child, Cunnel,' he said, with an emphasis that sounded the depths of his strong nature. And up this same river he was always imploring to be allowed to guide an expedition."
That was in January 1863, months before the 54th saw South Carolina. In the next few days, the 33rd entered its first real action in Florida.
Years ago, I studied Fort Pillow. There, black men as slaves, built and prepared the fort for the Confederacy. Then the Union took the fort and had these men rebuild the fort for the Union defense. At least some of these men were recruited into the USCT. As soldiers in the Union, they then defended the Fort against the Confederacy and against some of the individuals who had claimed ownership of them.
We can only study the documents and try to appreciate what these black men and soldiers felt. |
