The crusader., 1890-07-19
AN EPISODE OF THE WAR.
TFrOm the Black Phalanx.

| the and Regiment PhalanX, commanded Dy
Colonel Daniels, which constituted the gar
rison at that point. Ship Island was the key
to New Orleans. On the opposite shore was
a railroad leading to Mobile by which re-en
forcements were going forward to Charleston
Colonel Daniels conceived the idea OF de
stroying the road to prevent the transportation
of the Confederate troops. Accordingly, with
about two hundred men he landed at Pas
oagoula, on the morning of the 9Th of April
Pickets were Immediately posted on the
outskirts of the town, while the main body
marched up to the hotel. Before long some
Confederate cavalry, having been apprised OF
the movement advanced, drove in the pickets
and commenced an attack on the force oe-
cupying the town. The cavalry made bold
dash upon the left of the Negroes, which was
the work Of but moment the blacks met
their charge manfully, and emptied the
| saddles of the front rank, which caused the
rear ones first to halt and then to retire. The
blacks were outnumbered, however, five to
/ one, aud finally were forced to abandon the
town; they went, taking with them the stars
and stripes which they had hoisted upon the
hotel when entering it. They fell back to-
wards the river to give the gunboat jackson
a chance to shell their pursuers, but the
movement resulted in an apparently revenge
full act on the part of the crew of that vessel,
they having previously had some of their
number killed in the course of difficulty with
q black sentry at Ship Island.
| The commanding officer of the land force,
doubtless from prudential reasons, omitted to
state in his report that the men fought their
way through the town while being fired upon
| from house-tops and windows by boys and
women. That the gunboat opened fire direct
| ly on them when they were engaged in hand
to hand conflict, which so completely cut off
| q number of the men from the main body
of the troops that their capture appeared GER
| tain. Major Dumas, however seeing the
condition of things, put spurs to his horse and
went to their -succor, reaching them just as
company of the enemy's cavalry made a
| charge. The Major, placing himself at the
head of the hard pressed men, not only yrepulsed
the cavalry and rescued the squad. but cap
| tured the enemy's standard bearer. The re
.-a.--.,ax. E~.>.a ..aa
| loss of only one man; they brought witt
them some prisoners and captured flags
| Colonel Daniels, in his report speaks as fol-
lows of the heroism of the soldiers:
| .'The expedition was perfect success, ac-
complishinp all that was intended resulting
/ In the repulse of the enemy in every engage
ment with great loss; whilst our casualty
was only two killed and eight wounded
Great credit is due to the troops engaged, for
their unhinching bravery and steadiness under
this their first fire, exchanging vOlley after
| yolley with the GOODNESS of veterans and for
their tenacity in maintaining their position,
| and taking advantage OF every success that
their courage and valOr gave them; and also
to their officers, who were cool and determined
throughout the action, fighting their commands
against five times their numbers, and confident
| throughout of success,-all demonstrating to
it's fulless extent that the oppression which
| thew have heretofore undergone from the
hands of their foes, andithe obloquy that had
| been showered upon them by those who should
have been friends, had not extinguished their
manhood, or suppressed their bravery, and
that they had still hand to WELD the sword
and heart to vitalize its blow.
81 would particularly call the attention OF
| the Department to Major F. E. Dumas, Capt
| Villeyerd and Lieutenants Jones and Martin
who we're constantly in the thekest Of the
fight, and by their unfinching bravery, and
admirable handling of their commands, con
tributed to the success of the attack, and re
heoted great honor upon the flag under and
for which they so nobly struggled. Repeated
- instances of Individual bravery among the
troops might be mentioned but it would bt
;nviduous where all fought so manfuly and
40 well.
~ have the honor to be, most respectfully
your obedient servant,
"Col. Second Regiment La. N. G. Vols, Com
manding Post.
Moi. Dumas who figures so con.
spicuously in the foregoing episode oi
the war, which we take from Will
sons History of the Black Phalanx
and WHO is commended so highly TO,
gallantry on the field by the
Colonel of the Second Regiment, La.
Native Guards, Vols, is the same
modest Francis E. Dumas, the es-
teemed fellow citizen, 80 well-known
} to our readers. Maj. Dumas receiv-
ed liberal education in France. He
arrived in this his naive city a few
DAYS before Gen. Buffers call to the
}. free men of color to take arms for the
Union. Young and wealthy, an ar
dent Republican who had imbibed
his Republicanism and principles o
the equality of men in La Belle
France, he embraced with eagerness
the opportunity to serve the cause o.
liberty, and took an active part il
the enrolment, but disregaldlng tn
letter of the call he enrolled slaves
as well,not his own as Historian Will
} son reports, because be never owne'
any, but all who wished to take arms
and attached them to his regiment
Later when the colored officers wer
ordered to procure their own equip
ments or resign, Major Dumas calle'
them together, and, after consulta
ton, furnished them the equipment
and literally provided such as need
ed with funds. These facts hav
been brought 10 our knowledge by
friend of Maj. Dumas-he is to
d. modest to speak of himself-and W
give them space cheerfully, becaus