, 1863-03-27
NEGRO SOLDIERS AGAIN
UNDER FIRE.
The Expedition Of Cols. Higginson and Mont.
gomery to Florida.
Recapture OF JaeksonviIIe-Rrave of
The Negro Troops.

transports, on tile lOth.
INCIDENTS OF TIE ARRIVAL.
We came up to The wnarrcs without any op-
position whatever !; and, as the boats were
coming in, the ladies' Of the ,town came leis-
urely down and viewed us ut their leisure,
and then turned and walked away. The col
orcd troops were Immediately landed and
posted at the corners of the streets, and 1t
was very amusing to witness the eagerness of
the earkics as they took their station be-
ut charge bayonets,, all eagerly watching
as II they expected a rebel would show
Lis head, md they were all ready to
charge bayonets upon him. One old lady
seemed very submissive, but considc rably
perturbcd. She asked permission of Colonel
nejghbor. Tie Colonel Of course gave con-
sent ut once, and very politely escorted her
over. As she was leaving the house she called
to "Maria ~ to take care Of the house, which
concealing hcrself so that when her mistress
returned She could gain no entrance to her
OWN houec, the frightened servant having
taken herself away out Of hearing. After
some time she succeeded in prevailing upon
Musia to open the door. :.
TIE "fA1R LADIES" 1sD1osAST.
The fair Indies are exceedingly indignant
that negro troops are brought here. ! met
three young ladies, who were In a state Of
| perturbation, expressing the greatest fear that
ile negroes would be allowed to disturb them,
or murder or destroy them or their property.
assured them they would not be allowed to
harm them that the discipline Of the soldiers
| harm whatever. They expressed themselves
| very much relieved, but they expressed the
greatest hate and contempt for the poor mig
I ger. "1f white troops had come, they would
| Gaye no fear ut all, hut these horrid negroes,
| they would surely kill them all-they could
| not be restrained"
sr1En1on1TT OF TIE NEGROES As sESTISELs.
tanned in tic colozed regiments; and for drill
they are quite as apt as any white troops /
| have ever seen, and for fighting material they
have already proved themselves courageous
beyond the most sanguinc expectation, the
great difficulty being to restrain them when
arc superior to any troops re have, for they
will not suffer themselves to be tampered
within the least. Here is an instance: Two
nights since, the sentry on this boat thc Burn
sidc}-a recruit who had scarcely been two
weeks in the service, and never before stood
guard halted boat, giving the usual chal'
ienge, *'Ha1t that boatl" which the boat did
not heed. He repeated, tHalt that boatr
The boat did not heed the challenge. The
sentinel brought his piece to shoulder and
cooked it, and gave the third challenge in 8
tone not to be misunderstood" Halt thai
boat!' and it did halt, and very fortunate
was 1t for the boat that the sentinel piect
| was not loaded. The boat answered the cha1
lenge, "Who comes thcrc:'' with Frlcnd;'
and>the sentinel called his corporal, aud th'
matter Was inquired into and found TO be cor
rect, and the bearer Of dispatches was allowed
| to come on board. Col. Montgomery re
marked at breakfast the next morning that /
was one Of the finest challenges he ever heard
The town is pickcted, and guards placed 70
all necessary protection. The negroes repor
fiom here. The Colonel proclaims to cycr
:. colorcd man he meets that they arc free, an
3 it is pleasing to witness the effect upon them
sNRM1suEs WITH THE ENEMY.
THURSDAY, March IL.
/ Yesterday We had sharp ekirmishing. Th
rebels endeatored to dis1odge us from til
town, but they went away with much create
: respect for negro soldiers than they erer cor
= ceiycd Of hasing. The enemy attacked on
with how large force It is impossible to SAY
At about o'clock Wednesday morning,
force Of two hundred cavalry made an attac
t on companies 4 and B, Of the ed regimen
# stationed west Of the town, near the railroad
= They came round upon the lett flank Of con
panJ 4, to the front, in 4 half circle, pouse
/, u terrific volley in upon our men, complete
II the circle, and gaTe us another fire, Will
g company A got in only one volley in return
: which did, however, fearful execution. The
H. | surgeon was EnOt through L0E 1QrCuclQ IN
T. fell dead. Captain Holt, company A, m
# Captain Apthrop, company B, retired shol
distance and formed in line, and awaited tt
rcappearancc Of the enemy.
In short time a force Of 200 infantry a.
L. peared in front. Captain Holt nlistakiE
y them for our own men withheld his fire (wAie
$. ifEiytn at the proper time would have bee
perfectly murderous), until they fed towart
!, the woods. The rebels at the same tin
Of poured a deadly fire into our mer, whit
threw them into ? slight panic. But they r
turned the fire with effect, rs several were sex
10 fall. One man from Co. 4 was killed at
y two wounded, one severely and one slight
- As the my A1cd towards the woods, c.
y Montgomery, who Was in front, was b1oug
r i'll duect range Of the fire, and fell upon i
,r face until the shot passed over. lie remark
- Tint ssit was the hottest fire he ever was u
der'' You can well judge what must ba
t. been the effect upon raw recruits who ha
H. | been in service scarcely two weeks and b
u no discipline whatever. When warrior
Id Col. Montgomcry'e experience saysit is war
r. work, we may pretty safely conclude that It
so. The conduct Of the soldiers was adm
s. rable.
= We can accnunt for three killed and ten
m fifteen wounded among the rebels, and prol
Of b1y their loss Is greater, as they carried a~
al their dead and wounded. We have lo1t Q
~ | man Killed md two wounded.
to We have ten or fifteen prisoners, am0
be whom is Lient. Drfsco1l, formerly of the U
by tcd States army, q son-in-law OF tlol