Just read today on the plan by John Laurens of SC to free & arm up to 5,000 slaves in GA & SC for service in the Continental Army & state militias- which of course OTL didn't eventuate dur to strong opposition from SC political leaders & George Washington himself who found outrageous such a suggestion to end slavery.
QUOTE (from wikipedia): As the British stepped up operations in the South, Laurens, who had long argued that "We Americans at least in the Southern Colonies, cannot contend with a good Grace, for Liberty, until we shall have enfranchised our Slaves," promoted the idea of arming slaves and granting them freedom in return for their service, and in early 1778 requested, as a start, 40 slaves from his father, which Henry, now President of the Continental Congress, granted but with such serious reservations about the practicality that John temporarily relinquished the project. In March 1779 Congress approved this idea, commissioned him Lieutenant Colonel, and sent him south to implement a regiment of 3000. He won election to the South Carolina House of Representatives, and introduced his black regiment plan in 1779 and 1780 (and again in 1782) only to meet overwhelming rejection each time, particularly from Governor Rutledge and Christopher Gadsden.
Now, WI somehow Laurnes had been able to secure political support for his plan to liberate, arm & deploy slaves on a large scale in the Lower South ? Also, WI he hadn't been killed pointlessly in 1782 during the skirmish at the Combahee River ? How would he have potentially impacted racial reelations & politics for the better had he still been around ?
QUOTE (from wikipedia): As the British stepped up operations in the South, Laurens, who had long argued that "We Americans at least in the Southern Colonies, cannot contend with a good Grace, for Liberty, until we shall have enfranchised our Slaves," promoted the idea of arming slaves and granting them freedom in return for their service, and in early 1778 requested, as a start, 40 slaves from his father, which Henry, now President of the Continental Congress, granted but with such serious reservations about the practicality that John temporarily relinquished the project. In March 1779 Congress approved this idea, commissioned him Lieutenant Colonel, and sent him south to implement a regiment of 3000. He won election to the South Carolina House of Representatives, and introduced his black regiment plan in 1779 and 1780 (and again in 1782) only to meet overwhelming rejection each time, particularly from Governor Rutledge and Christopher Gadsden.
Now, WI somehow Laurnes had been able to secure political support for his plan to liberate, arm & deploy slaves on a large scale in the Lower South ? Also, WI he hadn't been killed pointlessly in 1782 during the skirmish at the Combahee River ? How would he have potentially impacted racial reelations & politics for the better had he still been around ?