After the United States had enlisted former negro slaves as soldiers to
fight alongside the Northern troops for the maintenance of the integrity
of the Union, so great was the indignation of the Confederate Government
that President Davis declared he would not recognize blacks captured in
battle and in uniform as prisoners of war. This meant that he would have
them returned to their previous owners, have them flogged and fined for
running away from their masters, or even shot if he felt like it. This
attitude of the President of the Confederate States of America led to
the promulgation of President Lincoln’s famous “Order No. 252,” which,
in effect, was a notification to the commanding officers of the Southern
forces that if negro prisoners of war were not treated as such, the
Union commanders would retaliate. “Harper’s Weekly” of August 15th,
1863, contained a clever cartoon, which we reproduce, representing
President Lincoln holding the South by the collar, while “Old
Abe” shouts the following words of warning to Jeff Davis, who,
cat-o’-nine-tails in hand, is in pursuit of a terrified little negro
boy:
MR. LINCOLN: “Look here, Jeff Davis! If you lay a finger on that boy, to
hurt him, I’ll lick this ugly cub of yours within an inch of his life!”
Much to the surprise of the Confederates, the negro soldiers fought
valiantly; they were fearless when well led, obeyed orders without
hesitation, were amenable to discipline, and were eager and anxious, at
all times, to do their duty. In battle they were formidable opponents,
and in using the bayonet were the equal of the best trained troops. The
Southerners hated them beyond power of expression.