When America has such tars, she has little to fear from the tyrants of the ocean." With the history fresh in mind of the successful Negro insurrection in St.Domingo, bringing out so conspicuous a military and administrative genius as Toussaint L'Ouverture, it is not surprising that the services of Negroes as soldiers were not only welcomed, but solicited by various states during the War of 1812.

Excepting the battle of New Orleans, almost all the martial glory of the struggle was on the water.

New York, however, passed a special act of the legislature and organized two regiments of Negro troops, while there was heavy recruiting in other states.
When in 1814 New Orleans was in danger, the free colored people of Louisiana were called into the field with the whites.

General Andrew Jackson's commendatory address read to his colored troops December 18, 1814, is one of the highest compliments ever paid by a commander to his troops.

He said: "Soldiers!--when, on the banks of the Mobile, I called you to take up arms, inviting you to partake of the perils and glory of your white fellow-citizens, I expected much from you; for I was not ignorant that you possessed qualities most formidable to an invading enemy.