The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-01-30

charges were all desperate and bloody,
and, including the one in which the
colored division participated on July 30,
it is safe to say the total loss to the
Union army was at least 10000 men,
large army of killed and wounded, and
yet with no decisive results.
The mine was $40 feet in length, and
at the terminus under the rebel works
had side galleries about 35 feet in
length. In these galleries We're placed
800 kegs of powder of rs pounds each,
5000 pounds, strongly tamped and
connected together with wooden tubes
half filed with powder. Three fuses
were run back about 100 feet, and the
main gallery was filled with earth and
well tamped for about 80 feet. The
original plan of attack was for the col
ored troops to advance Immediately
after the explosion, and when the Crater
was reached the leading regiment
should turn to the right and proceed as
far as possible down the enemy's line,
the second regiment turn to the left
and sweep down the line in that direc-
ton, the remaining regiments of the
division TO advance rapidly thru the gap
in the rebel line toward the city of
Petersburg, to be followed by the other
divisions of the army as soon as they
could be rushed in.
Informed Of the Assault.
The day before the assault, the COM
pany officers of the 30th u. S. c. T.
were assembled at regimental head
quarters, and the following talk was
given them by the Colonel: You have
all heard rumors of mine that is to be
exploded. That mine is now ready. 1t
Will be blown up at 3 o'clock to-mor-
row morning. Gen. Burnside has di-
rected that the Colored Division lead
the charge, which will be made imme-
diately after the explosion Our regi-
ment will lead the division, and will be
formed in double column, closed in
mass, at our outer line of works oppo-
site the mine. AS soon as the explosion
occurs We will rapidly advance to the
rebel works, and as soon as they are
entered the movement will be, Right
companies, right into line wheel; left
companies on the right into line and
we will go down the line as far as we
can and there remain. l shall expect
every officer to do his full duty, and
file closers must allow no soldier to
leave the ranks"
AS the officers returned to their COM
panies a serious smile was noticed on
the faces of some, but all were glad
that the time had come to try the met
lie of the colored soldiers in the Army
| of the Potomac. The company COM
manders next informed the men of
what was coming in the early morning
and what was expected of them, each
giving words Of advice and encourage
| ment according to his own idea, and
most OF them closing with the admo
! ton to Remember Fort Pillow" and
not to give up or surrender under any
circumstances, for it would mean sure
death, as no quarter could be expected
| from the rebel soldiers.
! All this was well understood by pri-
Yates rs well as officers, and the death
loss of the morrow showed the desper-
ate valor with which the colored SOL
diers fought on that disastrous day.
| The On-COmmisnioned Officers.
| After the company officers had thoro-
| ly instructed the men in what they
should do, some of the more intelligent
of the non-commissioned officers made
snort but pointed remarks to the pri-
Yates. One of the speakers, a Sergeant.
who had been preacher on the East
ern Shore of Chesapeake Bay, was a
very good talker, and being anxious TO
know how the boys were taking the sit
uation, walked over to where he was
addressing the members of Co. II. His
remarks ran something like this: "My
deah bredern, dis am gwine to be er
greet fife, de gre'tes' we'uns hab cher
seen; If we'uns TEX Petersburg mos likly
wei TUX Richmun, and derstroy Mars
Gin'ul Lees big ahmy and den clog de
wah. Ebery man he'd orter lif up his
self In praher fur er strong hyart. o.