New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-12
4 StateIment Corrected.

To The Editor Of The n. Y TribunH
SIR: In your Issue OF the 3lst ultimo / see
the following statement made by your Fortress Monroe
correspondent:
The steamer Washington Irving from Roanoke Isl
and, arrived last night at Norfolk. Her Captain re-
ports that the of her departure his engineer went
ashore for the mails and his return to the boat was
attacked by two negroes whereupon he defended him.
self by knocking down, for which he was arrested
and locked up night. In the morning be was
brought before Col Holman. of the LIST United States
Coored Regiment, tried and acquitted The officers OF
the steamer say the negroes DO as they please on the
Island, and il is unsafe for white man 10 land there
Allow me to assure you that the above is false almost
to the very letter. and could have been reported with
no other design than to crafty a mean. contemplate
prejudice whose counterpart only be found in the
bitter virllence that logged malgnty too frequently
acted by parties that vessel toward people OF color
Here is a statement of the whole affair:
The Irving had just arrived mot on the eve
ofleayng for she remained at the wharf three days az
erward) and the engineer as usual came OF to see his
wife who resides on the Island. On returning lie met
Sergeant Chew Of Company h, with coored citizen,
the plank walk running from the Quartermasters to
the Coicnels office. The citizen stepped off the walk
and Ser geaDt Chew divided ii with him, though II
sufficiently wide for three to pass but the engineer
recklessly buted against the Sergeant TO knock
him entirely of, whereupon the Serceant said % See
here. my friend what do you mean Z TO which the en-.
ginccr replied, Dry up dry mp" The Sergeant then
said You had better get your boat II you cant be-
"
haed with vengeance toward him, said 3" You damned
negro son of bitch who YOU taking 10 = 70 which
the Sergeant replied I" take that from no man" and
struck the engineer Immediately. was passing at the
very time and before three blows could have been eI
changed private John l.. Clark intcfefed trying u
part them but not succeeding very well stepped Tor
ward and demanded hostltcs 10 cease. which was
lone instantly. The Colonel who saw the affair also
from the Adjutauts Office, bot thought them
playing st first. had them both brought
before him, but beng otherwise engaged ~ the
irve en- IA O'Clock
morning at which time their cases were examined and
found 20 be what have already related The Colonel
then told them he would give them ten minutes 10 settle
their feud be would put them on Government works
for ten DAYS The engineer that point offered the
Sergeant bis hand and acknowledged himself the De-
fanier which TIE Sergeant accepted. and friendship
having been restored the matter ended.
Thus you see no one was knocked down. no nc
groes attacked the engineer. Beside. am the acting
Postmaster aud he had not been there FOR the mail.
nor had he brought II from the boat for sent my own
orderly for IT, and he alone brought It, And as Tor the
safety Of white on tie Island they fare rs other
men, provided they behave themsclycs There are some
800 white citizens living here; have henrd Of none be.
ing killed or hurt. nor do / hear them complaining
though NY Office j. often full o. them. ] have heard
hundreds say that Col Honnns administration on the
land sun PASSED for order and regularity aus other
which they have ever had
win the captain Of the Irync have the kndness to
report the conduct II certain parties Oh BIS vessel TO-
ward respectable c0lorcd people How they charge a
colored passenger the same as white. and then drive
them out Of the saloon beat and kick them OF the upper
decS or drag them 20 tie steps and push them down
How they compel cOOTed sold ers who have fought iOg
their country to lie st doVn the bow Of the Doat
in the dirt water aud all other filth which may collect
around them. How they deny their wives. respectable
cooIed ladies from WasAngtOn Baltimore and Phla.
deiphio Sc, when visiting their husbands. 70 90 be-
yond the shaft OF the sidc Wheels sgDjecing them To
maiireamcnt and insults 1hif too Is all alone after
charging them iuI passengers fare. ] have no idea
VINO inc captain OF the Twin is. 30 that no personal
attack Is contemplated. Whatever. But the matTcat
meHt % c2'Ied people On that boat is proyeTba And
il lhey uid cherish hatred toward the officers and
crew Of the vessel u Is nothing unnatural Bat this
instance revenge was not sought
! Very respectfully
ii. VI. IrKSER, Chaplain 1st u. 6. CT
HadquerieTs LEI u 5. C. l.. Roanoke Hand " C. sept
I D. l-UJ.