CONNECTICUT.
Hon. Calvin Goddard, of Connecticut, states that in the little circle of his residence, he was instrumental in securing, under the Act of 1818, the pensions of nineteen Colored Soldiers. "I cannot," he says, "refrain from mentioning one aged black man, Primus Babcock, who proudly presented to me an honorable discharge from service during the war, dated at the close of it, wholly in the handwriting of George Washington. Nor can I forget the expression of his feelings, when informed after his discharge had been sent to the War Department, that it could not be returned. At his request it was written for, as he seemed inclined to spurn the pension and reclaim the discharge." There is a touching anecdote related of Baron Steuben, on the occasion of the disbandment of the American army. A black soldier, with his wounds unhealed, utterly destitute, stood on the wharf just as a vessel bound for a distant home was getting under way. The poor fellow gazed at the vessel with tears in his eyes, and gave himself up to despair. The warm hearted foreigner witnessed his emotion, and, inquiring into the cause of it, took his last dollar from his purse, and gave it to him with tears of sympathy trickling down his cheeks. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the poor wounded soldier hailed the sloop, and was received on board. As it moved out from the wharf, he cried back to his noble friend on shore, 'God Almighty bless you, master Baron.'"
During the Revolutionary War, and after the sufferings of a protracted contest had rendered it difficult to procure recruits for the army, the Colony of Connecticut adopted the expedient of forming a corps of colored soldiers. A battalion of blacks was soon enlisted, and throughout the war conducted themselves with fidelity and efficiency. The late General Humphreys, then a Captain, commanded a company of this corps. It is said that some objections were made on the part of officers, to accepting the command of the colored troops. In this exigency, Captain Humphreys, who was attached to the family of General Washington, volunteered his services. His patriotism was rewarded, and his fellow officers were afterwards as desirous to obtain appointments in that corps as they had previously been to avoid them.
The following extract, furnished by Charles Lennox Remond, from the pay rolls of the second company fourth regiment of the Connecticut line of the Revolutionary army may rescue many gallant names from oblivion.
Captain, David Humphreys.
Privates.
Boston, 24th April, 1851.
Dear Friend Nell:
The names of the two brave men of Color who fell, with Ledyard, at the storming of Fort Griswold, were Sambo Latham and Jordan Freeman.
All the names of the slain, at that time, are inscribed on a marble tablet, wrought into the monument—the names of the Colored Soldiers last—and not only last, but a blank space is left between them and the whites—in genuine keeping with the "Negro Pew" distinction; setting them not only below all others, but by themselves—even after that.
And it is difficult to say why. They were not last in the fight. When Major Montgomery, one of the leaders of the expedition against the Americans, was lifted upon the walls of the fort by his soldiers, flourishing his sword and calling on them to follow him, Jordan Freeman received him on the point of a pike, and pinned him dead to the earth. (Vide Hist. Collections of Connecticut.) And the name of Jordan Freeman stands away down, last on the list of heroes, perhaps the greatest hero of them all.
Yours, with becoming indignation,
Parker Pillsbury.
Ebenezer Hills, died at Vienna, New York, August, 1849, aged 110. He was born a Slave, in Stonington, Conn., and became free when twenty-eight years of age. He served through the Revolutionary War, and was at the battles of Saratoga and Stillwater, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne.