ms. wheatley's salute coincided with a ban on free negroes in continental ranks. one can readily discern washington the southern slave holder in the seclusionary order issued under his name. quote, neither negroes, boys unable to bear arms, nor old men unfit to endure the fatigues of the campaign are to be enlisted, it said. the interdict was short-lived. within days, it became clear that governor dunmore, having fled his williamsburg palace for the safety of a british man of war, intended to sew sow seeds of racial rebellion by welcoming runaway slaves into the king's ranks. before the year ended, washington lifted his ban on african-american troops. the result as noted by ron chernow was america's most integrated fighting force until the vietnam war. long before yorktown, african-americans comprised from 6% to 12% of washington's army. it was black sailors among john glover's famed marblehead boys who helped to evacuate washington's army from brooklyn heights in august 1776. the same heroes would row the commanding general across the delaware on christmas night