Petition from Lewis Douglass and Others to the Secretary of War
1865
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Frederick Douglass and his son Lewis, the former sergeant major of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, were among the 200 men who signed this petition to Secretary of War Stanton to raise a black regiment with black officers. Other signatories include three senators, three representatives (including future President James A. Garfield), and Generals Nathaniel P. Banks and James S. Negley.
Transcript
[printed]Hon. E.M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
SIR:
In view of the recent proclamation of the President calling for 300,000 volunteers, and appreciating the necessity of an immediate response to this call, we would respectfully petition that permission be given to raise a number of [italics] colored regiments, [end italics] to be officered [italics] exclusively [end italics] by [italics] colored men. [end italics]
In regard to the policy of this measure, we would respectfully urge that while many of the noblest of our race have sprung to arms with alacrity in defence of the Government, many others, equally loyal, have hesitated because one of the greatest incentives to enlistment, and the greatest stimulus to the strict performance of a soldier’s duty—the hope of promotion—has been denied them.
We confidently believe that the removal of this bar to a soldier’s ambition would result in an uprising of the colored people, unsurpassed even by the enthusiastic response to the President’s first call.
In regard to the capability of colored men to perform the duties of commissioned officers, we would respectfully suggest there are hundreds of non-commissioned officers in colored regiments who are amply qualified for these positions both by education and experience, and that others of our educated men, anticipating the granting of commissions to colored men by the Government, have applied themselves to the study of military tactics, in order that men properly educated might not be wanting to accept them.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
LEWIS H. DOUGLASS, late Sergeant Major 54th Massachusetts Volunteers.
JAMES T. WORMLEY, Sergeant 5th Massachusetts Cavalry.
BENJAMIN OWSLEY, Sergeant 27th [strikethrough]New York [end strikethrough] Colored Troops.
CHARLES R. DOUGLASS, late Sergeant 5th Massachusetts Cavalry Volunteers.
JOHN H. RAPIER, A.A. Surgeon U.S. Army.
WILLIAM R. ELLIS, A.A. Surgeon U.S. Army.
THOMAS J. WHITE.
DAVID E. WYCOFF, late Sergeant 108th New York Volunteers.
JAMES R. MARTIN,
A.R. ABBOTT, A.A. Surgeon U.S. Army.
[double horizontal line dividing page]
We the undersigned, cordially endorse the above:
[signed] Jas S Negley Major Genl USA
[signed] N.P. Banks M.G. V.
[signed] R.T. Auchmuty Major & A.A.G. Vols.
[handwritten]
I endorse the above petition, believing that differences of race, color or nationality should be no obstacle to the appointment or promotion to the rank of commissioned officer if the applicant is otherwise qualified to command. It should be a sign of progress
and justice in this Government and a great vindication of the colored race, if the above problem could be solved satisfactorily, which I do not doubt, it can.
[signed] F. Sigel
Maj. Genl.
I believe that so soon as the men having the necessary military experience and capacity can be found, Colored men should upon merit be eligible to the command of colored
Companies and Regiments. In other words that color should be no barrier to
such promotion.
[signed] Stephen Miller
Govr. Minn
St. Paul Jany 16. 1865.
In view of the recent proclamation of the President calling for 300,000 volunteers, and appreciating the necessity of an immediate response to this call, we would respectfully petition that permission be given to raise a number of [italics] colored regiments, [end italics] to be officered [italics] exclusively [end italics] by [italics] colored men. [end italics]
In regard to the policy of this measure, we would respectfully urge that while many of the noblest of our race have sprung to arms with alacrity in defence of the Government, many others, equally loyal, have hesitated because one of the greatest incentives to enlistment, and the greatest stimulus to the strict performance of a soldier’s duty—the hope of promotion—has been denied them.
We confidently believe that the removal of this bar to a soldier’s ambition would result in an uprising of the colored people, unsurpassed even by the enthusiastic response to the President’s first call.
In regard to the capability of colored men to perform the duties of commissioned officers, we would respectfully suggest there are hundreds of non-commissioned officers in colored regiments who are amply qualified for these positions both by education and experience, and that others of our educated men, anticipating the granting of commissions to colored men by the Government, have applied themselves to the study of military tactics, in order that men properly educated might not be wanting to accept them.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
LEWIS H. DOUGLASS, late Sergeant Major 54th Massachusetts Volunteers.
JAMES T. WORMLEY, Sergeant 5th Massachusetts Cavalry.
BENJAMIN OWSLEY, Sergeant 27th [strikethrough]New York [end strikethrough] Colored Troops.
CHARLES R. DOUGLASS, late Sergeant 5th Massachusetts Cavalry Volunteers.
JOHN H. RAPIER, A.A. Surgeon U.S. Army.
WILLIAM R. ELLIS, A.A. Surgeon U.S. Army.
THOMAS J. WHITE.
DAVID E. WYCOFF, late Sergeant 108th New York Volunteers.
JAMES R. MARTIN,
A.R. ABBOTT, A.A. Surgeon U.S. Army.
[double horizontal line dividing page]
We the undersigned, cordially endorse the above:
[signed] Jas S Negley Major Genl USA
[signed] N.P. Banks M.G. V.
[signed] R.T. Auchmuty Major & A.A.G. Vols.
[handwritten]
I endorse the above petition, believing that differences of race, color or nationality should be no obstacle to the appointment or promotion to the rank of commissioned officer if the applicant is otherwise qualified to command. It should be a sign of progress
and justice in this Government and a great vindication of the colored race, if the above problem could be solved satisfactorily, which I do not doubt, it can.
[signed] F. Sigel
Maj. Genl.
I believe that so soon as the men having the necessary military experience and capacity can be found, Colored men should upon merit be eligible to the command of colored
Companies and Regiments. In other words that color should be no barrier to
such promotion.
[signed] Stephen Miller
Govr. Minn
St. Paul Jany 16. 1865.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Adjutant General's Office.
National Archives Identifier: 594720
Full Citation: Petition from Lewis Douglass and Others to the Secretary of War; 1865; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 94. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/petition-lewis-douglass, March 29, 2024]Activities that use this document
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