Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-18

Times thus describes the splendid fighting
Of the black regiments at Port Hudson:
Hearing the firing, apparently more
ierce and continuous to the right than any
where else, I hurried in that direction
past the suga houses Of Colonel Chambers,
where had before slept, and advanced to
near the pontOon bridge across the Big
Sandy bayou, which the negro regiments
had erected, and where they were fighting
1ost desperately. / had seen these brave
aud hitherto despised fellows the day be-
core, as l rode along the lines, and had
sees &c, eral Banks acknowledge their
espectful salute as he would have done
hat Of any white troops; but still the
question was-With too many" viii they
GCht p The black race was, on the event
al day, 10 be put to the test, and the ques-
,i0n 20 be settled-noW and forever
whether OF not they are entitled to assert
tasir right to manhood.
Nobty, indeed, have they acquitted them
selves, and proudly msy every eOlored
man hereafter hold up his head, and point
- the record of those who fell on that
bloody field.
General Dwight, at least, must have had
;he idea not only that they were men, but
something more than men, from the terrific
Test to which he put their valor. Before
1ay impression had been made upon the
earthWorks Of the enemy, aad in full face
% batteries belching forth their G2-pOund-
eTs, these devoted people were rushed for
ward to encounter grape, canister, shell
aud musketry, with no artillery but two
small howitzers that seemed mere pop
guns TO their adversaries-and no reserve
whatever.
. Their forces consisted of tie First Louis
lana Native Guards, with colored field
officers uuder Lieutenant Colonel Bas-
-stt, aud the Third Louisiana Native
Guard5, Colonel Nelson, with white field
o,iicers the whole under the charge of the
latter officer.
On gong into action they were 1850
strong. and formed into four lines, Lieut.
casui-C5lonel Bassett, First Louisiana,
forming be first line, and Lieutenant
Colonel Henry Finnigas the second. When
ordered 10 charge up to the works, they
did SO with the skill and nerve Of old vet
Grams, fblack people, be it remembered,
who mad never been in action before, but
The Ere from the rebel guns was so terrific
upon The unprotected masses, that the first
few shots moved them down like grass,
and so continued.
Colonel Basselt being driven back, Col
onel FinDi-as took his place, and his men
being similarly cut to pieces, Colonel Bas-
sett reformed and recommended; and thus
Jhese brave people went on, from morning
until 81 P.-I., under the most hideous earn
age that men ever had to Withstand, and
hat very few white ones would have had
nerve enough to encounter, even If order
ed 10. During this time, they rallied, and
were ordered to make six distinct charges,
losing 81 killed, and had 155 wounded and
lI6 missing-the majority, if not all, Of
these being, in all probability, now laying
dead on the CORY field, and without the
rites of sepulture; for when, by a flag Of
truce. cur forces in other directions we're
permitted to reclaim their dead, the bene-
Ct, through some neglect was not extend
ed to these black regiments.
The deeds Of heroism performed by
these eolored men were such as the proud
est white men might emulate. Their col
ora are torn to pieces by shot, and literal
ly bespattered by blood and brains. The
Color Sergeant of the First Louisiana
on being mortally wounded, hugged the
sued between the two Color-Corporals, on
each side of him, as to who should have
The honor of bearing the sacred standard,
and during this generous contention one
vas seriously wounded. One black Lieu
tenant actually mounted the enemy's
works three or four times, and in one
charge the assaulting party came within
fifty PAGES of them Indeed, if only or
dinarily supported by artillery and re-
serve, no one can convince US they would
not have opened a passage through the
enemy's works.
Captain Cailloux, of the First Louisiana,
. man so black that he actually prided
himself upon his blackness, died the
death of hero, leading on his men in
the thickest Of the fight. One poor wound
ed fellow came along with one arm shat
tered by shell, and jauntily swinging it
with the other, as he said to friend Of
mine: "Massa. guess 1 can't fight no
r,oren was with one of their captains,
looking after the Eoun led going in the
rear Of the hospital, when we met one
Enping along toward the front On be-
ing asked where he was going he said 4:
Z" l been shot bad in de leg, Captain, and
they want me to 60 to de hospital, but
guess I can glib 'em some more yet"
could 20 on filling your columns with
Startling facts of this kind, but l hope l
have told enough to prove that we
can henceforth rely upon black arms as
we'll as white in crushing this internal re
Tsllion. !, long ago, told you there was
nn army of 250,000 men ready to leap
Ijrward in defense of freedom at the first
call. You now know where to find them,
and what they are worth.
whose fault it is know not, but it is
painful to state hat in the midst Of all
tb;s carnage, when men in every form Of
horrible mutilation were being sent 10 the
rcar-after fighting as very few white
men could have fought-not a single am
bulance or streicher was there to gather
their :orn and lseeratei bodies. These men
are soldiers Of tie United States, bravely
lighting for their country, and not wild
beasts being sent to the shambles. / much
mistake the character of our people II
iley do not henceforlh insist that they
shall have the humane treatment due to
ever soldier, no matter what the color OF
his skin.
Although repulsed in an attempt which
situated as things were-was all but
impossible. these regiments, though badly
GU. up. are still on hand and burning
with a passion ten times hotter from their
fierce baptism of blood. Who knows but
tbsf It IS q black hand which shall first
pI-nt the standard Of the republic upon
the doomei ramPsrts of Port Hudson