Hon. Calvin Goddard, of Connecticut, states that in the little circle
of his residence, he was instrumental in securing, under the Act of
1818, the pensions of nineteen Colored Soldiers. "I cannot," he says,
"refrain from mentioning one aged black man, Primus Babcock, who
proudly presented to me an honorable discharge from service during the
war, dated at the close of it, wholly in the handwriting of George
Washington. Nor can I forget the expression of his feelings, when
informed after his discharge had been sent to the War Department, that
it could not be returned. At his request it was written for, as he
seemed inclined to spurn the pension and reclaim the discharge." There
is a touching anecdote related of Baron Steuben, on the occasion of
the disbandment of the American army. A black soldier, with his wounds
unhealed, utterly destitute, stood on the wharf just as a vessel bound
for a distant home was getting under way. The poor fellow gazed at the
vessel with tears in his eyes, and gave himself up to despair. The
warm hearted foreigner witnessed his emotion, and, inquiring into the
cause of it, took his last dollar from his purse, and gave it to him
with tears of sympathy trickling down his cheeks. Overwhelmed with
gratitude, the poor wounded soldier hailed the sloop, and was received
on board. As it moved out from the wharf, he cried back to his noble
friend on shore, 'God Almighty bless you, master Baron.'"
During the Revolutionary War, and after the sufferings of a protracted
contest had rendered it difficult to procure recruits for the army,
the Colony of Connecticut adopted the expedient of forming a corps
of colored soldiers. A battalion of blacks was soon enlisted, and
throughout the war conducted themselves with fidelity and efficiency.
The late General Humphreys, then a Captain, commanded a company of
this corps. It is said that some objections were made on the part of
officers, to accepting the command of the colored troops. In this
exigency, Captain Humphreys, who was attached to the family of General
Washington, volunteered his services. His patriotism was rewarded, and
his fellow officers were afterwards as desirous to obtain appointments
in that corps as they had previously been to avoid them.
The following extract, furnished by Charles Lennox Remond, from the pay
rolls of the second company fourth regiment of the Connecticut line of
the Revolutionary army may rescue many gallant names from oblivion.