The Louisiana Native Guards' white commanding officers and nearly all the pioneer group of black officers resigned within one year of their muster in frustration over their prejudicial military department. At enlistment, these early black troops and their leaders experienced a range of hoped-for opportunities--but it soon became obvious that there were more obstacles to overcome than they had anticipated. Col. Nathan W. Daniels and his men of the 2nd Regiment personify these problems.

Opportunities for men of the regiment were:
 *to prove their manhood, that they would fight, not run; it was a SLAVERY OR DEATH question.
 *to show commitment to freedom--if not for themselves, for their fellow men; for honor, rights, privileges, responsibilities.
 *prestige as soldier-- especially as an officer; they had high ideals of what to expect in the military.
 *economic opportunity; their pay was advertised as being equal that of whites.

Maj. Francis Ernest Dumas, second in command under Col. Daniels on Ship Island, Miss., was the army's highest ranking black officer. A light-skinned Afro-Creole, he summed up his hoped-for opportunities for all people of African descent, all backgrounds, light & dark skinned, free men, freed men: "No matter where I fight, I only wish to spend what I have, and fight as long as I can, if only my boy may stand in the street equal to a white boy when the war is over."

The community recognized opportunity for their black troops in the war, as shown in this flag presentation made to the First Regiment of the Native Guards before taking field.

New Orleans, October 22, 1862:

"Gentlemen & Soldiers: Allow me to present to you...this emblem on behalf of the members of the First African Baptist Church of New Orleans as a token of their esteem.... [You] must cherish this flag and the confidence of your commanders.... Look upon this flag and thank [God] that he has afforded an opportunity of showing your bravery in defense of your Liberty, that you may bring it back untarnished...[after you have] beaten the Rebels back as your fathers did on the Plains of Chalmette."

[Signed] Respectfully yours, C.C. Antoine]

Obstacles for the men were all kinds--emotional, pyschological, economical--and for those isolated on Ship Island, geographical. In addition to on-going prejudice within the army and civilian population, the men dealt with inferior equipment, plus too much fatigue duty, digging, drilling, and dress parades. They REALLY needed artillery practice-- and to learn to how to fight.

Obstacles for the black officers can be summed up in a petition from Ship Island, March 2, 1863. It was basically a list of grievances signed by all Daniels' officers, incuding Major Dumas. The names started off with Capt. Pinckney B.S. Pinchback. An abbreviated form:

 "(#1) We [have had] the heaviest guard duty ever known, from the 1st day of November 1862 until the 10th day of January 1863 on the New Orleans & Opelousas R.R., and since our arrival at Ship Island, we have been continually erecting Batteries, magazines and fortifications, working both day and night. (#2) We are convinced the board of examination for the colored officers of this Regiment is but a preliminary step to our being mustered out of the service. (#3) Humanity demands that we be paid as speedy as possible... Many of us have gone largely in debt in order to support ourselves and families, most of which are now in want and destitution. (#4) When we recruited our companies, it was understood that the line officers were to be colored men. [Because of this] many of our friends and relatives were induced to enter the ranks as private soldiers. To leave them to the mercies of other commanders would be to us heavy and grevious. (#5) Once the fact is made known that there is no chance of promotion, the ambitious inspirations which lead all men to brave deeds will be dead, hence the colored men will lose all interest, all energy, and become careless, indifferent, and neglectful."

The examination board was another obstacle. On February 3, 1863, seven black officers of the 2nd Regiment's detachment at Ft. Pike were tested on their military knowledge. This tactic was essentially staged to remove them, and proved demoralizing by challenging their competence and pride. Though Capt. Monrose Murillion, 1st Lt. Willliam Keeling, 2nd Lt. Lucien Scott  failed the test and were dismissed, Capt. Arnold Bertonneau, 1st Lt. Octave Rey, 1st Lt. Ernest Morphy, and 2d Lt. Rob’t Isabelle passed, but later resigned in frustration. Lt. Isabelle stated that when he joined, he had hoped, "all passed prejudices would be suspended for the good of our country and that all native born Americans would unite together. But after 6 months experience I am convinced that the same prejudice still exist[s]"

The pay issue for the men was both an opportunity, at first, and later an obst
acle. The men were told they would receive the same amount as whites, when in fact, they received less. The result was hardship for the families, causing among other things, arrests for non-payment of rent.

The forementioned obstacles brought on low morale. With low morale, officers resigned and enlisted men deserted. As a result, recruiters had difficulties finding men for the newly forming black regiments. Nearly one year after the muster of the 2nd Louisiana Native Guards, Department of the Gulf's commanding General Nathaniel P. Banks received the following:

 New Orleans, September, 13, 1863 "General: Deserters from the 1st and 2nd Regiments Corps D’Afrique [Louisiana Native Guards] have spread reports highly prejudicial to recruiting, [as they] enlisted with the promise of Bounty and Pay as other United States Volunteers, which they have not received. This makes the entire free colored population distrustful. A written guarantee from you as to what they are to expect would at once [reduce] this distrust and I assure you, General, it is very powerful. They ask nothing but to be assured their [pay], rations and clothing allowance [will be] as other United States troops, and their wives [will] live rent free and have tickets to the free market. [Signed] R [Des Anges?], Col. Late 6th La Vols."

After the war, Col. Daniels touches on continuing opportunities and obstacles for his men when writing to various newspapers.

Daniels: to the "Anti-Slavery Standard," September 20,1865

"The 73d and 74th Regiments U.S. Colored Infantry, formerly known as the 1st and 2d Regiments of Native Guards, organized under Gen. Butler and the first colored soldiers raised in the country, are ordered here [New Orleans] for mustering out of the service. These regiments were made up of the free colored citizens of New Orleans, and were officered by men of their own race. General Banks gained an un-enviable notoriety in removing these officers from their commands on account of their color. They have made a glorious record at Port Hudson, Pascagoula, West Louisiana, and Mobile, and if our Government intends retaining negro soldiers in the service, it could find none more worthy or deserving than these veterans. It would be but a just tribute to their bravery and excellence, and would be excepted by the colored people of the State as an honor and a compliment."

On continuing obstacles, Daniels writes to "The New Orleans Tribune," October 30th, 1865:

"The payment of bounties to colored troops commenced a few days [ago] under orders for the War Department, have [now] been stopped and will not, as it is understood, be given out again. Government makes serious objections to granting these bounties-- in fact, to granting any rights-- to a person who may have colored blood in his veins. Therefore it cannot be expected, that these glorious black soldiers who have offered their lives in the support of a Government in the hour of its direst peril, [will] receive from such Government, the promised [amount] which [has now been] wrenched from them in its extreme necessity. If it be true, as Mr Lincoln once said in the winter, that "the organization of colored troops had been the salvation of the country," can such injustice be more infamous?"

In conclusion, perhaps Daniels' ulitmate advise for the men came in words of encouragement on how to overcome future obstacles --and look for new opportunities. In a January 1866 article to the New Orleans Times, he lists challenges to the men, including the following:

*Know that you are today in the eyes of the world, as you have always been in the sight of heaven, freemen, not freedmen.... Conscious then of your manhood and its [rights], dare to be free, and act as free men.

*Dare to educate yourselves and your children-- for knowledge is power, and education will bring you elevation and equality with the highest and the best in the land.

*Distrust all men or parties or governments that tell you to wait for the realization of your rights until a more befitting time arrives. The hour and the day have come. Make yourselves the nucleus around which your countrymen shall gather, and united, undaunted and fearless of the consequences, demand of the [President],justice and liberty— demand of Congress equality before the law— and demand of your Government the securement now and forever, of all your rights and all your privileges, as free native born American citizens.

Yours for justice—N.W. Daniels

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