New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-30
Black D1en i'm the Navy-Pighi La Mobile
To ire Editor Of TIE ~ Y. Tri6sne !:

To ire Editor Of TIE ". Y. Tribune:
SIR: To the honor Of this branch OF the ser
vice 1T must be said il always recognized oil men ss
men, yet 1 regret TO say that justice is withheld
from them, when their merits and gallant behavior
are 10 DO recognized. Such honors are for white
men only.
30 much is now being! said about the fighting
qualities Of tho Black man In the Army, that II
would be no moro than fair to state few facts
about this class Of men in our navy. About one
fourth OF the men in the navy at present. are free
colored men Of tho North aud freedmen Of the South
amongst which may be found some OF our most ro-
spectacle eolored citizens. They compose two-thrds
of the Powder divisions OF our vessels OF war and IN
n great number, a third OF the gun crews. Or their
fighting qualities you need only ask their COM
uandefs and officers and the fact should not be lost
sight or that in ships of there are no non-ccm.
batants really. A ship is not Ike the army. we
have no rear to look during tho battle in safety
ont of harms way but every man has his station,
AMI each, like the parts OF a machine, NUS work.
that tho whole may move successfully.
TO give some idea Of the great service rendered
b. these people and o. their desire TO fight for the
Flag, will tell you Of what have seen on the
fxhting ship lIartiord l do not write, however,
with any disparagencnt Of any other class of men,
be they what color or nation they may, when We
90, into battle aud our brave boys began TO be cut
10 pieces all distinctions wore soon lost and no one
thought but OF destroying the common enemy. =,
We had IS OF 50 colorcd men on board, stationed
on the powtor division and some few of the guns
and those who had stations that only rcqnised them
in cases of accident or emergency, volunteered ior
moro honorable stations and more exposed to dam
ger and actually begged OF tho captain 10 De, ara
70 assigned TO other stations and tor their be-
hayior In battle received tho thanks Of the officer
commanding the division they were assigned to-the
sln-leck division; had rare exhibition oI cool
bravery. A l25 ID she'll entered the ship and e1'
plodcd, killing ten and woundne. seven men, icaV.
Ing only two NJ the gun, Of them the captain oil
n. and tho other colored man, who never moved
from his station. Such an exhibition oil courage
h worthy OF the brave commander tEat eGldeu Us
successfully In this magnificent bay.
Wo bsa irenv such instances Of intrepidity, but
every one behaved So we!l, that fear j would he
5orr Injustice TO mention individuals But praise
shouN be given TO all for their behavior ana when
IL will 30 reeollccted that the dead, wounded ana
diving were all brought whore the men were neht-
inc and that the notwithstanding scene could NOT
damien t'e ar,lor of the men fighting the guns, one
will more admire the gallant aud determined beha-
vior Of these people.
Ne had most terrible fight, and glorions vie;
toy-auothcr sacrifice 10 freedom and our beloved
country, and the Black blood WAS nsked ana spniou
"a freoIy rs the white. We have in this ship three
colorcd men mortally wounded and another danger.
onsly wounded beside three o. four shgAtiy; ana
God knows how many in the fleet; but l am
sure o sufficient number TO give material ior
some impartial historian 10 prove they gal
llenllv fonIht for the cause OF our common coun-
| try. You may yei have the pleasure Of read
! ing Of medals bestowed and promotions made ior
| qallauiry in battle OF our white brave shipnlhtes
and NAV think it strange that not any mention was
made Of tho brave blacks that fought BY Their SIDE.
But the time has not arrived for justice to be
done even in the Navy. where officers and gentle
men ionly imagine they practice it. We leave the
CAGES Of the poor but brave men in tho hands OF
their patriotic and i fen ai yis
torv Won viii remember the share the black man
in and pride or sxped5sgScyh ID ppsys sa. ns
being Justly oeiTy rcconmcnaea, Nc az ,c;s' va
on ,' fsr God, and tho hops within him banishcd
| hy present non-iecogntion.
''Iyc are gradually hnding and walking in the path
ocpr,ndoi1 and Justice. If we be saved, we must
tread therein; and then even tho Navy Forgetting
color will recognize the old Spartan gd.antry IN
battle, above the mean prelualce OF tny coior OIL
the skin. OSE " 10 LOVES Justine
Mobile Day, August, 1864.