New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-30
PROM GEN. BUTLER.
The Wilson, Wharf Eighi-The Negroes
mud Fitz Hugh Iec-thi Tricis Of the
Demand for surrcuder-t.cn. Viid'-
Refu.nI-Thc Bnuie-rIow the Negroes
Fought.
From Our sfelsl Correspondent
liTtDQUARrrTs or GES. I'll

From Our sfela Correspondent
Hr,DQt.Rrrrs or GEy. T. ILER. May % ls6l.
Gen. Wild is in command 40 Wilson's Wharf,
o. the north side Of the James lie hos garrison. all
ne-roos with artillery belonging 20 fhe colored battery
raised by Gen. Batter. Wilson's Wharf implies more
than the name suggest. Ilo wharf So oao tlinr the
adjacent country quite another. Ilc lluG rises SOME
what abruptly, and then tors b. lcyc' lind. Hcreon
our line was established about nile AND half in
length and thanks to the lercrrng oncrgy Of coorcd
soldiers. bad been well fortified.
Yesterday about noon. Iiu Hugh Lee, now Major
General and commanding tho cavalry Of the Con-
idoruie army vice stewart killed by Sher.dans men,
pncared before the place with thous tnds-how many
dare not say as their losses Ia tie recent battles have
never met my eycs-of the Southern chyalry. With
the courtesy ola Iiz Hugh the characteristics Of
gentleman and the arrogance Of the Southern planter
i. II. L. Major General sent into our lines and de-
handed surrender promising thatin case Dis request
or demand was complied with the garrison should be-
sent to the authorities at Richmond prisoners ofwar
but II refused be would not be answerabo for the result
Chi,alrous gentleman shrcwd luantier Of lives Did
you not know that the authorities at Richmond had
by public manifesto refused TO recognize negroes az
prisoners Of war; Was it not plain TO your intelligent
mind that under this refusal these negroes could be
again placed In bondage hy those authorios provided
they should by special interpo.ton ofdyne Providence
escape butchoTy at the hands ofyour gentlemen COM
rades
Con. Wild replied, "Wc win Try def." And the
fight commenced. AZ FIRST it ragged ierccy on the left
The woods were rdllcd with bullets. The dead and
wounded oftho Rebels were taken away from this part
Of the field. but am informed by one accustomed to
Judge and who went over the field to-day that from the
pools Of blood and other evidences The loss must have
been Finding that the leit could not be broken
Ftz Hugh hurled his chiyalry -dsmouncd. Of course
upon the night. Steadily they came on. through OBJ
struc6ns, through slashinR, past abattis. without
wayoring Here of The advantages II negro troop
was made apparent They oheyol orders aud biied
their time. when well tangled in tie abattis the death
warrant Fire" went forth. Southern chiyalry quailed
before Northern balls though fred by negro hands.
Volcy after volcy ruined upon the superior by the
inferior race and the chiyay broke and tried to run
The fight lasted I'll about o'clock, when ho5tilities
ceased. Gen. Wild directed .c operations in person
and made preparations To renew the fight but during
the night TIE cligdry initiated ao Orenials as told ia
song, and
Folded ther tents, like Inc Arab,
Aud silently stole away
Gen. Wild f. an enfilsia,t on the subject Of colored
troops. Io firmly believes that white man. In course
VI time and by strict discipline, can be made as good
soldier. lie has the most Implicit confidence in his
troops. and Sc have they ia him Gen. links. who com
nands the coored division. tookit byproicrencc There
are those who affect to dcsplse negro troops and say
hey cannot be ti in positions OF responsibility or
IN ease Of an emergency. Talking with Regular Army
,1cCr, who entorlains many Of these preadice hc nd
nittcd that with good officers tie negroes would mako
good soldiers An Old adagc, and true Of any men OF
any color. But now comes the query. Why are not
heso troops We'll differed Sas Casey, MINOR General,
.ud Of hc most thorough and best discipuaraus
he service has presided over Board OF talented oil
.ers in Washington for the sole purpose Of selecting