Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
CHAPTER IV
SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND.—THE WAR OF THE
REBELLION.
MR. DOUGLASS returned from England in time
to take part in the great presidential campaign of
i860. He entered into that contest with earnestness
and enthusiasm, for he believed that it was a
struggle which would decide the fate of slavery in
the United States. Later on when the war had
been in progress three years, and the government
decided to accept colored volunteers, he became
conspicuous for the support and encouragement
he gave in the enlistment of colored troops.
When Governor Andrew of Massachusetts was
given authority by President Lincoln to put into
the field two colored regiments, the 54th and
55 th, Mr. Douglass made a most eloquent appeal
through his paper to the colored people of the
North to enlist. There being few colored men
in Massachusetts, it was found necessary to go
outside of that state to recruit. Mr. Douglass
not only urged and induced others to go, but gave
his two sons, Lewis and Charles, to the cause;
the latter of whom was the first colored man to
enlist in the state of New York. Some time
later his third and last son, Frederick, Jr., also
entered the service.