Many incidents are on record of the gallantry of Negro soldiers and servants also serving as soldiers, in the war with Mexico. Colonel Clay, a son of Henry Clay, was accompanied into the thick of the battle of Buena Vista, by his Negro servant. He remained by his side in the fatal charge and saw Clay stricken from his horse. Although surrounded by the murderous Mexicans he succeeded in carrying the mangled body of his master from the field. It has been stated and the evidence seems strong, that a Negro saved the life of General Zachary Taylor at the battle of Monterey. The story is that a Mexican was aiming a deadly blow at the General, when the Negro sprang between them, slew the Mexican and received a deep wound from a lance. The Negro was a slave at the time, but was afterwards emancipated by President Taylor. Upwards of 200,000 colored soldiers were regularly enlisted in the Federal army and navy during the Civil war. President Lincoln commissioned eight Negro surgeons for field and hospital duty. Losses sustained by the Negro troops amounting to upwards of 37,000 men, are shown to have been as heavy in proportion to the numbers engaged, as those of the white forces. The record of the Negro troops in the Civil war is one of uniform excellence. Numerous official documents attest this fact, aside from the spoken and written commendations of many high officers. Their bravery was everywhere recognized; many distinguished themselves and several attained to the rank of regularly commissioned officers. Conspicuous in Negro annals of that time is the case of Charles E. Nash, afterwards a member of congress. He received a primary education in the schools of New Orleans, but had educated himself largely by his own efforts. In 1863 he enlisted in the 83rd regiment, United States Chasseurs d'Afrique and became acting sergeant-major of that command. At the storming of Fort Blakely he lost a leg and was honorably discharged. Another, William Hannibal Thomas, afterwards became prominent as an author, teacher, lawyer and legislator. His best known book was entitled, "The American Negro: What he was, what he is, and what he may become." He served as a soldier during the Civil War and lost an arm in the service. The exploit of Robert Smalls was so brilliant that no amount of unfairness or prejudice has been able to shadow it. It is well known to all students of the War of the Rebellion and is recorded in the imperishable pages of history.