The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-08-04
THE COLORED TROOPS IN CHARLES
TON HARBOR.
Their Bravery Under Fire at Fort
Wagner-SceneS in the Hospitals.
Correspondence N. Y. Evening Post.l

PoRT ROYAL, July %
Fresh honors crown the colored troops.
So fully had their character for bravery
and reliance been established, that in
the recent assault upon Fort Wagner the
54th Massachusetts were 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 soldiery and kind
bearing toward them secured their con-
tidence, raising his stentorian voice,
cried out, 'Is there man here who
thinks himself unable to sleep in that
fort tonight" The earth rang with the
thunder of their "Now Turning to
the color bearer, he said: 'Is there any
man to take his place if this brave color
bearer should fall?' With lifting of
hands, and leaping, and almost yelling,
all through the enthusiastic ranks, came
the response, "Yesl Yesr'
GEN. sTRoNG's TESTIMONY.
From Gen. Strong himself, as he lay
in the hospital four days afterward, suf-
fering from his ghastly wound, l 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 till
the ranks were broken 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, or captured on the walls of the
THE SUPPORT OF THE CoLoRED REGIMENT.
The Sixth Connecticut, who had hon
ored themselves at Jacksonville cooper
ating with colored troops, supported the
Fifty-Fourth in the assault. Several OF
the officers lying in the hospital confirm
the testimony of Gen. Strong. The regi-
ment went in seven hundred strong, and
brought off only three hundred and sixty
sound men. Of seventeen officers only
three came off unhurt. The number of
killed | have not learned. About two
hundred are now lying in our hospitals.
Some who had prophesied that the col
ored man would not stand fire, but had
finally Yielded in his favor, still contend
ed 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
their friends.
On the second and fourth days after
the 6ghtI passed through nearly all the
wards of the hospital. On the second
day 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 both; others
with limbs amputated. Rebel bullets,
grape, shells and bayonets have made
sad havoc. Standing amidst a large
number l said: "Well, boys, this was
not par: of the programme, was 1t?
ooh, yes, indeed, we expected to take
all that comes" said some. Others
said, Thank God, we went in to live or
die"
If out of it and home, how many
would enlist againi With frightened
faces and some raising of even wounded
arms or hands, all said, "Oh yes, yes.
Some said, "Oh never give it up till the
last rebel be dead" or ''if all our peo-
pie get their freedom we can afford TO
die"
Frank Myers, from Ohio, whose arm
ilepe; | went in to live or die, as He
please" He stood right under the up
lifted sword of their brave Colonel Shaw
ON the very top of the parapet, as h'
cried, " Rush on, rush on, boys! an AM
| then suddenly fell, quickly followed D.
Myers himself. .eo,
No man can pass among these sunei
!, ers. so patient, so cheerful, hear ther
, exnress their desire for speedy reco'
ery, first and only, that they may Uh
: almost universal expression) try.
: over again." also, their firm convlctlo
that thew are soldiers for Jesus, to mel
o on his war of freedom for all oppressed
= and not be inspired with the deepest a
e horrence of slavery and unquenchao
If desire for the freedom OF their race
have seen much to admire IN them
n servants. laborers in the field, as soldier
D. in camp. or the battlefield, but never
lie much in all these relations that is
ID truly manly, heroic and sublime as
u bibited in the furnace fires of war.
1e NEGRO SYMPATHY.
Il The sympathy and kind attentions
be- be- the colored people are unmeasur
be % Yesterday Peter, from plantation seV
ne ne miles distant, calling on Gen. Sax
0 said: "Gineral, brot load OF corn ir
our people for de sogers in de hospl
~ Some gives two ears, some four,
y" some more, as dey be able. May de P
~ wounded sogers have it? " Yes, y
IF thank them for il" said the Gene
Men, women and children, by the b