The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-30
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE CoLoRED TROOPS.
Testimony Of View Hampshire Man to Their CAL
Iantry.


years Of trial that even the soldiers themselves
felt reconciled 10 the idea Of the ex-slagcs be-
ing armed aud having share IN the work OF
putting down the rebellion. 4 few of the Un
ion Generals, perhaps the most conspicuous Of
whom was Gen. Hunter of the Department of
the South tried 10 organize the blacks rs sol
diers IN the first year Of the war, but they
were sat down upon by the War Department
as being altogether too fast for public senti-
ment. At last, however, the time came for the
experiment 10 be tried, and Col +. w. Higgin-
son, Of literary fame, was given permission TO
raise aud equip regiment OF colored infantry.
The lst ;. G. COlored Troops went into camp
at Beaufort. s. C., and the writer. with several
o. his comrades, visited the camp of said regi-
ment few days after their tents were pitch
ed. ! well remember the appearance OF the
black soldiers as we came close to their line Of
sentinels about their quarters. The men were
carrying their rifles in anything but the regu-
lation manner for soldiers on guard. They
made no objection TO our entrance TO their
camp, but showed the cringing, servile spirit
so common among slaves.
After inspecting the camp and the men, we
came away with the freely-expressed opinion
among ourselves that these blacks would never
make efficient soldiers. il is but justice TO say
that year or more later we saw them again,
and 10 our surprise ii was one Of the best drill
ed organizations we saw during the war. There
was considerable sarcastic talk at the North ut
one time about how the colored troops fought
molly" 1t was my privilege to witness some
Of their exploits in action, and / will briefly
refer TO them in their order, as nearly as can
rec0llect the dates
In the first advance of the Union forces upon
Petersburg, Va, in June, 1861, we were march
ing along IN no immediate anticipation Of
meeting the enemy, when quite q sharp fire of
musketry, with the boom of cannon, greeted
Us, and only little way in advance. We hur-
ried up our pace and soon came up with q de-
tachment OF colOTed soldiers crowding about
bright new brass howitzer they had just cap
tured from the enemy. They were cheering
Justify, throwing their caps into the air and
using extraYagant words to express their JOY,
seeming as pleased as children over the acgui-
sition Of some valued plaything.
Ii appeared that these colored soldiers were
in the advance line of our forces, and coming in
contact with q rebel field battery they went
for it without ceremony, and, though not with
out less IN killed aud wounded, were highly
elated at their success.
4 little later, on the same expedition to
Petersburg, after the capture by our forces Of
the outer line Of works surrounding the city,
we witnessed another exploit Of the cOlored
soldiers every way creditable TO them. On a
steep HILL perhaps half mile TO our front, the
Contederates had small fort mounting three
or fOar guns These were being worked for all
they were worth, and the shells were doing
some mischief among our forces. Pretty soon
we saw colored regiment advance toward the
beayly-wooded rayine which interposed be-
tween the enemys territory and our own posi-
tion and disappear in the woods. and a little
later they began TO emerge on the other side.
Every man seemed to be anxious to reach the
rebel works at the earliest possible moment
and without waiting to form line of battle
every man started on his own hook " at the
top Of his speed. / could think Of nothing it
- 4 - IL
the sides of hive. In very short time the
black soldiers had gained an entrance to the
fort, and the firing ceased. Our regiment was
ordered to reinforce the colored men. and IN a
few Minutes we were with them. The inside
Of the little fort showed plainly that there had
been desperate though brief fighting. Con-
federate officers and men were living about
with the colored dead men close beside them.
showing 1t TO have been hand-to-hand con-
test. This action was calamity done and met
the hearty approval and credit Of the white
soldiers.
Still later in the siege Of Petersburg the col
ored soldiers were placed in the extreme ad-
vance at the Battle of the Nine" as it was
called. This action was on Burnslde's part of the
line long subterranean trench had been con-
structed leading TO near the center Of a rebel
fort in front, afterwards called Fort He'll y
and the explosion Of an immense quantity OF
blasting powder, which il was supposed would
knock the fort into smithereens." was TO be
the signal for tile charge Of the infantry with
the hope that the break IN the enemy's line
would enable us to capture the works and the
city. Unfortunately, as it proved, the colored
soldiers were given the advance, and immedi.
0tely after the explosion they rushed into the
crater but being poorly led, and, perhaps
not properly supported, the COnfederates had
time 70 recover from their surprise and to train
their artillery on the exposed places with such
terrible effect that no soldiers, black or white
could contend successfully. and what might
have been a victory with better management
proved disaster, and the loss of life among the
coioTed troops was fearful Without question
IN my Own mind, the average behavior Of the
cslrky soldiers IN action would compare favor
ably with the average white regiments
With one more incident, having something
more nearly personal IN its nature / will Close
this nasty sketch. One day in August, 1864
while our regiment was on the north side O
the james River, near Richmond, Gems Grant
Meade and Others high in rank came neal
where we were formed in line, and i heard
Gen Grant say to an officer, " What is there il
that directiOn2"
No one present seemed to have any accurate
information, and very soon we got an order Z
" feel The enemy in the specified place. Thi
left wing five companies) was ordered forWarI
as skirmishers, the right wing TO follow as sup
ports. II was my fortune 10 have charge of tia
right supporting company. The skirmisher
moved rapidly TO the 'front.' and soon entered
the growth Of small pines. and almost immedi
Gtely smart FIRE Of musketry began. though
we had run into hornets nest of Johnnie
pretty quick. The firing increased In volume
and it looked good deal like business when
rising above the roar of the musketry, Their
came tremendous cheer, and straining on
eyes 70 see what was up (the support hai
only advanced a little distance) we Wer
astonlshea 70 see our own boys busting
70 the rear on the dead run, and at Ia
same time the firing totally ceased TIL
whole thing looked like an enigma to us 70
awhile, but Its solution soon came 1t proves
20 be fight between our regiment and a regj
ment Of cOlOred infantry who occupied tina
part of our lines, and whose location was an
parently unknown TO those who gave Us order
to explore in that locality. Our loss was on
Lieutenant killed, while the colored regimen
lost about 20 killed, besides many wounded
The Colonel of the darby troops said To M
that be feared Il might be an attack by mis-
take OF some Of the Union soldiers on his forces
and ordered the charge to settle the matter q
once. III was the cheers of the colored me
which we heard, aud we realized that a thor
sand black men, well trained and with guns
their hands, were not especially pleasant
grappie with.-A. II. G. JEYETT, First Lier
tenant, 4th n. d., Laconia n II.
Queer Country.
Laurence (8ass.) Americana
Miss Langbam (reading an American pape,
What strange country yours is, to be sur
Mr.. de Yanki
Nr. de Yank (of Boston)-I don't think