New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-03
TEE COLORBD TROOPS AT
PETERSBURG.

II is natural that the Copperhead allies OF
Jefferson Davis should cherish an enyenomed
hostility 70 the brave Union soldiers who are
fighting against the Rebellion. Natural, also,
that, as they scarcely dare exhibit it in full,
they should publicly express 1t against the only
class of those soldiers whom the public permits
TO be slandered at home, and the Government
to he slaughtered when wounded and prisoners
on the battlefield. Natural, therefore, that
the repulsc on Saturday should be seized upon
as occasion for dccrying colorcd soldiers, and
for imputing to them defeat which they and
their white comrades alike shared in, but the
responsibility for which probably rests on
neither.
The facts are mainly as stated yesterday.
The colored troops did not compose the first
assaulting, but the supporting. column, and they
were not ordered forward until white troops i'll
greater numbers bad made desperate effort
to carry the Rebel works, and had failed. Then
the colored troops were sent in; moved over
the broken ground, and up the slope, and within
a short distance of tho parapet, in order, and
with steady courage; but finally broke and re-
treated under the same fire which just before
had sent q whole division of white regiments to
the right about. If there be any disgrace IN
that, it does not belong exclusively, nor mainly,
TO the negroes. A second attack ia far more
perilous and unlikely TO succeed than first;
the enemy having been encouraged by the
failure Of the first, ard had time to concen-
tratc his forces. And in this case there seems
to have been fatal delay in ordering both the
tirst and the second assault.
Now, contrast with the above statement OF
facts the following editorial invention from the
leading Comprehend paper of this city;
1.-THE hrst line captured with huIrah; then The
second bu, We failed a, the third Line whyi Simply add
only because negro troops inused the task Of taxing
the key Of Tie Rebel position
Every word false, and proved to be false by
the account which the same paper publishes in
another column from It's special correspondent.
We quote:
"In pursuance Of the order OF attack tho i "a md 81,
Divisions Of tho Corps nnsod opposite tho doomed
fofthe ls under Gen. Lcde. being the asssuns column
supported By ID while the ih brought up the rear III;
latter division, IL viii be feterbcfed' c'Posso onAeo
Il colofed regiIpents."
And the attack is then correctly described as
having been made by the First Division, and,
after their repulse, taken up by the Fourth,
with ike result. What excuse, then, for a
falsehood which is contrsdicted by the tcsii-
mony of the same paper which uttesS it
! The Associated Press correspondent, in his
confused and inaccurate account, shows, not
for the first time, the same disposition to mis-
represent the conduct of the colored troops. IL
is not long since the repulse Of the cavalry d.
vision of Fitz Hugh Lee At Wilson's Wharf by
the colored brigade of Gen. Wilde was tele-
graphod all over the country b. the Associated
Press--tbe fact that the troops who gained the
victory were colored being carefully suppressed.
In this instance, the correspondent even of a
Coppcrhead paper gives what seems to be toll
crably fair account OF the assault, and is con-
ilrmed by that Of The Times-a paper by no
means specially friendly to negro troops.
We know Of 10 habit among ds!oyal pa
pers which deserves sterner ccDsure than this OF
charging cowardce upon troops who have re-
peatedly proved their right aud their ability to
stand side by side with the bravest Of white
regiments. The negroes are fighting for a
Union which We hope will some day recognize
their rights, bat which hitherto has been to
them the source Of nothing but oppression,
cruelty, injustice. They are fighting to uphold
IA Government which ncglocts to give them tho
protection due TO every soldier under the flag.
The magnanimity, the heroism, the unmatched
fidelity to the cause Of tho Union, which they
show in such circumstances, entitle them to
the profoundest respect and admiration; entitle
them al least ~ immunity from The SANDER oil
those who advocate their enlistment for the
sake OF keeping white men at home.
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| ATLANTA.
| Cap Tlnn,acis ad1racs IN tho ARMY of the