The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-22
BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF NEGRO
TROOPS.

-
BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF NEGRO
TROOPS.
REBEL SALT WORKS DESTROYED.
Largo Captures Of Prisoners and stores.
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
On Board STEAMER FROM Fr. NoNRoE,l
TO BALrHoRE, Nov. IA, 1862.
Events of no OF binary interest have just Oc-
CURED in the department of the South. The
negro troops have been tested, and to their great
Joy, though not contrary to their own expecta-
tions, they have triumphed, not only over enc
mics armed with muskets and swords, but over
| what the black man breads most, sharp and
cruel prejudices.
Gen. Saxton, on the 2Sth Of October, sent the
captured steamer Darlington, Capt CrandelI,
down the coast of Georgia, and to Fernandina
Florida, to obtain recruits for the lst Regiment
South Carolina Volunteers Lieut.. Col. o. T.
Beard of the 4sth New York volunteers, was
given the command Of the expedition. In I'd
dition to obtaining recruits, the condition and
wants of the recent refugees from slavery along
| the coast we're to be looked into, and, il, occa
sion should offer, it was permitted to "feel the
enemy" At st. Simonds, Ca, Capt Trow
bridge, with thirty-6ve men of the "Hunter Re.
giment of let South Carolina volunteers" who
had been stationed there for three months, to-
gether with twenty-seven more men, we're re.
ceived on board. With this company of sixty
two men, the Darlington proceeded to Fernan.
dian.
On arriving meeting of the colored men was
called to obtain enlistments. The large church
WAS crowded. After addresses had been made
by the writer and Col. Beard, 100 men volun-
teered at once, and the number soon reached
about 126. Such, however, were the demands
of Fort Clinch and the quarter masters depart
ment for laborers, that Col Rich, commanding
the port, consented to only twenty Eve men
leaving This was . sad disappointment, and
one which some determined not to bear. The
twenty five men were carefully selected from
among those not employed, either on the fort,
or in the quarter masters department, and put
on board. Amid the farewells and benedictione
of hundreds of their friends on shore they took
their departure, to prove the truth or falsity Of
the charge. 1.-THE black man can never fight"
On calling the roll, q few miles from port, it was
found our twenty five men had increased to fifty
four. Determined not to be foiled in their pur
pose of being . soldier, it was found that thir.
just at break of day, and bad concealed them
selves in the hold Of the ship. When asked Why
they did 30 their reply Was,
"Oh, we want to fght for our liberty and for
the liberty of our wives and Children"
'But would you dare to face your old mas
terss"
| "Yes, yes, yes why, We would fight to death
to get our families" was the quick response
No one doubted their sincerity. Muskets we're
soon in their hands, and no time was lost in
drilling them. Our steamer, livery frail one,
bad been barricaded around the bow and stern,
aud also provided with two twelve.pounder Par.
rott guns. These guns had to be worked by
black en-, under the direction of the captain
Of the steamer. Onr fighting men numbered
only about ITO and 30 of them we're raw re-
cruits. The expedition was not q very formi-
dable one, still all seemed to have an unusual
degree Of confidence to its success.
What bad been done the day previous, and
ing, is described as follows by Lieut. Col. Beard
in his report to Gen. Saxton.
"On Monday, Nov. 8, with the steamer OAR
liDgton, having on board Captain Trowbridge's
company, coored troops (62,) proceeded up
Bell River, Florida, drove in the rebel pickets
bslow Cooper's, destroyed their place Of rem
devious, thence proceeded and destroyed the
satworks, and all the salt, corn and wagons
which We could not carry away, beside killing
the horses Thence we proceeded to jolly river
ard destroyed two saltworks, with large
amount of salt and corn. Thence we pro-
ceeded to St. Mary's and brought off two fami-
lies of contrabands, after driving in the enemy's
pickets.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, proceeded to Kings
Bsy, Georgia, destroyed large saltwork in q
creek about q mile from the landing, together
with all the property on the place. Here we
OBJ cd hv oh to;o &c &c
whom we killed two"
This was the first place where the troops we're
brought under FIRE. They had all (about thirty
in number) just got into the small boats, when
the enemy suddenly rushed out of the thick
woods and fred upon them, Their condition
was perilous one, the enemy being not over
ten rods distant, and the steamer still further
off Nothing daunted, the men loaded and fred
coolly and necessarily, till safe on board. A
warm fire was opened at once by the men from
the steamer, and one of our PARROTS played we'll
its part. Il was marvellous that under 60 heavy
a shower of bullets, not man was wounded,
though many balls we're lodged in the steamer
and barbados.
Nov. 6-The first landing this day was on
Buffers Island, from which the troops brought
off quite quantity Of rice. The next landing
was at Darien, Ga, where two prisoners and
some arms we're taken. The pickets fed at the
approach of our troops. Lieut.. Walker, of
Captain Trowbridge's company, who had been
left in charge of part of the company on St.
Simon's Island, accompanied BY twenty Eve men,
had crossed over in small boats few days be-
fore our arrival, and had captured, in Darien,
the Assistant Provost Marshal. One of our new
prisoners stoutly objected to being marchedlto
the small boats by his negro csptors. He swore
q white nan was entitled to more resDect : Int
the ovetjoyed negroes could not see the force of
his argument or profanity.
The women and children (about ffty) taken
from St. Smond on the day previous we're now
landed for safety at St. GATHERINGS as more
hazardous werk was to be undertaken Much of
the night was spent in getting wood and cooking
meats, rice and corn for our women and children
on shore, and for the troops The men for the
steamer, killing beeves needed no drivers lash"
to incite them to labor. Sleep ond rest were
almost unwelcome, for they were preparing to
60 up Sapelo River, along whose banks on the
beautiful plantations, were their fathers, moth
ers, brothers, sisters, wives and children