Post 77: Honestly Brokered Bones

For delivery in four days:

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"Hon. Calvin Goddard, of Connecticut, states that in the little circle of his residence, he was instrumental in securing, under the Act of 1818, the pensions of nineteen colored soldiers. "I cannot," he says, "refrain from mentioning one black man, PRIMUS BABCOCK, who proudly presented to me an honorable discharge from service during the war, dated, at the close of it, wholly in the handwriting of George Washington. Nor can I forget the expression of his feelings, when informed, after his discharge had been sent to the War Department, that it could not be returned. At his request, it was written for, as he seemed inclined to spurn the pension and reclaim the discharge."

p. 132

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"During the Revolutionary War, and after the sufferings of a protracted contest had rendered it difficult to procure recruits for the army, the Colony of Connecticut adopted the expedient of forming a corps of colored soldiers. A battalion of blacks was soon enlisted, and, throughout the war, conducted themselves with fidelity and efficiency. The late General Humphreys, then a Captain, commanded them to his corps. It is said that some objections were made, on the part of officers, to accepting the command of colored troops. In this exigency, Capt. Humphreys, who was attached to the family of Gen. Washington, volunteered his services. His patriotism was rewarded, and his fellow officers were afterwards as desirous to obtain appointments in that corps as they had previously been to avoid them."

pps. 133-134

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"Few persons, we think, have travelled in Texas, who have not heard of THOMAS SAVOY, alias Black Tom, alias the Special Citizen of Bexar county. He was by trade a barber, but by inclination a soldier, and his history is intimately connected with the warlike part of that Texas. He was much fonder, too, of the company of white men than of persons of his own color. Tom was a native of Maryland, then a citizen of Washington, D.C., then a resident of Mississippi volunteers, his razor in his pocket, and his gun on his shoulder. They joined Gen. Houston shortly after the battle of San Jacinto, but Black Tom's subsequent conduct as a soldier elicited the praise of his hard-fighting comrades and superior officers. The year 1839 was distinguished in Texan annals by the expedition under Jordan to Saltillo, to assist the treacherous Canales in his armed Federalist attempt against the Mexican Anti-Federalists. He betrayed his little band of Texas allies, but they and their gallant leader gave the united Federalists and the State Rights Mexican army two as thorough consecutive drubbings as they ever received, and then returned leisurely home without interruption. Black Tom was one of Jordan's men, and if he had little occasion or time to use his razor, he made up for it by skillful handling of his offensive weapons. In 1842, Gen. Woll invaded Texas with a Mexican army, and got a good beating in the battle of Saldado. Tom was in the midst of it, and was wounded. He participated in several subsequent conflicts with the Indians, fighting bravely as usual. He followed his old Texas comrades under Taylor's banner, and hurried along with them into battle at Monterey. He was also in the memorable struggle at Buena Vista. Black Tom then returned to Texas with Kentucky volunteers, and after that, San Antonio became his favorite head-quarters. He was, of course, a general favorite, and lived like a lord; but the wandering spirit that ten years in Texas had made second nature with him, would now and then break out, and Black Tom would be missing. The next thing heard of him, he was at a frontier post, or far up in the Indian country, in the midst of danger. ..."

pps. 201 - 202

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"Throughout this work will be found allusions to several colored persons, bonds and free, who were either servants of slaves of General Washington, or through some other relation, were led to cherish grateful and pleasant memories of the treatment they receive from him. Some he manumitted, others he specially rewarded for deeds of valor and integrity of conduct; and, though he did not emancipate the majority of his own slaves until after the decease of Lady Washington, there yet seemed a constant struggle of his better nature to do that which, neglected, has left

--"Posterity's sad eye to run

Along one line, with slaves and Washington."

"In a letter written by General Washington to Tobias Lear, in England, in 1794, he assigns the following reasons for empowering Mr. Lear to sell a portion of his landed estate: --

"...In Washington's will, special provision is made for his "mulatto man, William, calling himself William Lee," granting him his immediate freedom, an annuity of thirty dollars during his natural life, or support, if he preferred (being incapable of walking or any active employment) to remain with the family. "This I give," said Washington, "as a testimony of my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War.""

pps. 217-218

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"...that some powerful foreign prince,--from Africa, we believe they had it,--with a sufficient force to accomplish his purpose, had arrived on the coast, to give freedom to the slaves of Virginia. This rumor soon became confirmed news with them. They simultaneously quit work, and without manifesting the least disposition to injure the whites, began, in their joyful excitement, to run from plantation to plantation, collect in bodies, and prepare to go off to meet their expected deliverers..."

pps. 303-304

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See quote and notes from reading on Jan. 15, 2022 of "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham, 2012.

Also see return letter of Aug. 31, 1791 from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Banneker.

pps. 207-208

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"The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution" by W. Nell compiled from University Microfilms. (Original 1855.)

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5:18 pm CST

Jan. 25, 2022

/s/: Charity Colleen Crouse

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