"That the Governors of the said States, together with the commanding officer of the Southern army, be empowered to incorporate the several continental battalions of their States with each other respectively, agreeably to the arrangement of the army, as established by the resolutions of May 27, 1778; and to appoint such of the supernumerary officers to command the said negroes, as shall choose to go into that service. "_Resolved_, That Congress will make provision for paying the proprietors of such Negroes as shall be enlisted for the service of the United States during the war, a full compensation for the property, at a rate not exceeding one thousand dollars for each active, able-bodied negro man of standard size, not exceeding thirty-five years of age, who shall be so enlisted and pass muster. "That no pay or bounty be allowed to the said negroes; but that they be clothed and subsisted at the expense of the United States. "That every negro, who shall well and faithfully serve as a soldier to the end of the present war, and shall return his arms, be emancipated, and receive the sum of fifty dollars." In connection with this Congress passed also the following resolution: "WHEREAS John Laurens, Esq., who has heretofore acted as aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief, is desirous of repairing to South Carolina, with a design to assist in defence of the Southern States: "_Resolved_, That a commission of lieutenant-colonel be granted to the said John Laurens, Esq." Journals of the Continental Congress, 1779, pp. 386, 418. [49] Sparks, "Writings of Washington," VIII, 322, 323. [50] Ford, "Washington's Writings," VII, 371. [51] Letter from the Adjutant General of the U.S. War Department. [52] Schloezer's "Briefwechsel," IV, 365. [52a] The Washington Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. [53] "The Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island," 186-188. [54] Sidney S. Rider, "An Historical Tract in the Rhode Island Series," No. 10. [55] Marquis de Chastellux, "Travels," I, 454. [56] Moore, "Historical Notes," 19. [57] "The Spirit of Rhode Island in '76," 186-188. [58] Washington, "The Story of the Negro," I, 311, Note. [59] Moore, "Historical Notes," 22. [60] Ibid., 16. [61] Bancroft, "History of the United States," X, 133. [62] Lecky, "American Revolution," 364. [63] Austin Dabney, a remarkable free man of color, died at Zebulon. His remains repose, we understand, near those of his friend Harris. The following account of Dabney, as given by Governor Gilmer, may be interesting: In the beginning of the Revolutionary conflict, a man by the name of Aycock removed to Wilkes County, having in his possession a mulatto boy, who passed for and was treated as his slave. The boy had been called Austin, to which the captain to whose company he was attached added Dabney.