It will yet be a grand thing to have been identified
with this Negro movement."

About the middle of December came the order to
join his new command, and Armstrong left at once
for Benedict, Maryland, where he took charge of
six companies of the Ninth Regiment United States



I02 Samuel Qbapman Armsttong:

Colored Troops, then organizing with three other
colored regiments in that place, the whole com-
manded by General William Bimey.
"Benedict, Maryland,
" December 17, 1863.
"This is a horrible hole, a rendezvous for blockade
runners, deserters, and such trash; good for nothing
but oysters, without another redeeming trait.
"The place is unhealthy, and many are dying of
measles and smallpox, etc., but I was never more con-
tented. I have brought the regiment up so that we
have completely whipped the Seventh Colored, which
was raised several weeks before this. Our camp is really
beautiful, dressed in evergreens, with handsome stock-
ades and well-graded streets, and nobody says *boo'
to us. Our tails are up — the Seventh keep theirs down
and ' acknowledge the com.* I have a fine, an excellent
set of officers ; they are full of pride and spirit, bound
to beat anything aroxmd. ... I assure you it is
gratifying, because the task has been laborious, difiS.-
cult, and subjected me to a good many severe tests.
I have got along better than I expected to.
"One of my captains was a lieutenant-colonel and is
smart as steel.
"I tell you this service will get to be the thing. All
are satisfied. The men are willing, learn very qtdckly,
and the regiment runs twice as smoothly as a volunteer
regiment.
