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Story
September 1, 1862
Indiana State Sentinel
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
Satirical piece from Detroit Free Press mocking the disbandment of the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, composed of African Americans, and their reassignment to making rush baskets and cedar tubs, deriding abolitionists like Greeley for viewing it as cruelty.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Government in the Tub and Basket Business.
Now that the "First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers"-having received their red breeches from General Hunter-are disbanded, the niggers who compose it, and who were to compose the "nucleus" of Greeley and Hunter's army of "Americans of African descent," have been put to work making rush baskets and cedar tubs, so that Uncle Sam now adds to his numerous other avocations that of basket and tub-maker.
Greeley and the whole abolition tribe do not like this. Was there ever such cruelty heard of as to force a nigger to make tubs and baskets? It is awful-a pro-slavery device, a degradation of flesh and blood, a waste of General Hunter's red breeches. Poor Greeley. Poor abolitionists, that they should live to see their sable darlings making tubs and baskets.-Detroit Free Press.
Now that the "First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers"-having received their red breeches from General Hunter-are disbanded, the niggers who compose it, and who were to compose the "nucleus" of Greeley and Hunter's army of "Americans of African descent," have been put to work making rush baskets and cedar tubs, so that Uncle Sam now adds to his numerous other avocations that of basket and tub-maker.
Greeley and the whole abolition tribe do not like this. Was there ever such cruelty heard of as to force a nigger to make tubs and baskets? It is awful-a pro-slavery device, a degradation of flesh and blood, a waste of General Hunter's red breeches. Poor Greeley. Poor abolitionists, that they should live to see their sable darlings making tubs and baskets.-Detroit Free Press.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Misfortune
Fortune Reversal
What keywords are associated?
South Carolina Volunteers
General Hunter
Greeley
Abolitionists
Baskets Tubs
Civil War Satire
What entities or persons were involved?
General Hunter
Greeley
Uncle Sam
Where did it happen?
South Carolina
Story Details
Key Persons
General Hunter
Greeley
Uncle Sam
Location
South Carolina
Story Details
The First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, after receiving red breeches from General Hunter, is disbanded and its members, intended as the nucleus of an African American army by Greeley and Hunter, are put to work making rush baskets and cedar tubs, satirized as cruel degradation by abolitionists.