“The bravery of the blacks,” he declared, “completely revolutionized the sentiment of the army with regard to the employment of negro troops. I heard prominent officers who formerly in private had sneered at the idea of negroes fighting express themselves after that as heartily in favor of it.”11 But among the Confederates, Dana added, “the feeling was very different.” Infuriated by the arming of former slaves, southern troops at Milliken’s Bend shouted “no quarter!” and reportedly murdered several captured blacks.
