New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-18
How Butler Got Over His Prejudices.

How Butler Got Over His Prejudices'
From Buffers Speech the Civil Rightsl Bill. in
the Congressional Record, January 8.
Now. sir, you will allow me to state how
got over my prejudices. l think the
House got over theirs after the exhibition
we had yesterday. think no man will get
up here and say he speaks only to white men
again. He must at first show himself worthy
before he can speak to some cOlOred men in
the House after what occurred yesterday
[Applause.l
came into command in Virginia in 1863,
there organized twenty-five regiments
with some that were sent to me, and dis
ciplined them. Still all my brother officers
of the regular army said my colored SOL
diers would not fight; and l felt 1t neces-
sary that they should fight to show that
their race was capable Of the duties of citi-
zens; for one of the highest duties OF citi.
zens is to defend their own liberties and
their country's flag and honor. On the twen-
ty ninth of September, 1864, l was ordered
by the comm anding General Of the armies
to cross the James river at two points, and
attack the enemy's line of works, one in the
centre of their line, Fort Harrison, the
other a 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 Cen
eral Ord, and they attacked one very strong
work and carried it gallantly. l went my
self with the colored troops to attack the
enemy at New Market Heights, which was
the key to the enemy's flank on the north
side of James river. That work was re-
doubt built on the top Of a hill of some con.
siderable elevation; then running down into
a marsh; in that marsh was brook; then
rising again to plain which gently rolled
away toward the river. On that plain,
when the flash of dawn was breaking, l
placed column of 5000 colored troops, in
close column by division, right in front,
with guns at fright shoulder shift"
said: 'That work must be taken by the
weight of your column; no shot must be
fired;' and to prevent their firing had the
caps taken from the nipples of their guns.
will be, Remember Fort Pillow" and as
the sun rose up in the heavens the order
was given, Forward ~ and they marched
forward, steadily AZ if on parade-went
down the hill, across the marsh, and as
they got into the brook they came within
range of the enemys fire. which vigorously
opened upon them. They broke little as
they forded the brook, and the column,
wavered. u. it was a moment of intensest
0AAtStyS DuS AACy AoA HCu DO UuCS
reached the firm ground, marching steadily
on with closed ranks under the enemy q fire,
until the head of the column reached the
first line OF abatis some $50 yards from the
enemy's works. Then the ak men ran to the
front to cut away the heavy distractions
of defense, while 1000 men of the onemy,
with their artillery concentrated, from
the redOubt poured heavy fire upon the
head of the column hardly wider than
1ayIyPe Anc1- \
under that murderous fire; other strong
hands grasp the axes in their stead, and
the abatis was cut away. Again, at double
quick, the column goes forward within fifty
yards of the fort. to meet there another line
of abatis. The column halts. And there a
very fire of hell is pouring upon them. The
abatis resists and holds, the head of the
column seemed literally to melt away under
the shot and shell, the flags of the leading
regiments go down, but brave black hand
seizes the cOlOrs: they are up again. and
wave their starry light over the storm Of
battle; again the AK men fall. but strong
hands and willing hearts seize the heavy
sharpened trees and drag them away, and
the column forward, and with shout
which now rings in my ear, they went over
that red0ubt like flash, and the enemy
never stopped running for four miles. APP
plause on the floor and in the galleries.
~ UcCdLHc my painful Nuty, slf, W lOliOW
in the track of that charging column. and
there, in space not wider than the clerk &
desk. and 800 yards long. lay the dead
bodies of SAB of my colored soldiers, slain in
defense of their country, and who had laid
down their lives to uphold its flag and it's
honor az willing sacrifice: and as l rode
along among them. guiding my horse this
way and that way lest he should profane
with his hOofs what seemed to me the sacred
dead and as looked on their brOnzed faces
upturned in the shining sun to heaven, as if
in mute appeal against the wrongs that
country for which they had given their
lives, and whose flag had only been to them
flag of stripes on which no star of glory
had ever shOne for them-feeling l had
wronged them in the past and believing
what was the future of my country to them
among my dead comrades there swore
to myself a solemn oath. "May my right
hand forget its cunning and my tongue
cleave to the roof of my mouth, if ever
fail to defend the rights of these men who
have given their blood for me and my coun-
try this day and for their race forever; and.
God helping me, / will keep that oath. ~
lGreat applause on the floor and in the gal.
leries.