The Black Phalanx Part 58

"I am, sir, with regard,

"W. C. LUPTON, _Pay-master United States Navy._"

"These n.o.ble contributions are a striking evidence of the favor with which this movement is regarded by the colored people, and especially the brave soldiers (the Phalanx who fought to maintain their freedom) of this oppressed race who have been fighting to carry out the proclamation of their benefactor, securing them their liberty."

There is still another evidence of the appreciation of freedom by the negro soldiers in their frugality. After the enlistment of colored troops became general, and they began to receive pay and bounties, the officers commanding them readily discovered the necessity of providing a better place for keeping the money paid them than in their pocket-books and in the soldier's knapsack. Every payday these soldiers would carry sums of money to their officers for safe keeping, until thousands of dollars were thus deposited, which were often lost in battle. In August, 1864, General Rufus Saxton, military governor of South Carolina, after mature deliberation as to the best means to be adopted for the safe keeping of these soldiers' monies, established a bank in his department.

General Butler established a similar one at Norfolk, Va., about the same time. At the organization of the Freedmen's Savings and Trust company, chartered by act of Congress, these inst.i.tutions transferred to the Freedmen's Bank all the monies on deposit in them, as the war had ceased, and the troops and officers were being mustered out of the United States service. The Butler Bank at Norfolk in July, 1865, transferred $7,890. In December the Saxton Bank at Beaufort transferred $170,000. Thus the sum of $177,890, belonging to soldiers in two departments only, was placed to their credit, subject to their order, in the new national bank, called into existence by like motives. This bank had branches at these places. Had similar banks been established in the other departments an enormous sum would have been collected. The Freedmen's bank, however, took the place of these military banks, and had the confidence of the soldiers who continued to deposit in its various branches throughout the south. When that inst.i.tution collapsed in 1874, of the many millions of dollars deposited in it, it is estimated that two-thirds of the amount was the savings of the Phalanx.

There is now in the vaults of the national government more than a quarter of a million of dollars belonging to the Phalanx, held as unclaimed bounty and pay--an ample sum from which to erect a suitable monument to commemorate the heroic devotion and patriotic endeavor of those who fell in Freedom's cause. This money doubtless belongs to those who on the battle-fields and in hospitals died for the country's honor.

These are some of the lessons taught by the history of the Black Phalanx.

CHAPTER III.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The following publications have been of service in the preparation of this volume:

Goodrich's History of the U. S.

The Great Rebellion.--Headley.

Record of the Seventh U. S. C. T.

War of 1812.--Rossiter.

Negro in the Rebellion.--Brown.

Butler in New Orleans--Parton.

American Conflict.--Greeley.

Historical Research.--Livermore.

Record 55th Regt. Ma.s.s. Vols.

Patriotism of Colored Americans.

Boys of 61.--Coffin.

Record of 37th U. S. C. T.

History of Virginia.--Magill.

Atlanta.--c.o.x.

March to the Sea.--c.o.x.

Lincoln and Slavery.--Arnold.

Ramsey's History of America.

Grimshaw's History of the U. S.

Attack on Petersburg.--Congress.

Fort Pillow Ma.s.sacre.--Congress.

Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac.--Swinton.

Army Life in a Black Regiment.--Higginson.

Anti-Slavery Measures in Congress.--Wilson.

Principles and Acts of the Revolution.--Niles.

Military History of U. S. Grant.--Badeau.

First and Second Year of the War.--Pollard.

Report of the Conduct of the War.--Congress.

Bryant's Popular History of the United States.

Virginia Campaigns of '64 and '65.--Humphrey.

Life and Public Service of Charles Sumner.--Lester.

Boys and Girls Magazine, 1869.--Oliver Optic.

Burnside and the Ninth Army Corps.--Woodbury.

Military History of Kansas.--J. B. McAfee.

History of the Great Rebellion.--Kettell.

APPENDIX.

HISTORY OF THE 29TH CONNECTICUT NEGRO VOLUNTEERS.

"HEADQUARTERS 29TH CONNECTICUT COLORED VOLUNTEERS, HARTFORD, CONN., November 29th, 1865.