in Virginia.--Maryland employs Negroes.--New York passes an
Act providing for the Raising of two Colored Regiments.--War
in the Middle and Southern Colonies.--Hamilton's Letter to
John Jay.--Col. Laurens's Efforts to raise Negro Troops in
South Carolina.--Proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton inducing
Negroes to desert the Rebel Army.--Lord Cornwallis issues a
Proclamation offering Protection to all Negroes seeking his
Command,--Col. Laurens is called to France on Important
Business.--His Plan for securing Black Levies for the South
upon his Return.--His Letters to Gen. Washington in Regard
to his Fruitless Plans.--Capt David Humphreys recruits a
Company of Colored Infantry in Connecticut.--Return of
Negroes in the Army in 1778. 324


CHAPTER XXVII.

NEGROES AS SOLDIERS.

1775-1783.

The Negro as a Soldier.--Battle of Bunker Hill--Gallantry of
Negro Soldiers.--Peter Salem, the Intrepid Black
Soldier.--Bunker-hill Monument.--The Negro Salem Poor
distinguishes himself by Deeds of Desperate Valor.--Capture
of Gen. Lee.--Capture of Gen. Prescott--Battle of Rhode
Island.--Col. Greene commands a Negro Regiment.--Murder of
Col. Greene in 1781.--The Valor of the Negro Soldiers. 363