Colored Soldiers and Seamen: 1863

Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: November 19, 1863, second page. 

The prejudice against colored men in the American army and navy is fast dying out, and both branches of the service are increasing the number employed. on the first of August, the United States army had about 80,000 colored troops in service, and it was expected that before January, 1864, the number would not be less than 100,000. The navy, according to a late statement from the Navy Department, now numbers over 5,000 colored seamen. They were originally introduced as cooks and stewards, and for years were not seen on deck. At present they are seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen and boys-the marine corps and ward room being the only portion of a man-of-war from which they are excluded. At the South, too, negroes are now employed in every branch of military service, excepting that arms are not yet entrusted to them. But if the war continues many months, necessity will overcome even that scruple, and they will be armed and employed as soldiers by the rebels.