Than these two
papers, none were considered more reliable and trustworthy in their war
record.
Almost every paper in the North published the narrative of the black man
pushing off the boat, for which an official report is responsible. The
boat was a flat-boat, with a company of soldiers on board; and the
battery under the fire of which it fell was at Rodman's Point, North
Carolina. In drawing the outlines of this, as of the others, I have
necessarily used a somewhat free pencil, but the main incident of each
has been faithfully preserved.
The disabled black soldier my own eyes saw thrust from a car in
Philadelphia.
The portraits of Ercildoune and his children may seem to some
exaggerated; those who have, as I, the rare pleasure of knowing the
originals, will say, "the half has not been told."
Every leading New York paper, Democratic and Republican, was gone over,
ere the summary of the Riots was made; and I think the record will be
found historically accurate. The _Anglo-African_ gives the story of poor
Abram Franklin; and the assault on Surrey has its likeness in the death
of Colonel O'Brien.
In a conversation between Surrey and Francesca, allusion is made to an
act the existence of which I have frequently heard doubted. I therefore
copy here a part of the "Retaliatory Act," passed by the Rebel
Government at Richmond, and approved by its head, May 1, 1863:--
"Sec.
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