The first three commands formed the extreme angle of an equilateral triangle, with Colonel Hutchins in the centre; Major General Hatch occupied a portion of a medial line, intersecting the east side of the triangle equidistant between Colonel Gurney and Major Delany.
The interests of the commands seemed equally fortunate and providential, adventitious for the welfare of the people and protection of the city, with Colonel Gurney commanding white northern troops, Colonel Beecher black southern troops, Major Delany’s troops incomplete, Colonel Hutchins waiting for a command with Major General John P. Hatch over all.
CHAPTER XXVII.
NEWS FROM RICHMOND.
The interest in recruiting had in no wise abated, and the major’s headquarters gave evidences daily of this fact. At every public gathering the movement concerning the new troops was discussed.
But in the midst of the most active preparations and hopeful anticipations news reached Charleston, simultaneously with that of the national calamity, that Lee had surrendered. At this moment, when the recollection of that important epoch of the war returns to the mind, it is difficult to determine which regretted it the most—the southern blacks or whites, but from altogether different motives. In the new battalion the feeling was anything but joyful, as they were just preparing for the contest. The major, on receiving the news, announced to them, “Gentlemen, Lee has surrendered! Thank God, the war is over!” without meeting a response of approbation from the men or officers. It was difficult to convince these soldiers that the surrender of General Lee’s army was the surrender of the South to the conquering North, and they still looked forward hopefully for orders approving the continuance of the camp. They were not kept in this state of doubt as to the intention of the department, for soon the order came from Washington discontinuing the raising of troops, succeeded by the special order which follows below:—
Headquarters of Superintendent Recruiting and
Organization Colored Troops,
Department of the South,
Beaufort, S. C., June 7, 1865.
Special Orders. No. 36.