Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-07-05
How the Colored TroopslFight.
INCIDENTS OF THE ATTACK on PETERSBURG

INCIDENTS or THE ATTACK ON PETERSBURG
The correspondent Of the Tribune writes from
the headquarters of General Butler, under dat
Of June l6;
g find that in my account Of the assault upor
the rebel works in front Of Petersburg hardly
did the colored troops justice. AS sbefore stated
they held position on the Jourden Point road
and connected with Gen. Brooks division on The
right. 10 front Of them was an earthwork and
three redoubts. They were first directed to as
sault the earhwork. 1t is proper here to state
that Gen. Smith, in common with many other
good soldiers, while recognizing the propriety Of
using the negroes as soldiers for certain purposes
has at the same time entertained doubts as to
their fighting qualities, and therefore wished to
try them. 1t is, perhaps, needless to add that
the quietly but firmly expressed confidence Of their
leader, General Kinks, in their ability to cope
with white troops, had much to do with removing
doubts which existed, and dspellng illusions ex-
isting only in imagination.
The accident to Gen. Kinks, alluded to in my
last letter, deferred him from that active partici-
patton in the fight which he otherwise would have
been sure to have taken. AS it was, suffering
iIom bis old wounds, opened airesh by bis fall, to
which may be added fresh bruises and contusions,
be still persisted in directing the movements Of
his division, and It is but stating the truth to say
that the heroism thus displayed by their com
mander inspired the officers, and, through them,
the priyaLes, to deeds Of yalor. To return, the
charge upon the advanced works was made IN
splendid style; and as the dusky war.ors stood
shouting upon the panpet, General Smith decd
ed hat hos tld ID. nd nj fort thup
to storm the first redoub. Steadily these troops
moved on, led by officers whose unostentatous
bravery is worthy Of emulation. With a shout
and rcusng cheers they dashed at the redoubt.
Grape and canister were hurled at them by the in
furated rebels. They griuued and pushed on,
and with yell that told the Southern ehyalry
their doom, rolled irresistby over and into the
work. The guns we're speedily turned upon those
Of our misguided brethren WHO forgot that discre
ton was the better part OF yalor
Another redoubt was carried in the same gal |
liant style, and the negroes have established rep.
utation that they will surely maintain.
Well said Gen Buffers chief OF Staff to a
tall sergeant, you had pretty tough fight there
On the left Yes sir, and We lost good many
officers and men, How many prisoners di you |
AXE, sergeant ? Not any alive, sir was the sig |
nicanl response. Gen. Smith says, They don't |
give my Provc st marshal the least trouble, and |
lon't believe they contribute toward filing up the
lospals with rebe Wounded
saw those troops as they advanced in line of
Jatte, and ii was the general comment that there
vas less strlgling than ever seen. In truth there
vas none.
General Grant visited the front yesterday, aud
While there one Of his aids, who wore no distin-
gushing mark Of office, was arrested by one OF
he coored soldiers on guard. They would not
,eieye his story, but took him to Gen. Grant TO
orroborate his story We'll, General, have
,een arrested by this soldier who won't believe my
Tory The Clmmander-in.C & hief identified and
ceased his aid, telling the soldier he had done
lis duty. lie then remarked to his aid, Served
gu right, sir; am glad of it, as it shows the ne.
roes are vigilant. The next time you bad bet
er wear something to indicate Jour rank and pro-
ession or else keep out OF their way. Let me
id that Gen. Grant and staff have become quite
over the performances of the colored
yison. Officers on Gen. Hancock's staff as
hey rode by the redoubt, surrounded bya mote
.ilh water in it, over which these negroes charged
Omitted that its capture was u most galant az ,
r. The negroes bear their wounds quite as
luckily as the white soldiers, visit to the hos
ital made apparent