 | Naked Genius |  |
INTRODUCTION.
Having met with the author of these works during the victorious march of our army through the State of North Carolina, he having been one of the many refugees who flocked to our lines for safety, I was astonished at his genius, and more so when he showed me some manuscripts written by himself. Knowing the various objections which many of our citizens, north as well as south, have against the black man being made free, and one of these being that he possessed no genius, I formed the idea that I would revise and compile his works and have them published to the public at large, that all might see that there are erroneous opinions entertained with regard to African genius, and also to show that God in his gifts was in no wise partial to the Uuropean, but that he gave genius to the black as well as the white man. With this object in view, I offer this little volume to the public, hoping that it may do away with some of the many prejudices so long existing against the poor down-trodden sou's of Africa. To those who doubt the author's genius, I offer the following references:
- EX-GOV. DAVID L. SWAIN, Chapel Hill, N. C.
- JUDGE BATTLE, Chapel Hill, N. C
- DENNIS HART, Editor Hillsboro' Recorder.
- HALL HART, his late master, who is now a resident of Chatham Co. N. C.
The above named gentlemen have been personally acquainted with Mr. Horton for the last forty years, and can testify to the wonderful genius he possesses, which is purely void of the garb of education. To still further remove any doubts which might arise in the minds of the public as to his being the author of the following poetical effusions, I refer them to the under named officers of the regiment to which I belong, who are all knowing to the fact of my being engaged with Mr. Horton in collecting and revising his poems.
- GEO. S. ACKER, Colonel.
- W. B. WAY, Lieutenant-Colonel.
- S. P. BROCKWAY, Major.
- W. C. STEVENS, Major.
- JAS. C. McBRIDE, Major.
- WM. H. YOUNG, Surgeon.
- A. FLETCHER.
- L. F. JOHNSON, Captain Company A.
- JAS. J. LISTER, Captain Company B.
- J. D. SMAILS, 1st Lieutenant Company C.
- T. E. CAMBERN, 2d Lieutenant Company D.
- JNO. J. HINCHEY, Captain Company E.
- A. B. HENDRICKS, Captain Company F.
- A HINES, Captain Company G.
- A. P. PIERSON, 1st Lieutenant Company H.
- G. E. TURNER, Captain Company I.
- L. F. LOCKWOOD, Captain Company K.
- D. P. INGRAHAM, Captain Company L.
- CHAS. H. SMITH, 1st Lieutenant Company M.
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