The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-01-29
Butler on Civil Rights.


during the late war, appears in Buffers
recent speech
con the 29th Of September, lSGI, was
ordered by the commanding general of
the armies to cross the James river at two
points and attack the enemv'S line of works;
one in the center Of their line, Fort Har-
rison, the other strong work guarding
| their left flank at New Market heights
and there are men on this floor who will
remember that day, | doubt not, as | do
myself. | gave the centre of the line to
the white troops. the Eighteenth Corps,
under General Ord, and they attacked
one very strong work and carried it gal
lantv. I went myself with the colored
troops to attack the enemy on New Market
heights, which was the key to the enemy s
flank OH the north side Of the James river.
That work was red0ubt built on the top
Of a hill Of some considerable elevation
then running down into a marsh in that
marsh was a break then rising again to
a plain which gently rolled away toward
the river. On that plain, when the flash
of dawn was breaking, Iplaced column
Of three thousand colored troops, in close
column By division, right in front, with
guns at right shoulder shift
ii said: That work must be taken by
the weight of your column; no shot must
be fred and then to prevent their iirins
I had the caps taken from tie nipples Of
their guns Then I said, Your cry, when
YOU charge, will be, remember Fort Pill
low; and as the sun rose up in the heavens
the order was given, Forward and they
marched forward, as if on paradc-w,n'
down the hill, across the marsh. and as
they rot into the brook they came within
range Of the enemy fire, which rigorous
ly opened upon them. They broke a little
as they fordcd the brook, and the column
wavered. o. it was moment Of intense
anxiety, but they formed again as they
reached the firm ground, marching stradi-
ly on with claSed ranks under the enemy :
fire, until the head Of the column reached
the first line of abats, some one hundred
and fifty yards from the enemy works
Then the aAmen ran to the 'front.' to cut
away the heavy obatructions 81 dcirn-r,
while one thousand men of the enemy.
with their artillery concentrated, from the
redoubt poured a heavy fire upon the
head Of the column hardly wider ihan the
clerk desk. The axmen went iown un
der that inurderous fire; other strong
hands eraspeh the axes in their ~tead. ani
the abatis l. cut away. Again Il double
quick the column goes forward to within
fifty yards of the fort, to mee; there Az
other line Of ahati~. The rolumn halts---
And there Il very fire Of hell l. pouring
upon them The abatis rcsi.ts and holds !;
the head of the column seemed l.lrral ' To
melt away under the rain OF -h"t and
she'll the flae> of the leading regiments &"
down. but brave black hand sri2cs the
colors; they are " again and wave their
starry light over the storm of battle; again
the axmen fall but strong hands aud will
ing hearts seize the heavy sharpe"cd trees
and drag them away, and the column for
ward, and with a shout which now rings
in my ear, they went over that redonbt
like fash. Applause on the Fl ''r and
in the galleries
1T became my painful duty. sil to fol-
low in the track of that charging column,
and there. in a space no wider than the
clerks desk and three hundred yards long.
lay the dead bodies of five hundred and
forty.threc of my colored soldiers lain in
defense of their country, and " H. had
laid down their lives to uphold - ila"
and lis honor ~ willing sacrifice and |
rode along among them, guiding my horse
i i Al lac ! 81. |