The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-04
FORTRESS MoNRoE. Nav 26. l8l

From Gen. Buffers Army.
| FORTRESS MONROE. Nav 26. 1864.
General Butler holds his own on tn,
south side of the James River, and is only
awaiting events in Grants advance, to b,
again actively engaged. 1t is somewha
unfortunate that petty jealousies should
exist In an army made up of veterans, bu
80 i appears in this corps, and will still
lead to more disastrous results.
General Gilmore comes among us. anG
is assigned for duty to General Butler
who retained him in command of the 10th
corps. Instead Of cooperating with, and
acting as an adviser to Gen. Butler. Gill.
more does all he can to thwart his plans
and almost openly ridicules his General
Butler's) acts. In this respect the 10th
corps IS demoralized, as far AS Gilmore
controls it, and that is not very desirable
The subject was brought to the notice OF
the authorities ut Washington, and will. nc
doubt, receive due attention and a fair in.
vestigation.
In order 10 keep our army at the front
well supplied with subsistence, il became
necessary to guard the James River effect
uAliy, on the most prominent points ex-
posed to rebel sharpshooters. It was long
expected that the enemy would fire on our
transports. but they either had no force to
spare, sending them elsewhere or the en-
terprise was too significant to undertake.
However, on the oath inst, at one o'clock.
three or four transports, coming down
from Bermuda Hundred, were fired on by
sharpshooters. Two Of the officers, Cap
tain Robinson and his brother, the mate
OF the propeller Maydower, were badly
wounded, one in the breast and the other
in the hand.
While the firing on our transports was
progressing, Fitzhugh Lee, in command of
brigade Of rebel cavalry, made demon
stration on our line at and near Wilson's
Wharf, below Fort Powhattan, which is
garrisoned by Wild's colored brigade.
The following is our own correspondent .
account of this affair:
CoLORED BRIGADE.
Wilson's LANDING, JAMES RIVER,
VA, May Is, 1865
Yesterday this point was the scene of
quite little stir in this stirring locality
twenty-five hundred picked men, left
Richmond on the ed, with the purpose of
capturing the small force garrisoning this
important position.
About one o'clock he attacked our pick
cts. (part Of the LIST United States ColOred, y
who acted like veterans, falling back with
great GOODNESS, holding the attacking force
their wounded safely inside the works..
After an hours severe firing, finding his
efforts fruitless, he resorted to the old
dodge of sending . flag Of truce, and occu.
plying the interlude by shifting his forces
ana making arrangements for an attack.
the correspondence on this occasion is wor-
thy of note. He demanded q surrender in
the following terms, written on q blank
page of = memorandum book:
liam ordered by MajorGeneral Fitzhugh
Lee to demand the surrender ofthe federal
forces at Wilson's Wharf. If you surren-
der, your troops will be handed over TO the
proper authorities Of Richmond, aud treat
ed as prisoners Of Nar. Ii you do not, he
will not hold himself responsible for the
He thinks he is strong
enough to carry your position.
Very respctf ", your ob't servt,
Major A. b. WRIGHT, A. A. g.
''Brigadier General Wild, Commanding
Federal forces"
General Wild's reply is we'll worthy a |
place in the history Of the war. 1t was
sim ..lHy
EDWARD A. WILD.
BRIG. Gen. Volunteers"
The enemy, seemingly Infatuated by this |
cool reply, massed his forces on our ex-
treme right-Our weakest point, and hurl-
ed them on our works, making several
distinct attacks, each time only to meet q |
volley that sent them back FAST
er than they came. During the height Of
the engagement a transport arrived with |
couple Of hundred men Of all arms, re-en-
listed volunteers, convalescents, de-, all |
unarmed. Learning, however, that wei
were attacked, they Immediately landed |
and volunteered their service to supply the |
place of the wounded. One Of the highest |
that could be paid the color
ed troops, was the unqualified admiration
they bestowed, and the praise the veterans
lavnshed on them. Instead of being able |
to encourage, they learned themselves, . |
new lesson in GOODNESS and bravery. At |
ter some pretty sharp fighting for three |
hours or more, the enemy withdrew, dis |
and chagrined, having lost some |
thirty killed-prObably over hundred |
and some few prisoners-lsav-
ing his dead unburied, and part Of his
ON the field. i
Too much praise cannot be bestowed on |
The colored troops aud their conduct in this |
affair, ranking as it does, with Wagner,
Millikens Bend, and in fact. any place
where they have ever had an opportunity |
10 stand in their true light. The Admin |
never struck a more terrible blow |
IT the rebellion, than when il entered On 1
The organization Of the colored troops. The !
enemy will long have cause to regret Fort
Pillow. This arm Of the service, when it |
strikes deals terrible blow.
Gnncral Wilde nNnInct rnr.1 md hpouo