treme; but he had occasionally seen in them, as he felt within himself, a capacity for high and noble deeds.

When a beggar is offered silver, he is not likely to be very fastidious about the stamp of the coin; and thus it was with the Portuguese commander. He readily accepted the proposal of Diaz; but with an incredulous smile, that plainly implied he considered it no harm for the blackies to try; just as a father looks and speaks to little boys, when they ask to hold the plough.

Henry Diaz returned triumphantly to his companions, to communicate the success of his mission. He exhibited the parchment he had received; and though few could read the words, all were able to appreciate the magnitude of the seals, and the magnificence of the flourishes.

The blacks have always shown a readiness to exchange domestic slavery for the milder servitude, and more exciting scenes of the army. They fear bullets less than stripes. The history of revolutions in North and South America, but especially in the latter, furnishes sufficient proofs of the truth of this remark.

The regiment was soon full, and organized into regular battalions and companies. Such was the talent and energy of Diaz, and such effective use had he made of the hours he was enabled to steal from labor and from sleep, that in less than two months his troops were completely equipped, and in as perfect a state of discipline as the oldest corps of the army. From miserable, ragged, servile creatures, they had suddenly started up into brave and stout men, their faces animated with intelligence and hope, and their eyes glistening like the flashing of the sun upon their bright muskets.

By the fierce and unyielding courage of this regiment, and the genius and skill of its commander, the Dutch were repeatedly defeated, after the most severe contests. The soldiers were never, but once, known to waver from the rock-like firmness said to distinguish colored troops. Once, when struggling against a vast superiority of numbers, there was a momentary relaxation of their efforts, and some symptoms of dismay. Their Colonel rushed into the midst of the breaking ranks, and exclaiming, "Are these the brave companions of Henry Diaz !" he

restored their confidence, and secured the victory. By a new and desperate charge, the enemy were completely routed.

After eight years of almost constant warfare, the Dutch were driven from that vast territory, which now forms the empire of Brazil. Of all those rich possessions, which they had expended millions to conquer, by land and by sea, and which their avarice and cruelty had too long desolated, nothing finally remained, but one large, and apparently impregnable fortress, called Cinco Pontas, near Pernambuco. It commanded the whole city and neighborhood, and was well provisioned, and garrisoned by an army of five thousand men. Many useless attempts were made to get possession of this important post. It was defended by high and massive walls, and by deep and wide ditches, containing twelve feet of water; and provisions being constantly supplied from Dutch ships, there was no hope of reducing it by famine. Every fresh attack upon it was immediately punished by pouring its powerful batteries on the city and surrounding country. While the enemy possessed this strong hold, the Brazilians were subject to continual irritation and alarm, and could never regard their dear-bought independence as secure.

Here was a subject fit to employ the bold genius and unwearied energy of Henry Diaz!

He sent an officer to the Commander-in-chief, requesting an audience, that he might communicate a plan for taking the Cinco Pontas. The General readily granted this request; but with a still smaller hope of any favorable result, than he had entertained, when the slave first proposed his recruiting scheme.

Diaz detailed his plan with characteristic earnestness. The superior officers listened respectfully; for his wellearned reputation effectually protected the speaker from open derision. The result of the conference was, that the General declined adopting the measures proposed, but had no objection that Diaz himself should carry them into effect, with the troops under his command. "Then,' replied the brave Colonel, "to-morrow at sunrise, you shall see the Portuguese flag wave on the tower of Cinco Pontas!"

As Diaz retired, he overheard his commander say to one of the officers, "It is a nigger plan." He took no notice of the scornful remark; but made preparations for his hazardous enterprise with all possible secrecy and despatch.

The

His men were ordered to lay aside their musketsto retain their side-arms to take a pair of pistols in their belts and to carry upon their shoulders, a heap of wood, tightly bound together with osier bands. Thus prepared, at two o'clock in the morning, their commander gave directions to march toward the fort. night was dark, and the column arrived at their destination in perfect safety. Silently and rapidly they deposited their bundles in the deep trench, beginning at the outer margin, and building successive layers toward the wall. As fast as this operation was performed, they filed off, and formed companies, in readiness to scale the wall, as soon as this combined bridge and ladder should be completed. They were obliged to wait but a brief period. The Roman warriors could not have buried the parricide woman under their shields with more celerity, than the soldiers of Diaz filled up the fosse, and formed an ascent to the wall.

Diaz was the first to leap upon the ramparts. The first sentinel he met was laid dead at his feet.

The garrison were sleeping; and before they were completely roused, the Brazilians had gained the greater part of the fortress. As soon as the Dutch recovered a little from their first surprise and confusion, they formed a compact phalanx, and offered desperate resistance. Diaz received a sabre-wound, which shattered the bones of his left arm above the wrist. It was necessary to staunch the blood, which flowed profusely. Finding that it would take the surgeon some time to adjust the bones, and arrange the dressing, he bade him cut off the hand, saying, "It is of less consequence to me than a few moment's time, just now."

This being done, he again rushed into the hottest of the fight; and although the Dutch had greatly the advantage in the use of their artillery and muskets, they could not long withstand the determined bravery of their assailants. Fighting hand to hand, they soon killed, or

captured, the whole garrison, and took possession of their immense stores of provision and ammunition.

When the darkness and smoke cleared away, the Portuguese flag was seen waving from the tower of Cinco Pontas!

The Commander-in-Chief could scarcely believe the evidence of his own senses. The intrepid Diaz sent an aid-de-camp to say that the fort and prisoners were at the disposition of his Excellency. In a few hours, the General, with a numerous suite entered the fortress, and was saluted by the victorious troops. They found Colonel Diaz reclining on his camp-bed, enfeebled by exertion and loss of blood. He, however, raised himself to a sitting posture, and received the thanks and congratulations of his commanding and brother officers, with the grave and placid air habitual to him. Then looking up archly, he said, "It was a nigger plan, General; but the Fort is taken."

At the request of John the Fourth, Henry Diaz visited Portugal, where he was received with great distinction. The king desired him to choose any reward within his power to bestow. Diaz merely requested that his regiment might be perpetuated, and none admitted to its ranks but those of his own color. This was granted; and a considerable town and territory were appropriated to secure pensions to these brave men and their successors. The town is called Estancia, and is situated a short distance from Pernambuco.

The king conferred knighthood upon Diaz, and caused a medal to be struck in commemoration of the capture of Cinco Pontas. It was likewise ordained that the regiment should for ever bear the name of its first commander. It still exists in Pernambuco. Its uniform is white, faced with red, and embroidered with gold. The decorations which Diaz received from John the Fourth, are transmitted to the commander of the regiment, to this day; and at royal audiences they have the privilege of being the first to kiss the sovereign's hand. [Greg. pp. 94. 90. David L. Child, Esq. of Massachusetts.]

COLORED SOLDIERS.

THE brave colored soldiers of America, who fought for the boasted land of equal rights and liberty, in the American war against Great Britain.

In the Revolutionary War on Bunker Hill, in that victorious battle, the colored soldiers fought bravely-standing shoulder to shoulder in regiments with the whites, and gained that great victory over a superior number of British troops. [See the old map of Bunker Hill battle, a slave standing behind his master and shooting down an officer of the British army, and ready for another fire.] Our fathers

shed their blood on the shores of Jersey, and faced the British bayonets in the most desperate hour of danger in the Revolution.

Hon. Mr. Burgess of Rhode Island, said on the floor of Congress Jan. 28, 1828:

"At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, Rhode Island had a number of this description of people, [slaves.] A regiment of them were enlisted into the continental service, and no braver men met the enemy in battle; but not one of them was permitted to be a soldier until he had first been made a freeman."

Said the Hon. Mr. Martindale of New York, in Congress, Jan. 22d, 1838 :

:

"Blacks who had been slaves, were entrusted as soldiers in the war of the revolution; and I, myself, saw a battalion of them, as fine, martial looking men as I ever saw attached to the northern army in the last war, on its march from Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor."

Said the Hon. Charles Miner, of Pennsylvania, in Congress, February 7th, 1828:

"The African race make excellent soldiers. Large numbers of them were with Perry, and aided to gain the brilliant victory on Lake Erie. A whole battalion of them was distinguished for its soldierly appearance."

The Hon. Mr. Clarke, in the Convention which revised the Constitution of New York, in 1821, said in regard to the right of suffrage of colored men :-

"In the war of the revolution these people helped to fight your battles by land and by sea.

were glad to turn out corps of colored

Some of your states men, and to stand