San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-21
HOW IT CLOSED.

George S. Williams Relates a Colored Sol
dier's Experience During the War.
The afternoon celebration of Enamel
patton day was largely attended by the
colored citizens, and 1t Is estimated that
there could not have been less than 2O0C
people upon the grounds.
At 2 o'clock the proceedings com.
menced by the Rev. Z. Garrison
chaplain OF the day, offering prayer
and then President Lincoln's famous
Emancipation proclamation was read by
Mr.. w. II. Mitchell. Then addresses
were delivered by J. J. Hambleton,
editor of the Austin citizen. W. w.
Grimes, the Rev. Mack Henson, John
Ii. Copeland, J. z. Newcomb and Mr.. +
L. Thompson. All the speakers glOri-
fled the liberty and beneticence of
emancipation, and gave good advice
for the advancement Of the race. At the
conclusion of the speaking temporary
adjournment was made to the baseball
grounds, where the tiremen and Excel
sior guards gave exhibition drills, and
other amusements were presented.
When this was done the party returned
to the springs and amused themselves in
various way until late hour Sunday
morning.
The good order and sobriety exhibited
by the cOlOred people was especially
cOmmendable, and the LIGHT was glad
to learn from Officer FitZhenry that
there was not single cOlOred man in
the bat cave on Sunday morning.
The LIGHT commissioner had the
pleasure of meeting Mr.. &c Jorge 5. Will
liams, an intelligent colOred veteran,
nd in MI tn frin "
liams said: There were So cOlored
veterans In the procession, but If we
had shown cur full number of veterans
we could have mustered nearly $50.
Was in the war? Yes sir. This hand
you will see is SCARED. | was shot
through there at Fort Hudson when
serving under Captain Chic, and have
bullet in my leg That was pretty
sharp fight. We were waiting REIN
forcements, but TO gain time, we de-
cided on attacking the, fort. We
learned that there were some dummy
guns and we attacked where they were
supposed to be, but we got on the
wrong side. When we made that at
tack there we're 100 of us. When we
finished there were only l25 and
don't believe any Of us would have
been saved lift hadn't been for the time
ly arrival of reinforcements. We had
managed, however, to save the colOrs,
and to waive it proudly in sea of
blood. We thought we had then done
with the war, but we were drafted to
jackson, Mississippi, where l served
under Col. Hartford and Captain Wick
ers. Here |, and about Sc more, were
taken prisoners and remained captive
about ten days. We we're fed solely on
poor corn mush, and we got very hun
CRY. Every day some of our number
was shot and the others, under guard,
were compelled to witness the execu-
tions. At last we got reduced to nine
in number, and then, in desperation, We
decided to attempt an escape. We
knew we had to die anyway, and we
thought we might as we'll make break
for liberty. If we made it, all would be
well, If we failed. we could only meet
with a quicker death from our captOrs
bullets. The attempt was made and we
rushed for the brush and swamp near
the camp. Six of US gained IL in safety,
although some of US were wounded; the
other poor fellows were killed. When
we had gone few miles, we saw some
soldiers riding down on us, and | can
tell you we were well scared, for we
thought they were our captors. 1t
proved to be our own soldiers, and we
we're soon resting in friendly camp. |
could tell you many interesting events,
If had time now, but this will show
you that the colored man has done some
thing for his country, perhaps more than
those who cry out the loudest against
him."