Head Quarters, March 14, 1779.
Dear Sir:
Colonel Laurens, who will have the honor of delivering you this letter,
is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I think, in the
present situation of affairs there, is a very good one, and deserves
every kind of support and encouragement. This is, to raise two, three,
or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance of the government
of that State, by contributions from the owners, in proportion to the
number they possess. If you should think proper to enter upon the
subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan. He wishes to
have it recommended by Congress to the State; and, as an inducement,
that they would engage to take their battalions into Continental pay.
It appears to me, that an expedient of this kind, in the present
state of Southern affairs, is the most rational that can be adopted,
and promises very important advantages. Indeed, I hardly see how a
sufficient force can be collected in that quarter without it: and
the enemy’s operations there are growing infinitely serious and
formidable. I have not the least doubt, that the negroes will make
very excellent soldiers, with proper management: and I will venture
to pronounce, that they cannot be put in better hands than those of
Mr. Laurens. He has all the zeal, intelligence, enterprise, and every
other qualification, requisite to succeed in such an undertaking.
It is a maxim with some great military judges, that, with sensible
officers, soldiers can hardly be too stupid: and, on this principle,
it is thought that the Russians would make the best soldiers in the
world, if they were under other officers than their own. The King of
Prussia is among the number who maintains this doctrine, and has a very
emphatic saying on the occasion, which I do not exactly recollect. I
mention this because I have frequently heard it objected to the scheme
of embodying negroes, that they are too stupid to make soldiers. This
is so far from appearing to me a valid objection, that I think their
want of cultivation (for their natural faculties are as good as ours),
joined to that habit of subordination which they acquire from a life of
servitude, will enable them sooner to become soldiers than our white
inhabitants. Let officers be men of sense and sentiment; and the nearer
the soldiers approach to machines, perhaps the better.
I foresee that this project will have to combat much opposition from
prejudice and self-interest. The contempt we have been taught to
entertain for the blacks, makes us fancy many things that are founded
neither in reason nor experience; and an unwillingness to part with
property of so valuable a kind, will furnish a thousand arguments to
show the impracticability, or pernicious tendency, of a scheme which
requires such sacrifices. But it should be considered, that if we do
not make use of them in this way, the enemy probably will; and that
the best way to counteract the temptations they will hold out, will
be, to offer them ourselves. An essential part of the plan is, to give
them their freedom with their swords. This will secure their fidelity,
animate their courage, and, I believe, will have a good influence
upon those who remain, by opening a door to their emancipation. This
circumstance, I confess, has no small weight in inducing me to wish the
success of the project; for the dictates of humanity, and true policy,
equally interest me in favor of this unfortunate class of men.
While I am on the subject of southern affairs, you will excuse the
liberty I take in saying, that I do not think measures sufficiently
vigorous are pursuing for our defence in that quarter. Except the few
regular troops of South Carolina, we seem to be relying wholly on the
militia of that and the two neighboring States. These will soon grow
impatient of service, and leave our affairs in a miserable situation.
No considerable force can be uniformly kept up by militia; to say
nothing of the many obvious and well-known inconveniences that attend
this kind of troops. I would beg leave to suggest, Sir, that no time
ought to be lost in making a draught of militia to serve a twelvemonth,
from the States of North and South Carolina and Virginia. But South
Carolina, being very weak in her population of whites, may be excused
from the draught, on condition of furnishing the black battalions.
The two others may furnish about three thousand five hundred men, and
be exempted, on that account, from sending any succors to this army.
The States to the northward of Virginia, will be fully able to give
competent supplies to the army here; and it will require all the force
and exertions of the three States I have mentioned, to withstand the
storm which has arisen, and is increasing in the South.
The troops draughted, must be thrown into battalions, and officered in
the best possible manner. The supernumerary officers may be made use
of as far as they will go. If arms are wanted for their troops, and
no better way of supplying them is to be found, we should endeavor to
levy a contribution of arms upon the militia at large. Extraordinary
exigencies demand extraordinary means. I fear this southern business
will become a very _grave_ one.
With the truest respect and esteem,
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Alex. Hamilton.
His Excell’y John Jay,
President of Congress.