The National tribune., 1888-03-08
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
GUNTOwN.
The Hldeous Butchery Of the COiored Troops il
tine Disastrous Retreat.

The Hldeous Butchery Of the COiored Troops in
the Disastrous Retreat.
FDrroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your paper
of Dec. %. 1857, I read a graphic account by
Col. E. NJ Lowe of the conduct OF the coiored
regiments at the battle of Guntown, Miss. so
far as nv observation went in that hight the
negro troops were deserving of all honor Tor
bravery and steadiness.
was a member Of Co. K, I'D Ohio, and was
with my regiment IN the battle and also in the
disastrous retreat. When we were ordered
back on account of flank movement by the
rebels il was the general impression that we
were not whipped, but only falling back across
Tishomingo Creek TO secure a better position
We obtained this on the hill west OF the creek,
and there we halted for 9 time and formed
line of battle expecting that the fight would
be renewed there Up to this time / saw no
serious Generalization in our troops, certainly
none in the I'D Ohio Gen. GriersOn was there
placing the troops in position. However, IN
half an hour the orders were given to retreat
by Gen. Sturgis who was IN chief command )
and then and for the whole nights march con-
fusion reigned supreme. Sturgis ls UNIVERSAL y
charged with being the cause OF the loss oil TINS
battle He made his escape with brigade OF
cavalry, and left the infantry which he COM
nanded TO run 60 miles without ammunition
or rations before a mounted enemy flushed
with victory Not many of the infantry es-
capped capture in the two days following.
During the night of the 10th Of june, and
the retreat Of 81 miles, the only compact orgsnl-
cation ] saw was the negro regiments, when
were much reduced by casualties during the
days fight. They did not struggle, but marched
together; and / distinctly remember their
solid ranks and the orders of their officers,
STEADY, men, steady" several times as ! saw
them on that awful night. They were Kept
well together and were the embodiment of all
- Of c.fff fs4fr
do not remember TO have seen them the next
day at all; but never shall i forget the dis
cipine and grit they showed that night, when
all but they were IN confusion and almost hope
less panic. Their valor was equal to the white
troops and their discipline was far superior.
Now let me turn to another picture, not
usually DISPLAYED. l was captured on the 18th
of June having kept out Of the hands Of the
enemy for two days after the hattie, aud with
many Others conducted back. along the same
road we had trod in our retreat. We were a
discouraged set most of Us being robbed
OF money, valuables and even clothing. There
were only two colored prisoners in our column
The rebel guards often expressed strong de-
sire TO kill them, but. as I then learned, they
were recognized as slaves belonging to some
prominent man IN that part Of Mississippi and
were TO be restored 70 him as special favor
from Gen. ForresE Poor fellows They march
&c with us amid the cruel iibes curses and
threats Of relentless enemies, not knowing how
soon some reckless rebel soldier might ride NJ
and shoot them in what to him was mere sport
Their FINAL disposition / do not know, but they
never went with US 10 AnGersonyille. They
missed that misfortune, whatever else they en-
dured.
As we reached the vicinity Of the battlefield
We saw abundant evidence of the cruelty ex
ercised toward the black soldier. The rebe
soldiers declared boas;iugly that they took ~
niggers " prisoners. The wounded were Kill
ed and. as we saw, remained unbuTled. Some
stiH lay IN the road where they had suffered
death. and over their lifeless remains went the
wagon and artillery wheels OF our column o.
guards, nangling anew their limbs and bodies
Many grim Joke Of the rebel troops wa:
made over these incidents. The white soldiers
had been treated with some humanity; The
dead were hastily buried. the wounded held al
prisoners. But for the black soldier 10 be over
taken BY the enemy was death. There was az
quarter for him. His face and his uniform
were his fatei
So Ear was this feeling Of hostility 70 colored
soldiers carried by the victorious rebels thai
they did not properly discriminate. There
were three companies Of Indians IN the 9Th
MINI, and as their complexion was dark they
were treated as negroes and dealt with accord
ingly. No Indians were taken prisoners. Tn,
white men were reserved for the tortures o
ABdeFs0nyille, Florence and Salisbury prison
pens-a fate to which speedy death was pref
erable
TIE 9Th MINI had been doing duty at For
Smelling. ID the far North, watching the threat
ened Indian incursions, and reaching Aemphi
in June, 1864 this Siurgis raid was their frs
march and GuHtown their first battle. tn
regiment was full ana the men large ant
strong. But the change Of climate aud eondi
tons were severe. More than half were capt
nred; and at Andersonville their mortalit
was excessiye.-H. B. TURRILL, Co. K, =
Ohio. Cincinnati. q.