The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-10-27
Will Negroes Fight ?

Ed. IkibuHE:-This question hss been
asked me great many times, and am
now tally prepared to answer it, Let me
give the facts. In the late advance from
Deep Bottom, the 3l Division Of tie 18th
corps was in advance. This division is
entirely composed Of colored troops, aud
is commanded by Gen. c. ]. Pdine, an
unos,cnto,ious, but good fighting man.
We had not advanced hundred yards
outside our picket lines till skirmishing
commenced with the enemy, but We
gradually drove him back to his line u
earth works, distance Of some two milcs.
We found the rcbs here securely posted
behind a line Of works, with two lin Of
abbotts in front. The 81 Brigade OF the
3D. Division Of the 18th corps, led by Col.
Duncan, charged these works, but werg
repulscd This brigade is composed OF
the Ith and 9th U. S. colorcd troops,
but there number were too few to carry
tho formidable works before them. The
3d brigade, composed Of the Sh, 36th aud!
3Sih colored, (tae 9th being from Ohio,|
was then brought forward and after some
hard fighting the works were carried at
the puins OF the bnyOnet. In thS charge
the 9th lost five officers and over 100 men
in killed and wounded. Lieut.. Col. G..
w. Shurtlcii, commanding the rcgimeur.
was wounded in the hand und severely
in the thigh. Captains Cock und Marvin
in the arm, Lieut.. Way, in the bod., aud
Capt. Faprion in the thigh.
We then cautiously advanced Rame
three miles further, towards Fort Gils,cr,
on which work the 9th u. $. C. r., To-
sether with some colorsd regiment oftIo
10Th corps, advanced as support TO a
brigade of the 10th corps. The udvancta 4
brigade, charge d to within SOME $50 yards
OF the fort, in most CALLING fire, gave way
aud fell back through the line ui colored
troops who gullau,ly charged up 10 the
rebel works in most murderous fire of
shot and shell. The ground in from, Of
the rebel works was cut up by drains filled
up with logs aud brush, and each of
which was cnfiluded BY batteries of the
enemy. There was no shelter TO b,
found, in which TO res, or reform from the
line, so as 10 make the charge effective.
Major Terry, OF Norwnlh, led the 9th ia
this charge, always at the hcnd Of the
regiment, in the post OF danger, he saw
his brave men falling in scores by his
sldc' aud seeing the troops on each side
OF him breaking, he ordered the remnant
OF his mcn TO fall back. This they did
reluctantly, feeling that if they had been
properly supported, they could have cur
rled the works, though their losses had
been very heavy. Capt. Miller was
wounded in the right knee (leg amputut.
ed) Lieut. J. Il. Johnson in the head;
Lieut.. Wars was wounded in the ler
and as he was unable to fall back was
captured. A number of the wounded
here fell into the hands of the enemy.
Out of IA officers and $50 men who
went out with the 9th regiment in the
morning, again evening 8 officers were
wounded, aud 1893 men killed and
wounded. As all this loss was occasioned
IN charging the enemy's works, their
II ,hting qualities need no better exponent.
Though the loss was not so heavy in the
other regiments, their fighting was al.
most equally good,
The standing Of colored troops in this
Amy is of the best kind. All praise
their noble behavior in the thick of the
fight. A man would be hocted at here
that would even hint that the colored
.roops will not fight. They are equally
yood at digging. The same night after
ightlng so hard during the day, the 81
i'ylsion threw up a line of breastworks
'arolIed to the James river, some two
niles long, where they have since been
guarding the left flank of the Army of
he James. The rebel iron. clads tried
o shell them out but their firing wss
cry poor.
by the way, the Johnnies have again
ommenced to desert in a handsome
lyle. Yesterday "a came in together in
ne squad. This morning six came in
rom the iron clad Virginia." seven Of
he most trusty had been sent ashore for
'ater, and of these six deserted. Every
nan who gets ashore without the pres.
nee ofan officer, pays US visit. From
hese deserters we learn that the rebs,
ow can appreciate the 6ghting qualities
coiored troops, and fear them accor-
ngS. Though when captured in fight,
'ey beseech the white officers, in
teous tones, to spare their lives. But
n getting loo prefix. ! shall close by
'ying that the Dutch Gap Canal is
early completed, and when completed
ok out for a telling 6lore.
II. N. n.
GTAlmost every Democratic paper
at we receive as an exchange comes to
with a rooster at the head Of its col.
nns.-Erte County News.
The joke of it is that they wero all
owing over the Pennsylvania eleenon
hich gave the Union ticket l5,C0o or
1000 majorityi l, is the frs, time that
have known Democratic editorsAto
0w over Union victory and this time
'y done il through a mistake. What
become fyour great game.eosks now
!. Hemsl .-.LI