Thanks for posting that Evelyn. I have some old issues of some of the Historical Society publications that have some letters from Union soldiers stationed here. Some of them are interesting too. The sentiment for many Union soldiers does seem to have not been so much for freeing the slaves but preserving the Union. The letter you posted also shows that there may have been higher expectations from the freed slaves than we see in the textbooks. I don't know if they got the idea of representation in government from some Union soldiers or they may have assumed freedom meant something more than just being free. It's a concept to ponder on.
Pam