The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-08-02
THE OOLORED TROOPS IN CHAR
LEsTON IARBOR
Their Bravery Under Fire at Fort
wagner.
SCENES IN THE HosrrrAts.

Correspondents OF the Evening Postl
PoRT ROYAL, Jaly "a, 1863-Fresh
honors crown the colored troops So
fully had their character for bravery
been established, that in the recent as
sault upon Fort Wagner the Fifty fourth
Massachusetts were allowed TO lead our
veteran troops, nor did they (to their
honor be il said) refuse either the le ad
or their support
On forming them into line Gen. Strong,
who had by his soldierly and kind bear
ing towards them secured their conf
deuce, raising his stentorian voice, cried
out, "is there a man here who thinks
himself unable TO sleep in that fort TO-
night ~ The earth rang with the thun-
der of their "Nop' Turning to the
color bearer, he said: ais there any
man 10 take bis place If this brave color
bearer should fallr With lifting Of
hands, and leaping, aud almost yelling,
all through the enthusiastic ranks, came
the response, "Yesl Yes"
GENERAL sTRoN0's TESTIMONY.
From General Strong himself, az he
lay in the hospital four days afterwards,
suffering from his CHASTITY wound, learn
ed that these men had "had no sleep fer
three nights, no food since morning, and
marched several miles, Under cover Of
darkness they stormed The fort, facing a
stream of fire, faltering not ill 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 fort. No
man broke till fired upon "
THE SUPPORT OF THE ooLoRED 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 re-
| giment went in seven hundred strong,
| and brought of only three hundred and
sixty sound men. OF seventeen officers,
only three came out unhuft. The mum
Der Of killed have not learned About
two hundred are now lying in our hos
pitals. Some who had prophesied that
the colOred man would not stand fire
but had finally yielded in his favor
still contended that CHASTITY wounds and
sufferings, with slaughter and death o
comrades, would qassh all their love o.
freedom and soldering, and silence th'
boasts of their friends.
woUEDLD coLeBED SOLDIERS IL HOSPITALS
On the second and fourth days afto
the fight / passed through nearly all th,
wards of the hospital. On the seoonG
day n very large proportion Of thei
wounds had not been dressed, and o
course they were painful. Some lay witt
shattered legs or arms, or both Others
with limbs ampufated. Rebel bullets
grape, shells and bayonetts have made
sad havoc Staading amidst a large
number, Isaid, swell, boys, this wal
not o part Of the programme, was itF
"Oh. yes, indeed, we expected 10 TAXI
all that comes, said some. Others said
Thank God, We went in 10 live or die
Ifout Of il and home, how many would
enlist again ? With frightened faces ant
some raising OF even wounded arms ol
hands, all said, "Oh yes, yes. f." Som'
sang out, "Oh, never give IL up, ill th'
lastrebel bo dead, or "the last brothe
breaks his chains" or, +" If all our peo
pie get their freedom, We can Afford 4
die.
Frank Myers, from Ohio, whose arm
was badly shattered by a shell, said "Oh
thank God so much for the privilege;
went in to live or die as be please. Ii
stood right under the uplifted sword Q
their brave Colonel Shaw, on the yer
top Of the parapet, As he cried, "rush OF
rush on, boys!' and then suddenly Gel
quickly followed by Myers himself