Correspondence of the Republican.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.
NEGRO SOLDIERS.
Col. Montgomery, of Kansas, goes to South Carolina with Gen. Hunter, armed with full power to organize a negro army. This office in that Department was spoken of for Gen. Butler, but it appears his Kansas rival had stronger claims.
Following close upon the hub of Stevens' bill to organize a military force of one hundred and fifty thousand contrabands, comes a report from high authority that the President will shortly issue a call for three hundred thousand negro soldeirs [sic], composed of free negroes from the north as well as contrabands. The negroes of both classes are alarmed at the prospect of being called upon to take part in the war. They know they will have no quarter from the rebels, and will be sold as slaves if captured. They also insist this war is not for their benefit, and protest against being made to fight the white man's battle. "Sambo" wants to be saved from his friends; and the result may be a stampede of contrabands back to the rebel lines. It is certain the large majority would prefer working for the rebels to fighting for their liberators, as in that situation they have all to gain and nothing to lose.
"Negro Soldiers," California (MO) Weekly News, January 24, 1863.