The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-08-06
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Evening post.
THE COLoRED TROOPS IN
CHARLESTON HARBOR.

Wagner---Scene in the Hospitals.
PoRT ROYAL, July 24.ZFresh h on.
ors crown the colored troops. So fully
had their character for bravery and re.
lianco been established, that in the re-
cent assaultupon Fort Wagner the 54th
Massachusetts, we're allowed to lead our
veteran troops, nor did they Ito their
honor be it said) refuse either the lead
or their support.
On forming them into line General
Strong, who had by his soldiorly and
kind bearing toward them secured their
confidence, raising his stentoriau voice.
cried out, "Is there man here who
thinks himself unable to sleep in that
fort to-nightP' The earth rang with
the thunder of their "Nol" Turning
to the color-bearor, he said; els there
any man to take his place if this brave
color-bearer should fall7" With lift
ing of hands, and leaping, and almost
yelling, all through the enthusiastic
ranks, came the response, "Yesl Yesl"
GEN. sTRoNd's TESTIMONY.
From General Strong himself, as he
lay in the hospital four days afterwards,
suffering from his ghastly wound, 1
learned that these men had chad no
sleep for three nights. no food since
morning, and had marched several
miles" Under cover of darkness they
stormed the fort, facing stream of FIRE,
faltering not until the ranks we're brc-
ken by shot and shell, and in all these
severe tests, which would have tried
even veteran troops; "they fully met my
expectations" said the General, "for
many of them were killed, wounded, OF
captured on the walls of the fort"
THE SUPPORT OF THE CoLoRED REG.
IMENT.
The Sixth Connecticut, who had hon.
ored themselves at jacksonville co. ope-
rating with colored troops, supported
the Fifty-fourth in the assault. Sever
al of the officers lying in the hospital
confirm the testimony Of General Strong.
The regiment went in seven hundred
strong, and brought off only three hun
dred and sixty sound men. OF seven
teen officers only three came of unhurt.
The number Of killed 1 have not learn
ed. About two hundred are now lying
in our hospitals. Some who had proph
esied that the colored man would not
stand fire, but had finally yielded in
his favor, still contended that ghastly
wounds and sufferings, with slaughter
and death'of comrades, would quash all
their love of freedom and SOLDERING.
and silence the boasts of friends.
WOUNDED ooLoRED SOLDIERS IN Hos.
PTTAL.
On the second and fourth davs after
the fight l passed through nearly all
the wards of the hospital. On the Sec
ond day a very large portion of their
wounds had not been dressed, and Of
course they were very painful. Some
lay with shattered legs or arms, or bot h;
others with limbs auputated. Rebel
bullets, grape, shell and bayonets have
made sad havoc. "Well, boys, this was
not part of the programme, was itH"-
"Oh, yes. indeed, we expected to take
all that comes" said some. Others
said, "Thank God, We won't to live or
die"
If out Of it and home, how many
would enlist ngainP With frightened
faces and some raising of even wounded
arms or hands, all said, "Oh yes, yes.
Some said, "Oh, never give it up til the
last rebel be dead" or "the last brother
breaks his chains" or "if all our people
get their freedom we can affo I'd to die.
Frank Myers, from Ohio, whose arm
was badly shattered, by a shell, said,
"Oh, l thank God so much for the priv
ilege; went in to live or die, as HI
please" II stood right under the up,
lifted sword oftheir bravo Col. Shaw,
on the very top of the parapet, as he
cried, Rush on, rush on, boySl" and
then suddenly fell, quickly followed by
Myers himself.
No man can pass among these suffer
ers, so patient, so cheerful, hear then
express their desire for speedy recov
cry, first and only, that they may Oh,
almost universal expression) "try i
over again." also, their firm convictio,
that they are soldiers for Jesus, to hell
on this war of freedom for all oppressed d
and not be inspired with deepest abhor
renee Of slavery and unquonohable de
sire for the freedom of their race.
have seen much TO admire in them a
servants, laborors in the feld, as sol
dicrS, in camp, on the battlefield. bu
never so much In all those relations tha