Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-10
Malay sf Nears Frssp..

Correspondence Of the New York Hsralal
FoRT EsPERANzA, Texas April We had
sn exciting tine berai day bafors yesterday with
the colored troops gardening she forEs, who
consider themselves on footing and equality
with the Whiis soldiers. A few dsys since in
an alteration between q negro sud one Of 4He
lssser, ihs former told him that they Che negro
lEooPs} we've IS good Es the white cnes What
IS that you ssyla asked the soldier "a Niger
as good as white Esn, hey 2 I'll show you
whethsf be is OF not" And, suiting the sofion
to the words, be would have seiz ID his muskes
ans shot the ueeiO on the spot had not those
srl 1 prevented him rom dofng %. On he
isTe. MsIeh one Of this same col0red resi.
.ment-lst battalion, "a b Raods IsNnd heavy
aTtillery-Ess in one Of their cfisars' tents for
the purpose Of receiving orders; but, ss thsV
did not altogether sci. him be domurTed and BE-
gan % gTumbis. Tie Ofiser orisrsd him ont Of
The tsntI but, the negro still remaining, the for
Ener advanced towards him and pushed biss.
with the intention Of faeilEaii1g his progress
to the door. In an instant the negro seiZsl =
revolver which lsy uPoa tie table; but tee next
moment be lay upon the ground, With = bullst
IN bis brain for bsfJrs be eoald Taise his hand
10 sheoi or strike the ofi.er, the latter drew
another pistol from his side and shot him in the
head. The negro Was not dead st last accounts
though his recovery is considered ineossible
And now the whole battalion sEore vengeance
and but for prompt aeli0n would have broksn
cut into open mutiBy- They went sbout IN
squads, with savage looks, many refusing % do
iurlheT duty, while others were furious, swsr
gsTing, swearing, and threatening.
In the meantime the 10Th Ohio WAS ordered
up, and battery Of srallsry was stationed in
direct range Of their esmp, with order to open
upon them at tie slightest show of violence
tFa A--r >
the prisoners therein, the whole eolersd battalion
having previously reesiTed orders to assemble
outside WITHOUT arms. They were thea fur
nished with enc days rstiOns and marched
down the coast fogr miles IN a eoId norshsg
Chsrgss and sentences passed by c0urt-msrtial
and approved bY the general commanding, were
then Iesd 10 them ct the guard mouptRr, and
tbs whole sHGr probably ends By the = ,isneing
OF twelve or fourteen 10 hard labor, with ball
aud chain, tor one year. Tho morning that this
difficulty occurred they stole and secre.ed three
bsrrels Ct whisky wbils unloading the transport
Clinton OF her freight, and several refused 10
obey the direct orders Of their ofieers
And now will give you shs history Of shis
battalion OF lho l4sh Rhode Island hssvy arsil-
lsFy.
They are all free negroes, and were rserpitsd
with the understanding that they should receive
the same pay and equipments As The white
troops. This was done for tho purpose of per-
sueding as msny negroes as possible to enlist.
aDd thus avoid fhs draft ss muoh as possible
They were pestsd in Rhode Island and pstssi in
camp and ths sonseg uenee was that they hsId
up their heads, aud made Zoe appearance Al
dress psrads, and gave promise OF making good
soldiers. Bat, alas, they were poorly ofieerel.
and the case I have related Is the only oue IN
which prompt punishment was given Of mutt.
nous conduct Of 6isobedisles Of orders. I; yss
no unusual sight to sss sn officer attempting 10
quiet the quarrelsome negro By taking him on
one side and talking mildly to him, Instead Of
ordering him under sTTess. And now to sam m
all, these iree negroes have refused 10 receive
their psy, and declare that they are not in tie
service, because the paymasssr viii nos pay
them moTs than the amount pail By Congress,
and the same IS the white soldiers Thair Ell
GERS told them that the State Of Rhode Islsnd
would make up the amount IS agfeed. This
they pledged their hOnors upon. So the psy-
masters returned to this city without paying
them of.