- The proclamation of freedom — colored regiments -- letter to Samuel Hooper -- the California Battalion -- meeting of the Legislature, January, 1863 -- organization -- address of the Governor -- delay of the Government in paying the soldiers -- the commission of Mr. Crowninshield -- his claim notallowed -- reports of the Adjutant, Surgeon, and Quartermaster generals -- abstract of military laws -- letter to Hon. Thomas D. Eliot -- Westernsanitary commission -- confidential letter to General Hooker -- efforts toreinstate Major Copeland -- the pirate ‘Alabama’ -- curious Coincidence -- authority to recruit a colored Regiment -- the Governor's Policyin the selection of officers -- Colonel Shaw -- the passage of the Fifty-fourth (colored) Regiment through Boston -- departure for South Carolina -- death of Colonel Shaw at Fort Wagner -- letter of the Governor to Captain Sherman-letter to General Hamilton, of Texas -- Major Burt -- plan to invade Texas -- Mortality of Massachusetts regiments in Louisiana -- War steamers -- rights of colored soldiers -- Temperance -- Generalullman's expedition -- coast defences -- General Wilde -- John M. Forbeswrites from London -- Colonel Ritchie -- a rebel letter -- Robert C. Winthrop -- letter to Mr. Gooch, M. C. -- Army officers in Boston -- cases ofSuffering -- Useless detail of volunteer officers -- letter to General Wool -- suggestions about recruiting -- about deserters -- staff appointments -- complaints -- nine months men -- letter to J. H. Mitchell, Massachusettssenate -- Claims for money in the Legislature -- case of Mr. Maxwell, ofCharlemont -- Sergeant Plunkett, of the Twenty-first Regiment -- Soldiersto be shot -- Troubles in the Department of the Gulf, &c.
The battle for the Union had now lasted two years without decisive results. The Union armies had met the enemy on many battle-fields; alternate victory and defeat had marked the contest. The Union forces had stretched from the lines of Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Mississippi to the Tennessee; gradually bringing within their folds the enemies of the nation. The loyal people had learned much in those two years. The Administration had been educated to an anti-slavery point. On the 22d of September, 1862, the President had issued his Proclamation of Freedom to the enslaved; and, before the end of the year 1863, what had been predicted by earnest