HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY
CORPS,
March 30, 1865.
Col. W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General:
Your letter expressing the views of the commander-in-chief
in reference to the policy to be pursued in raising negro troops is received. I
am apprehensive that we shall have applications and evidence enough to take
from us more men than we can well spare at this critical moment in our affairs.
It seems to me that any person who has the influence to raise a company or
regiment by going home could do so as well by letters to his friends at home.
If I am right in this opinion an order announcing that the officers of the
companies and regiments of colored troops would be appointed from the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and privates on duty with our armies would have the
effect of bringing back more absentees than we should lose by making the
appointments. If we may judge of our future success in getting up new
organizations by the past we may rely upon it that many will furnish the
necessary evidence and go home and there remain for eight or ten or twelve
months. I think that it would be well to publish a general order explaining
more clearly the policy indicated in your letter in order that a better general
understanding may exist among the parties who may desire to furnish evidence of
their ability to get up new organizations; otherwise I may adopt rules which
would not be as favorable to the officers and men of this command as those of
other commands.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J. LONGSTREET,
Lieutenant-General.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
46, Part 3 (Serial No. 97), p. 1367; James Longstreet, From
Manassas to Appomattox, p. 653
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