. The great American book of biography . r have been waged were it not for the negro, and though his fatewas inevitably involved in its result, it must be remembered that it was notundertaken on his account. Before the struggle began Mr. Lincoln said: .If WAR AND HOIV IT EMANCIPATED THE SLAVE. 615 there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the sametime save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would notsave the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do notagree with them. My paramount object is to save the Union, and not either tod
. The great American book of biography . r have been waged were it not for the negro, and though his fatewas inevitably involved in its result, it must be remembered that it was notundertaken on his account. Before the struggle began Mr. Lincoln said: .If WAR AND HOIV IT EMANCIPATED THE SLAVE. 615 there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the sametime save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would notsave the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do notagree with them. My paramount object is to save the Union, and not either todestroy or to save slavery. And the Northern press emphasized over and overagain the fact that this was a white mans war. But the logic of events isinexorable. It seems amazing now that Union generals should have beenpuzzled as to the question whether they ought in duty to return runaway slavesto their masters. General Buder setded the controversy by one happy phrasewhen he called the fugitives contraband of war. Soon it was deemed right. to use these contrabands, to employ the new-coined word, as the South wasusing the negroes still in bondage, to aid in the non-fighting work of the army—on fortification, team driving, cooking, and so on. From this it was but astep, though a step not taken without much perturbation, to employ themas soldiers. At Vicksburg, at Fort Pillow, and in many another battle, thenegro showed beyond dispute that he could fight for his liberty. No fierceror braver charge was made in the war than that upon the parapet ofFort Wagner by Colonel Shaws gallant colored regiment, the MassachusettsFifty-fourth. In a thousand ways the negro figures in the history of the war. In its 6i6 THE STOR V OF AMERICAN SLA VER Y. literature he everywhere stands out picturesquely. He sought the flag with thegreatest avidity for freedom; flocking in crowds, old men and young, womenand children, sometimes with quaint odds and ends of personal belongings,often empty-handed, alw
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