The National tribune., 1896-10-29


sides, and retreating through timber and
thick brush, and over ground cut up by
ravines, over which it was impracticable
to move artillery, it became necessary to
cut the horses loose from the two pieces
of Rabb's battery and the two howitzers
of the 9th Kan, and abandon the guns.
Near the field north of the road Col.
Williams rallied some of bis cavalry,
under Lieut.. Phillips, 9th Kan, and
held them in line long enough to enable
his wounded colored soldiers and other
colored soldiers who had fallen in the
rear TO come up and reach a swamp
which lay in his front, and get away.
After leaving the position behind the
field, in the timber, the Confederate in
fantry did not again get up within
range of the Federal troops, but the
Confederate cavalry continued the pur-
suit about two miles, frequently pressing
closely upon Col. Williams's tianks and
rear, so that his troops were obliged to
form four or five times, face to the rear,
and give the enemy volley each time
10 hold them off,
As Gen. Maxey wished to secure the
large train and abandoned guns, and
fearing that large Federal force would
come out from Camden to attack him,
he very soon called off his troops from
the pursuit, and placed part of them in
position ON the Camden road east of the
train.
1t was about two o'clock when the
Confederate cavalry disappeared from
the rear and fanks os the retreating
Federal troops, after which, by toilsome
marching through swamps and pine
woods, they reached Camden that night
about eight o'clock without further in
terruption.
On account of the repeated threats
which the Confederates had made that
they would show no quarter to coIored
soldiers, and having seen the Confeder-
ates shooting and bayoneting the
wounded colored soldiers where they had
fallen, every colored soldier who was
wounded in the fight, and who could
walk, came off the field with the troops in
the retreat, and some who were too badly
wounded to walk, lay on the field, and
when the Confederates came near them,
feigned being dead, and crawled off the
field after dark and endeavored to make
their way back to camp, marching while
they had strength and then lying down
in the grass and weeds to rest
Several colored soldiers who were
badly wounded, and who, from weak.
ness and loss of blood, were obliged tc
march and rest at intervals, were bitten
by poisonous snakes while lying down in
grass or weeds during the night. Wher
they got into camp the next day theil
bodies were horribly swollen from poison
which had spread through their systems
One of the colored soldiers who wa
wounded and lay on the field until night
feigning death, and then crawled int,
camp, stated that he saw the Confederate
SHOOTING THE WOUNDED
colored soldiers left on the field, and tha
they went over the field after the battle
: calling out and answering each other
5 Where is the lst Niger now? Al
: cut to pieces and gone to h by ba,
management"
: The Federal loss in the battle was 2.
: men killed, 81 wounded, and 81 missing
! In the fight and in the retreat til
/, colored regiment had III men and off
GERS killed, and 65 wounded. Whel
S separated from their command, the col
ored soldiers were shot down withou
mercy. Gen. Cabell reported that on
f Of his regiments stationed east of tn
: battlefield, on the Camden road, kille,
e at least 50 negroes.
e Gen. Maxey reported his loss fron
5 incomplete returns of casualties in hi
e different commands at II killed and s
v wounded. His officers reported only fou
e colored men captured. Immediatel
C after the fight was over he commenced rt
e moving the train, artillery and capture
d property from the scene Of the confit
to the Confederate camp near Wooe
e lawn, the last of his troops not leavin
# the field until nearly dark.