JACOB BRUNER

Thomas is direct from Washington clothed with the fullest authority to commission officers to take charge of negro companies and Regiments. Uncle Abe [Lincoln] has at last sensibly concluded to arm the darkey and let him fight. They are not to be placed by the side of the white soldier but is to be organized into companies regiments and Brigades by themselves with white officers. This is considered the master stroke of policy and has produced a most cheering and beneficial result among the soldiers they received it with shouts and acclamations of applause. Some of the darkies with their families are to cultivate the plantations here while others are to act the soldier and keep [items] back the guerillas. I think the slavery question which has puzzled our fathers for 50 years is now being solved.

Thomas is direct from Washington clothed with the fullest authority to commission officers to take charge of negro companies and Regiments. Uncle Abe [Lincoln] has at last sensibly concluded to arm the darkey and let him fight. They are not to be placed by the side of the white soldier but is to be organized into companies regiments and Brigades by themselves with white officers. This is considered the master stroke of policy and has produced a most cheering and beneficial result among the soldiers they received it with shouts and acclamations of applause. Some of the darkies with their families are to cultivate the plantations here while others are to act the soldier and keep [items] back the guerillas. I think the slavery question which has puzzled our fathers for 50 years is now being solved.