Angered at the loss of life at the hands of blacks

"Angered at the loss of life at the hands of blacks at Manassas and somewhat disillusioned the northern Exchange editorialized: 'The war has dispelled one delusion of the abolitionists. The Negroes regard them as enemies instead of friends. No insurrection has occurred in the South - no important stampede of slaves has evinced their desire for freedom. On the contrary, they have jeered at and insulted our troops, have readily enlisted in the rebel army and on Sunday, at Manassas, shot down our men with as much alacrity as if abolitionism had never existed.'"

New Bern Weekly Press, August 13, 1861