#2 - Orders
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Confederate States of America,
War Department,
Adjutant and Inspector General's office,
Richmond, Va., March 15, 1865.
Sirs,
--You are hereby authorized to raise a Company or Companies of Negro Soldiers, under the provisions
of the act of Congress, approved March 13, 1865.
When the requisite number shall have been recruited, they will be mustered into the service for the war,
and muster rolls forwarded to this office.
The Companies, when organized, will be subject to the rules and regulations governing the Provisional
Army of the Confederate States.
By command of the Secretary of War.
Signed,
John W. Reily, A. A. G.
To Maj. J. W. Pegram, and Maj. Thomas
P. Turner, through Gen. Ewell.
*
Colored troops.
An Appeal to the People of Virginia.
It will be seen by the Order of the Secretary of War, published above, that the undersigned have been
authorized to proceed at once with the organization of Companies composed of persons of Color, free and
slave, who are willing to volunteer under the recent acts of Congress and the Legislature of Virginia. It is
well known to the country that Gen. Lee has evinced the deepest interest on this subject, and that he
regards prompt action in this matter, as vitally important to the country. In a letter addressed by him to
Lt. Gen. Ewell, dated March 10th, he says, “I hope it will be found practicable to raise a considerable force
in Richmond. I attach great importance to the result of the first experiment, and nothing should be left
undone to make it successful. The sooner this can be accomplished the better.”
The undersigned have established a rendezvous on 21st, between Main and Cary streets, at the building
known as “Smith’s Factory;” and every arrangement has been made to secure the comfort of the new
recruits, and to prepare them for service. It is recommended that each recruit be furnished, when practicable,
with a grey jacket and pants, cap and blanket, and a good serviceable pair of shoes, but no delay should
take place in forwarding the recruits in order to obtain these articles.
The governments, Confederate and State, having settled the policy of employing this element of strength,
and this class of our population having given repeated evidence of their willingness to take up arms in the
defence of their homes, it is believed that it is only necessary to put the matter before them in a proper light
to cause them to rally with enthusiasm for the preservation of the homes in which they have been born and
raised, and in which they have found contentment and happiness; and to save themselves and their race
from the barbarous cruelty invariably practised upon them by a perfidious enemy claiming to be their friends.
Will not the people of Virginia, in this hour of peril and danger, promptly respond to the call of our loved
General-in-Chief, and the demands of the Confederate and State governments?
Will those who have freely given their sons and brothers, their money and their property, to the achievement
of the liberties of their country, now hold back from the cause their servants, who can well be spared, and
who will gladly aid in bringing this fearful war to a speedy and glorious termination!
Let every man in the State consider himself a recruiting officer, and enter at once upon the duty of aiding in
the organization of this force, by sending forward recruits to this rendezvous.
Every consideration of patriotism, the independence of our country, the safety of our homes, the happiness
of our families, and the sanctity of our firesides, all prompt to immediate and energetic action for the defence
of the country. Let the people but be true to themselves, and to the claims of duty, and our independence
will be speedily secured, and peace be restored within our borders.
J. W. Pegram,
Maj. P. A. C. S.
Th. P. Turner,
Maj. P. A. C. S.
*
A good beginning.
--We understand that to Maj. J. W. Pegram and Maj. T. P. Turner has been assigned the duty of organizing and
training the negro soldiers, preparatory to putting them in the field. They are both young officers of the highest
promise, distinguished alike for gallantry in the field and for skill in the discharge of this peculiar duty.--They
speak in the most encouraging terms of the enterprise, both expressing the belief that the negro under proper
officers, will make an excellent soldier. It is a great pity this had not been done six months ago. But we may yet
derive enormous benefit from the experiment. Success to these gallant young officers.
Richmond Daily Dispatch, March 16, 1865
