Harpers Weekly

These are images are extracted from a periodical published in the 1800's.

 

	The Plantation Police or Home Guard. Examining negro passes on the levee road below New Orleans. LA The Plantation Police, or Patrol; was an institution particular to the Slave States. It was a semi-military organization, raised and supported by the planters, but recognized by the old State authorities. Their principal duty was to visit the various plantations and patrol the roads at night, arresting all Negroes and others not having proper passes. The war, the President's proclamation, and the actual possession of most of the State of Louisiana by the Federal Authorities, rendered these patrols doubly rigorous. Some of the Negroes submitted reluctantly. The colored man in the foreground is a specimen of this class. He seems to yield to the superior force of a tottering power, satisfied that his day is at hand: others show the obsequious, submissive stamp-the Negro satisfied with his lot if he is clothed and fed. (458K)
	The Twentieth United States Colored Troops receiving their colors on Union Square, March 4,  1914 (240K)
	Assault of the Second Louisiana Colored regiment on the Confederate Works at Fort Hudson. The Battle of Fort Hudson was a severe and well-fought action. The  Federal troops displayed their usual bravery, and were well handled by General Banks, driving the enemy to his second line of works, Of the Negro regiments General banks, in his official report, says :"They answered every expectation. Their conduct was heroic. No troops could be more determined or more daring. They made during the day three charges upon he batteries of the enemy, suffering very heavy losses, and holding their position at nightfall with the other troops o the right of our line. The highest commendation is bestowed upon them by all officers in the command on the right. Whatever doubt may have existed heretofore as to the efficiency of organizations of this character, the history of this day proves conclusively to those who were in a condition to observe the conduct of these regiments that the Government will find in this class of troops effective supporters and defenders. The severe test to which they were subjected, and the determined manner with which they encountered the enemy leave upon my mind no doubt of their ultimate success. They require only good officers, commands of limited numbers, and careful discipline to make them excellent soldiers." (522K)
	Morning mustering of the "Contrabands" at Fortress Monroe, on their way to their day's work.   As a living illustration of one of the aspects of the Civil War, a sketch is given above of the contrabands  "Niggers" going to their daily work at the Fortress Monroe. The variety of the Ethiopian countenance is capitally given, and while some remind us of the merry phiz of George Christy in his sable mood, others wear the ponderous gravity of a New Jersey justice. The colored men had a comparatively pleasant time under their state of contraband existence. (471K)
	The War in Virginia - Contrabands coming into the Federal Camp The Negro furnishes, in his various phase of existence, wonderful studies for the artist and philosopher. Never, perhaps, has a race seen such a moment as during the Civil War, when the chains of bondage were breaking from the limbs of 4,000,000 of men. The distant roar of battle was to them a sound of deliverance. with all the uncouth, odd and queer manifestations of joy they prepared to reach the camp of the delivering Yanks. Yoking together most incongruous teams before the farm wagons of their fled masters, with ass and ox and horse, with household gear queerly assorted, with useless truck and little that could rarely serve them, they started for the Promised Land, and might often have been seen coming in as our artist, a most close student of nature, depicted them, with his usual felicity of portraiture. (461K)