[48] The resolutions of Congress were as follows:
"_Resolved_, That it be recommended to the States of South Carolina
and Georgia, if they shall think the same expedient, to take measures
immediately for raising three thousand able-bodied negroes.
"That the said negroes be formed into separate corps, as battalions,
according to the arrangements adopted for the main army, to be
commanded by white commissioned and non-commissioned officers.
"That the commissioned officers be appointed by the said States.
"That the non-commissioned officers may, if the said States
respectively shall think proper, be taken from among the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the continental battalions
of the said States respectively.
"That the Governors of the said States, together with the commanding
officer of the Southern army, be empowered to incorporate the several
continental battalions of their States with each other respectively,
agreeably to the arrangement of the army, as established by the
resolutions of May 27, 1778; and to appoint such of the supernumerary
officers to command the said negroes, as shall choose to go into that
service.
"_Resolved_, That Congress will make provision for paying the
proprietors of such Negroes as shall be enlisted for the service of
the United States during the war, a full compensation for the
property, at a rate not exceeding one thousand dollars for each
active, able-bodied negro man of standard size, not exceeding
thirty-five years of age, who shall be so enlisted and pass muster.
"That no pay or bounty be allowed to the said negroes; but that they
be clothed and subsisted at the expense of the United States.
"That every negro, who shall well and faithfully serve as a soldier to
the end of the present war, and shall return his arms, be emancipated,
and receive the sum of fifty dollars."
In connection with this Congress passed also the following resolution:
"WHEREAS John Laurens, Esq., who has heretofore acted as aide-de-camp
to the commander-in-chief, is desirous of repairing to South Carolina,
with a design to assist in defence of the Southern States:
"_Resolved_, That a commission of lieutenant-colonel be granted to the
said John Laurens, Esq."
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1779, pp. 386, 418.
[49] Sparks, "Writings of Washington," VIII, 322, 323.
[50] Ford, "Washington's Writings," VII, 371.
[51] Letter from the Adjutant General of the U.S. War Department.
[52] Schloezer's "Briefwechsel," IV, 365.
[52a] The Washington Manuscripts in the Library of Congress.
[53] "The Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," 186-188.
[54] Sidney S. Rider, "An Historical Tract in the Rhode Island Series,"
No. 10.
[55] Marquis de Chastellux, "Travels," I, 454.
[56] Moore, "Historical Notes," 19.
[57] "The Spirit of Rhode Island in '76," 186-188.
[58] Washington, "The Story of the Negro," I, 311, Note.
[59] Moore, "Historical Notes," 22.
[60] Ibid., 16.
[61] Bancroft, "History of the United States," X, 133.
[62] Lecky, "American Revolution," 364.
[63] Austin Dabney, a remarkable free man of color, died at Zebulon. His
remains repose, we understand, near those of his friend Harris. The
following account of Dabney, as given by Governor Gilmer, may be
interesting:
In the beginning of the Revolutionary conflict, a man by the name of
Aycock removed to Wilkes County, having in his possession a mulatto
boy, who passed for and was treated as his slave. The boy had been
called Austin, to which the captain to whose company he was attached
added Dabney.
Dabney proved himself a good soldier. In many a skirmish with the
British and Tories, he acted a conspicuous part. He was with Colonel
Elijah Clarke in the battle of Kettle Creek, and was severely wounded
by a rifleball passing through his thigh, by which he was made a
cripple for life. He was unable to do further military duty, and was
without means to procure due attention to his wound, which threatened
his life. In this suffering condition he was taken into the house of a
Mr. Harris, where he was kindly cared for until he recovered. He
afterwards labored for Harris and his family more faithfully than any
slave could have been made to do.
After the close of the war, when prosperous times came, Austin Dabney
acquired property. In the year 18--, he removed to Madison County,
carrying with him his benefactor and family. Here he became noted for
his great fondness for horses and the turf. He attended all the races
in the neighboring counties, and betted to the extent of his means.
His courteous behavior and good temper always secured him gentlemen
backers. His means were aided by a pension which he received from the
United States.
In the distribution of the public lands by lottery among the people
of Georgia, the Legislature gave to Dabney a lot of land in the county
of Walton. The Hon. Mr. Upson, then a representative from Oglethorpe,
was the member who moved the passage of the law, giving him the lot
of land.
At the election for members of the Legislature the year after, the
County of Madison was distracted by the animosity and strife of an
Austin Dabney and an Anti-Austin Dabney party. Many of the people
were highly incensed that a mulatto negro should receive a gift of
the land which belonged to the freemen of Georgia. Dabney soon after
removed to the land given him by the State, and carried with him
the family of Harris, and continued to labor for them, and
appropriated whatever he made for their support, except what was
necessary for his coarse clothing and food. Upon his death, he left
them all his property. The eldest son of his benefactor he sent to
Franklin College, and afterwards supported him whilst he studied law
with Mr. Upson, in Lexington. When Harris was undergoing his
examination, Austin was standing outside of the bar, exhibiting great
anxiety in his countenance; and when his young protégé was sworn in,
he burst into a flood of tears. He understood his situation very
well, and never was guilty of impertinence. He was one of the best
chroniclers of the events of the Revolutionary War, in Georgia. Judge
Dooly thought much of him, for he had served under his father, Colonel
Dooly. It was Dabney's custom to be at the public house in Madison,
where the judge stopped during court, and he took much pains in
seeing his horse well attended to. He frequently came into the room
where the judges and lawyers were assembled on the evening before the
court, and seated himself upon a stool or some low place, where he
would commence a parley with any one who chose to talk with him.
He drew his pension in Savannah where he went once a year for this
purpose. On one occasion he went to Savannah in company with his
neighbor, Colonel Wyley Pope. They traveled together on the most
familiar terms until they arrived in the streets of the town. Then
the Colonel observed to Austin that he was a man of sense, and knew
that it was not suitable to be seen riding side by side with a
colored man through the streets of Savannah; to which Austin replied
that he understood that matter very well. Accordingly when they came
to the principal street, Austin checked his horse and fell behind.
They had not gone very far before Colonel Pope passed the house of
General James Jackson who was then governor of the state. Upon
looking back he saw the governor run out of the house, seize Austin's
hand, shake it as if he had been his long absent brother, draw him
from his horse, and carry him into his house, where he stayed whilst
in town. Colonel Pope used to tell this anecdote with much glee,
adding that he felt chagrined when he ascertained that whilst he
passed his time at a tavern, unknown and uncared for, Austin was the
honored guest of the governor.
White's "Historical Collections," 584.