New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-05

quently found strewed with skeletons Of those
who had persisted by fire.
At Lake Providence, Louisiana, or the 10th
of June, negro troops repulsed Rebel attack,
fighting, as they always fought, with steadlness
and valor; but even on this victorious field,
wounded negroes were murdered in the progress
of the action by the Rebels. On the 18th Of July
occurred the memorable assault Oh Fort Wag-
ner Morris Island, South Carolina. The oath
Massachusetts, negro regiment, took part III
that assault. 1t lost many prisoners, some OF
whom were murdered in the fort while lying on
the ground wounded, and many more were car
ricd to the city of Charleston as captiveS. An
exchange being agreed on the next day, the
white prisoners were sent back to General Gill
more, but no negro, nor officer of negro troops.
Nor to this day is it known what their late has
been.
These events, this Rebel career of murder,
this systematic slaughter Of colored troops
fighting for the Union, were known to the Gov
no remonstrance. During the period OF
more than six months following tho issue
of Jefferson Davis's proclamation wherein these
murders were committed, there was no order
nor proclamation for the protection of the negro
troops by the Government, or by any military
authority, of the United States; nor was any
act Of retaliation performed or threatened.
But the colored troops were retained in
o4lo Z
volunteers; and on the 9th Of March all the
negroes on the sea islands of South Carolina
were compulsorily drafted by order Of General
Hunter into the armies Of the United States.
Moreover, the exchange Of prisoners on either
side continued.
On the 3Oth Of July, 1868, the President OF
the United States issued an order touching the
protection of the colored troops and designed ap-
parently as a response to the proclamation of
Jefferson Davis, which had been promulgated
seven months before. Upon the appearance OF
This order there came pause in the murderous
work of the Rebels. But though the Rebel policy
seems to have been for moment and in part sus-
pended, it was not abandoned. They suren-
dered no negro prisoners, nor is there any evil
dence to-day to prove that such prisoners are
either alive or dead. They have since resumed
the practice Of publicly numbering wounded ne
gro captives. At Paducah, negroes captured in
the town were shot. And lastly came the massa-
ere at Fort Pillow. 1t does not appear to vary,
except in the extent of its butcheries, from the
incidents of similar character that had previ-
ously occurred; but it has invoked, at
length, the attention Of the Government,
and there is q consideration of the question of
retaliation. 1t now, therefore, becomes peril
nent to quote the terms of the order of July 80,
1868 We extract two sentences:
1t the duty OF every Government, to give protection to
e. citizens Of whatever class color condition. and e.pe
oay to those who duly organized soldiers in the public
service"
at therefore ordered that for every soldier Of the United
States Killed violation Of the laws Of Rebel soldier
,hsl be executed"
This order is signed by the President, and
has not been retracted nor modified.