Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-07-31
The Colored Troops on Morris Island.


A correspondent of the n. Y. Evening
Post, writing from Port Royal, July "a,
gives the following account of the bravery
of the colored troops in the assault On Fort
Wagner
Fresh honors crown the colored troops. So
fully had their character Tor bravery and reli-
ance been established, that in the recent assault
upon Fort Wagner the 54th Mass. were allowed
10 lead our veteran troops nor did they Ito their
honor be it said) refuse either the lead " their
support.
On forming them into line Gen. strorg, who
had by his soldierly and kind bearing toward
them secured their confidence. raising his s'en-
tdrian voice, cried out. l. there E man here
who thinks himself unable to sleep in that fort
tonight ?" The earth rang with the thunder Of
their No :" Turning TO the color-bearer, he
said Is there any man TO take his place if
this brave color-bearer should fall!" With lil-
ing Of hands, ard leapng, and almost yelling,
all through the enthusiastic ranks, came the re-
Spouse, =" Yes Yes , -
From Gen. Strong himself, as he lay in his
hospital four days af(erward, suffering from his
ghastly wound, l learned that these men had
" had no sleep for three nights, no fod since
morning, and had marched several miles. " IN
der cover Of darkness they stormed the fort,
facing g stresm Of fire, faltering not till tie
ranks were broken by shot and shell,
and in all these tests, which would have tried
even veteran troops, " they fully met my eIpec-
tations," said the General, &" for many Of them
were killed, wounded or captured On the walls
Of the fort. No man broke TIL fred upon.
The ech Connecticut, who had h0nored them
selves at Jacksonville cooperating with col0rej
troops, supported the 54th in the assault. Seve-
raj Of the officers lying in the hospital confirm
the testimony Of Gen. Strong The regiment
went in 700 strong, ard brought of only 800
sound men. Of Il officers, only three came out
unhurt. The number Of killed have not learned.
About 200 are now lying in our hospitals
Some, who had prophesied that the colored
man would not stand FIRE, but hal finally yielded
Ia his favor, still contende1 that ghastly wounds
and sufferings, with slaughter and death Of COM
rades, would quash all their love Of freedom and
soldering, and silence the boasts Of their friends
On the second and fourth days after the fight,
passed through nearly all the wards Of the hos
pital On the second day a very large proper
ton 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 bsyonets have made sad havoc. Standing
among large number, | said: " Well, boys,
this was not part Of the programme, was it,
&" Oh, 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 il and home, how many would enlist
again? With frightened faces, and some raising
Of even wounded arms or hands, all said; "Oh
yes, yes" Some sang out: "Oh, never give II
up till the last rebel be dead, or"the last broth
er breaks his chains, - n &c if all our people get
their freedom, We can afford 70 die.
Frank Myers, from Ohio, whose arm was bid
" shattered by shell, sad. "Oh, I thank God
SO much for the privilege; went in to live or die
as He please" He stood right under the uulittei
sword Of their brave Col. Shaw, on the very top
Of the parapet, as be cried: Rush on, rush on,
boys ," and then suddenly fell quickly followed
BY Myers himself
No man can pass among these sufferers, so
patient, 50 cheerful, hear them express their de-
sire for 2 speedy recovery, first and only, that,
they may 1.-THE almost universal express on "try
It over again and also, their firm conviction
that they are soldiers fr Jesus, % hel1 On II g
war Of freedom for all the oppressed. and not be
inspired with deepest adherence Of slavery and
unquenchable desire fr the freedom q their
race
l have seen much to admire in them az sew
ants and labo7eTs in the fyld, as s.lic.s m
camp on the battle field; but never SO mu,h 10
these relations that IS so truly manly heroic ami
sublime as exhibited in the furnace fires # var
The sympathy and kind attentions Of the c1l-
cred people are unmeasur5d Yesterday Peter.
from a plantation seven miles distant. calling on
Gen. SlTton. said; "Ginerl, l brought load Of
corn from GU people. for dc sosers 10 the hcspi-
tol. Some gives two ears. some four and some
more, as dey be able May do poor wounded
sogers have it, Yes, yes; thank them for
il, said the General Men. women and chi
dren, BY the hundred, have turned miuisteriag
angels 10 their suffering beueftc'cr-, as the bas-
kets Of corn, figs, melons, pies. cakes, kettles Of
coffee, soup, and numberlsss other tokens q
sympathy clearly evince.