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270 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

the man enabled us to speak with warmth and effect in urging enlistments
among colored men. That faith, my dear sir, is now nearly gone. Various
occasions have arisen during the last six months for the exercise of his power
in behalf of the colored men in his service. But no word comes to us from
the war department, sternly assuring the rebel chief that inquisition shall yet
be made for innocent blood. No word of retaliation when a black man is slain
by a rebel in cold blood. No word was said when free men from Massachusetts
were caught and sold into slavery in Texas. No word is said when brave
black men who, according to the testimony of both friend and foe, fought
like heroes to plant the star-spangled banner on the blazing parapets of Fort
Wagner, and in doing so were captured, some mutilated and killed, and others
sold into slavery. The same crushing silence reigns over this scandalous
outrage as over that of the slaughtered teamsters at Murfreesboro; the same
as over that at Milliken's Bend and Vicksburg. I am free to say, my dear sir,
that the case looks as if the confiding colored soldiers had been betrayed into
bloody hands by the very government in whose defence they were heroically
fighting. I know what you will say to this; you will say 'Wait a little longer,
and after all the best way to have justice done to your people is to get them
into the army as fast as you can.' You may be right in this; my argument has
been the same, but have we not already waited, and have we not already
shown the highest qualities of soldiers, and on this account deserve the protection
of the government for which we are fighting? Can any case stronger
than that before Charleston ever arise? If the President is ever to demand
justice and humanity, for black soldiers, is not this the time for him to do it?
How many 54th's must be cut to pieces, their mutilated prisoners killed, and
their living sold into slavery, to be tortured to death by inches, before Mr.
Lincoln shall say. 'Hold, enough!'

"You know the 54th. To you, more than to any one man belongs the
credit of raising that regiment. Think of its noble and brave officers literally
hacked to pieces, while many of its rank and file have been sold into slavery
worse than death, and pardon me, if I hesitate about assisting in raising a
fourth regiment until the President shall give the same protection to them as
to white soldiers.

"With warm and sincere regards,

"FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

"Since writing the foregoing letter, which we have now put upon record,
we have received assurances from Major Stearns that the government of the
United States is already taking measures which will secure the captured