The National tribune., 1886-01-28
LIVELY EXPEDITION.
A Lieutenant Tells How Well the CoIcred Troops
FOught.

Fought.
To THE EDITOR: Interested as ! am in read
ing the columns of Fighting Them Over" by
the old vets, ! have been very anxious to hear
from some of the comrades who commanded
the colOred troops known as the First Dlvlslop,
u. S. Coiored Troops while stationed at Tlcks-
burg, Miss, during the Summer of 1864. AS
yet none has stepped TO the front. AS one OIL
those niger officers. as the rebs called u.s.
Will try and give the readers of your valuable
paper a brief sketch Of an expedition sent out
from Nicksburg under command OF MAJ ten
Slocum. The expedition composed OF the
First Division (colored troops, commanded by
Brig Gen. Hawkings. There were one or two
regiments of white troops accompanying US, but
what regiments they were | cannot call TO nina
at this time The First Brigade of cO!ored
troops was commanded by Brighten. Sheppard,
comprising the SD L. S c. Inf, commanded
10y Col. gler; 45th L. S. c. Inf, commanded
by Col. RcardOn; 47th U. s c. Inf, commanded
by LicUt.-Col. --; Battery {, I'd L. ). Z. l..
A, commanded by Capt Ranney. This eXpe-
dition left camp at Nicksburg about the 2ith or
25th of June, 1864, with three days rations IN
haversacks. The weather was extremely hot,
and on our first days march we made but IL
miles, and went in camp at Big Black River:
The next morning we broke camp and started
in the direction of Jackson, Miss we were
annoyed very little by the rebels OCCASIONALLY
YOU could hear shot fired in our advance, but
little of Importance happened until we arrived
near jackson. We were ordered to hle right
through a cOrnfield, when several shots could
be heard in our front. After passing through
the field of corn we passed through a small belt
of timber, where we were drawn uplnto line CT
battle at the edge of an old field. You couid
look UP and down the line of troops, and could
see that the boys were eager for fight. Skir-
miShers were ordered i'll advance across the
- II l. /, ..,lN- tod
We again set out on the march, and as night
was approaching went into camp near Bayou
Pierre. The next morning we broke camp
again, started out and soon reached the bayou.
We had no pontoon train along, consequently
fording was the only alternative. 1t was quite
amusing to see the boys tp-toe across the bayou,
for the water was from four TO five feet deep.
After crossing we resumed our march ana passed
through a beautiful town called Port Gibson.
After passing through the town about quarter
of mile we received orders 10 halt. Quite SEN
sation was caused among the troops 10 know the
meaning of our stopping for the rebels could be
plainly seen but short distance Ill our advance
manuvering around under some small timber.
We soon received orders to countermareh back
through the town. After passing through the
town VIC filed to our left towards Grand Gulf.
Soon firing in our rear could be heard, but we
pushed forward until we reached the bayou
we crossed iii the morning only at a different
point Here, again, wading was our only
method of crossing, and there was no fooing
about it, for our rear was being pressed quite
hard by the rebels. As soon we landed on
the opposite side of the bayou the SD, COM
mandcd by Col. Zeigler, and my company were
ordered up the bayou about 200 yards to keep
the rebels from thanking us on our right. l re-
member distinctly the orders from Gen. Shep-
pard to Col. Zeigler to hold the ford at all haz-
ards 1t happened that the rebs never tried
W. ,,oI l. hrlt fnyy
minutes when we were ordered TO fall back with
the other troops. Then the ball opened, and for
five miles we fought and held the rebs in check.
We would form a line of battle, and as soon as
we were forced back another line was formed
in the rear BY this method of warfare we sue
ceeded i'll reaching the old rebel brcastwork
at Grand Gulf. / heard afterwards the rebels
numbered about 10000, commanded by Gen.
Writ Adams. 1t was estimated our forces did
not exceed 5000 all told. We lost quite hcav-
lily in killed and prisoners. How many we
killed of the enemy | never have learned At
ter reaching the breastworks all the troops,
exc ming the company that l belonged to,
W, sformed in line of battle, and considerable
fir g went on all night Ny company was
dc He'd to load our transportation train on
ST mboats that lay at Grand Gulf waiting for
US Never will | forget that night, for we
W ked hard until o'clock next morning be-
70 we had finished our task. AT daylight all
tt troops embarked on board of the boats and
81 med up the Mississippi River, leaving the
rcl,1S behind. We went up the river as far as
Jeff Daviss plantation. Here the troops got
off of the boat. The writer visited JETS farm
house: found it an elegant mansion, nicely
painted and fitted up in splendid style. will
say jeff was not at home. l found the house
occupied by negroes and my appetite being
quite sharp, asked an, old negro woman for
| something to eat. She cordially gave 4
pone of cornbread for which l offered her pay,
but she refused TO take anything for the loaf,
and with il and some green cucumbers | made
my breakfast on that memorable morning. We
resumed our march by land back TO NicEsburg
| tired and footsOre.-A. X. BANDER, First Lieu
tenant, Battery c, I'd U. S. c. L. A, Carbon
dale, III.