Nobody could assure them that they and their families would be freed by the Government, if they fought for it, since no such policy had been adopted.

Nevertheless, they gradually enlisted, the most efficient recruiting officer being Sergeant William Bronson, of Company A, in my regiment, who always prided himself on this service, and used to sign himself by the very original title, "No.

1, African Foundations" in commemoration of his deeds.
By patience and tact these obstacles would in time have been overcome.
But before long, unfortunately, some of General Hunter's staff became impatient, and induced him to take the position that the blacks _must_ enlist.

Accordingly, squads of soldiers were sent to seize all the able-bodied men on certain plantations, and bring them to the camp.

The immediate consequence was a renewal of the old suspicion, ending in a widespread belief that they were to be sent to Cuba, as their masters had predicted.