The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-22
GallantrY of Negro Troops.

The accounts of the brave conduct of the
colored troops with Gen. Sturgis' unfortu-
nate expedition seemed at the time to be ex-
travegant, but they are confirmed By fuller
and later accounts. The colored troops did
protect the white troops on the retreat, after
repulsing the enemy, and bringing their guns
back to Memphis, while nearly every white
man threw his away. A letter to the Cleve-
land Leader gives the following incidents of
the bravery of the colored soldiers:
One detachment was driven into a bayou
10y a much superior force of the rebels, and
rushed up the opposite bank, exposed 10
raking fire. The rebels jumped down into
the bayou, when the darks turned upon
them and killed every man. When the reb-
els wished TO surrender, all the answer they
received was, Remember Fort Pillow" 1t
is supposed that from 100 to $50 rebels were
killed in that bayou. A corporal in compa-
ny c, 59th was ordered to surrender. He
let his would-be captor come close TO him,
when he struck him with the but of his gun.
While the regiment was fighting in ditch
and the order came to retreat, the color bear
er threw out the flag. designing to jump out
and get it, but the rebels rushed for it, and
in the struggle one of the boys knocked
down the reb who had the flag, with his gun,
caught the flag and ran. A rebel, with an
oath, ordered one of our men to surrender.
He, thinking the reb's gun was loaded, drop
ped his gun; but on seeing the reb COM
mence loading, our colored soldier Jumped
for his gun, and with it struck his csptor
dead. Captain H., being surrounded BY
, about dozen rebels, was seen by one Of his
men. who called several of his companions
they rushed forward and fired, killing several
of the enemy, and rescued their captain. A
rebel came up to one and said, "Come, my
good fellow, go with me and wait on me-
In an instant the boy shot his would-be mas.
ter dead. One man in a charge threw his
antagonist TO the ground and pinned him
fast, and as he attempted to withdraw his
| bavonet, il came off his gun, and as he was
busy Just then, he left him transfxed &c
4 mother earth. One man killed a rebel
striking him with the butt Of his gun, which
he broke; but, being unwilling to stop hi.
work, he loaded his gun and fired three times
before he could get better gun; the frs
time, not being cautious, the rebound of hi:
gun cut his lip. When the troops were il
the ditch, three rebels came to one man ant
ordered him to surrender. His gun bein,
loaded he shot one, and bayoneted another
and, forgetting he could bayonet the third
he turned the butt of his gun and knocke
him down. One man had his gun spoile
by shot. A rebel ordered him to surren
/ der. Yes, massa," he said, The reb the
loaded his gun. when the colored man jump
ed on him, took away his gun, and shot hil
in the mouth. When the remnant expeditio
reached Memphis, the negroes, as they mo,
ed up Main street, sang the Battle Cry {
r Freedom with as much spirit and energ
a as was possible for Yen in their exhaus.e
q state; and the effect was decidedly fae.
t C. We learn that our beautiful stat
u house at Montpelier is used by men OF th
baser sort and women full as base for the
q lewd purposes. 1t being open at all times
: the day and night ii becomes the receptac
of debased wretches that frequently Infe
. the state capital, and are getting quite ts
n common in all large towns. Where is Il