This account of the 2nd Regiment's arrival at Ship Island is an example of the prejudice the Native Guards experienced in the Union Army. A transcript of Col. Rust's diary is at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The author is grateful to Ms. Gail Bishop for providing a photocopy of this material and to Ms. Kitty Weaver for alerting him to its existence.
Morning. A steamer has just come to the Wharf with nigger troops on board, evidently to relieve us. Oh Lord!
January 13, 1863 -- Tuesday
"Nigger on the brain." No, I have not got that. It has struck to my stomach and gone all over me. The feeling of certainty that I have got to leave my two good Companies here to come into collision with these niggers has made me feel homesick, and I have serious thoughts of resigning.
I went to see them drill the Battalion this afternoon. The Adjutant conducted the exercise, neither field officer being present. There was some good marching but the other exercises were indifferently done.
January 14, 1863 -- Wednesday
I have made the Colonel [of the Native Guards] promise that if I leave my men he will assign them duties by themselves under their own officers, not bringing them at all into collision with his. Still I expect there will be trouble, and think my men will be demoralized thereby.
January 20, 1863 -- Tuesday
The steamer came to the Wharf at 2 P. M. And I put my Staff, their baggage and Quarter master and Commissary stores on board. Their [departure leaves] command of Ship island to Col. Daniel 2nd Louisiana Native Guards,
My only regret at leaving is that I must leave my two Companies there to the tender mercies of a Colonel [of] Niggers which, if appearances are a true indication, will not be very tender.
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