Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-09-17
Our armp Correspondence.
NV OR1kANs. Aug. %

NEW OhIhhNbf Ahks
Dear 5osrnai Since the fall Of Fort
Morgan every thing has been quiet, so II
vosld seem to an outsider-but the work
has nevertheless continued to go on without
any in;ermission, and in Farraguts ard
Changers own good time the ball will open
again more effeotually than ever before. Al
though you have, ere this. heard most OF the
particulars Of the bomhatdment and final re-
duction OF the Fort, allow me TO give lew
particulars received from staff officer o.
Brig. Gen Arnold, who was in command OF
our batteries during the seige. AT the OPEN
ing Of the Are from the land batteries and
gunboats on Monday morning, our sharp |
shooters advanced to within something less
than one hundred and fifty yards Of the Fort,
and by their we'll directed fire drove the gun
ners from their pieces and completely silenc-
ed the rebel guns on the land side. In this
contest white and black soldiers nobly fought
side by side and We'd with each other for the
workmanship. The white soldiers excellins
only in their superior coo'ness OF aim, while
they could not claim precedence for superior
bravery. And let me here state In justice
to Gen. Granger that be is the first Genera
IN this Department who in my opinion has
done full justice to the colored troops who
have been in autive service in the field. A
few weeks since | read in New York jour
nal, Admiral Porter's official account OF the
rescuine Of the fleet from the rapids above
Alexandria, in which he mentions the fact OF
two or three white regiments participating ~
the labor Of constructing the famous dam
which has immortalized Col. Bailey. tut ST.
len;ly passes over four or five colored regi-
ments who labored necessarily night and day
in the water to their arm pits during its con-
struction. Also the name Of 1t. col. Pear
call is not mentioned, although he personally
suparnteuded the entire work OF tue enE-
neerng department Brevet Brig. General
Bailey has indeed won honors oi which he
may well be proud, and 1t cannot detiAct from
the credit given him, or make his laurels
shine less bright to give due credit TO others
who so richly deserve it Since writing the
above telegram have been received from
Mai. Gen. Heron commanding the district OF
Baton Rouge and Port Hud on, giving an uc-
count OF interpolation to Clinton, VIII CHI sue
ceeGed III routing the rebel forces under Col.
Scott--demollshed their camp, and captured
n large amount Of cummissary aud quarter
masters etures. Our loss was tnhing-Gen.
Uilman in command Of the L. ;. forces at
Moigarza Las succeeded in driving the enc
m, beyond tue AtehaialAJa aver, capturing
many Irisouers, and destroying large a
mount VI cAoitos
Ia my private correspondence from the
North anu frequently asked, why it 10 that
there is not more general uprising of the
culured people through the South, and gre Al
surprise is often expressed that this has beer
the cast. This is very easily accounted for
when we take into consideration the uttei
contempt ia which they have been held by
white troops with whom they have come
M contact, aud the degi aiding manner IN
which they have been mode to feel their
inieIiority. hven within The last two months
know Of several ms ances in which white
sDdiers, caught IN the very act of highway
robbery have been sentenced as punish
meut. to labor ON vernment works Tor
certain number Of consecutive days by the
sde of oolred soldiers, who lAbored thus
daily ss a part OF their military duty. ANY
amount of such instances might be enumer-
ated, which have deferred colored men from
volunteering, aud make him feel that nc
greater disgrace could fall to his lot, than to
be put into the ranks of the federal army.
only speak Of this as 1t was previous to the
receipt of the order from the War Depart
ment publishing the act Of Congress which
raised the pay of enlisted men, and placed
colored soldiers on par with others in the
matter of pay. In this organization, OBJ
in the way OF prejudices and political iuflu'
ences which none but such master mind fJl
matters Of state as tnGt possessed by Genera
Banks could successfully contend with. Al
an instance OF the thoroughnesss with which
the system has been nducted here, let M
add: There are now being educated in thi
city upwaid DIS Of five thousand coloIed chill
dren. and much larger number are being in
s:ructed in the great truths of the Bib
every Sabbath. and are making marked pro
gress. An orphan asylum has been estat
hshed where the little children under lively
years of age, who have no guardian OF friend
TO take charge Of them, afe clothed, fed, an
educated And so thorough has been tn
work, that to-day, not colored vagrant ca
be found In the City of New Orleans, or an
part of the State occupied by Federal troop
Many complain that the war drags on slowl.
let me say to such Have patience to wa
with patriotic courage the work goes o
sure and there s an influence at work for h
crushing Of this rebellion more powerful tina
our army and navy, and which will be MOI
disastrous TO the confederacy in it's result
But more Of this anon. Yours for Freedom
9. w. FosTER, Jr.,