Meeting in Washington DC demands protection for black Union prisoners of war

In Washington, D.C., leading African-American residents met on the subject of black enlistments into the Union Army.  One speaker, W.A. Crofutt, asked that President Lincoln to do all in his power to protect black Union soldiers taken prisoner from Confederate ill-treatment, even if the Union had to threaten retaliation against CSA prisoners in Northern hands.  A petition was passed and sent to the White House. (By John Osborne)