Part 5

After portions of Longstreet's Corps had made a favorable attack on the Union position, on the Bermuda Front, and succeeded in capturing a part of the line, from the one year Regiments of white troops, lately stationed there to defend it, with a number also of these troops as prisoners, this Regiment with some others, were detached from the army of the Potomac on the left of the line, and sent by forced marching, across the Appomattox, to regain, if possible, the lost position. It moved on to the line Sunday, P.M., and was instantly welcomed by Longstreet's bravadoes, exulting yet in their recent victory, with a storm of balls and shells, and the significant appellation of "Smoked Yankees." But when these brave "Smoked Yankees" replied, as they did at once, by a most brilliant charge, that made them masters of the situation, driving Longstreet's bravadoes to their old kennels and recovering the lost ground, the Rebel hilarity ceased. Their stratagems afterward, massing of troops and charges, accompanied with terrific firing, and which was persevered in almost daily and nightly for a month; resulted only in their bitter loss, and was a conclusive proof to them that their so-called "Smoked Yankees" were of a species whom they could neither drive nor dismay. They continued to hold the line against all odds, and ministered to Longstreet's hordes the most severe castigation for their insolence it was ever their good fortune to obtain. In an almost incredible short time the "Smoked Yankee" became a very desirable companion, whose friendly acquaintance the Rebel Picket would seek to cultivate, at the same time entreating him that a mutual agreement for the better security of life and limb might be established. The "Smoked Yankee" soldier invariably answered him: "I obeys de orders ob de obicers. When de orders be to fire, I fires on you, and when de orders be to charge, I charges on you, you must den get out, Johnnie Reb."

The Regiment was now associated with the 3rd Brig. 1st Div. 25th Corps, and was commanded by Col., now Brevet Brig. Gen., S. B. Yeoman, who relieved Maj. Bumstead. On the night of December 10th, it was temporally detached, and hurriedly marched, as a reinforcement, to the North side of the James, at a point of the line near the New Market Road. The enemy had contemplated a combined attack on the right wing of our army, with the intention of turning it. They were, however, not successful in their purpose, and abandoned it; and this Regiment was remanded to its former place on the Bermuda Hundred. It remained there until Dec. 31st, when the whole Brigade again crossed the James, and took up a position near Fort Harrison, before Richmond.

Jan. 25th, 1865 when the Rebel Gun-boats proceeded down the River, and engaged the Union fleet from a point in the bend, just below the upper end of Dutch Gap Canal, intending to oblige the fleet to retire and then capture City Point, our base of supplies, this Regiment occupied the river bank from Cox's Landing to Dutch Gap, with a detachment also across the Canal, that skirmished through Farra's Island, to within a short distance of the Howlett House Battery. They also kept up such a continuous hail of their small arms upon the enemy's Gun-boats, as to prevent them from opening their port-holes, and consequently entirely silenced their guns. This must be recorded as an instance where, much to chagrin of the chivalry, our unshod infantry effectually silenced their iron-clads.

From this time the Regiment was intimately identified with all the movements occurring on the line, and in all the advances and charges on the Rebel strongholds, until April 3rd, 1865, with the whole of General Weitzel's forces, it entered triumphantly the great Babylon of treason. "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin," written in the deserted public palaces and on the charred timbers of its smoking buildings, was now explicable, but the Belshazzar of the so-called Confederacy had left his throne, a hasty fugitive, and his hosts were in a precipitate retreat. The Union, with its Free Institutions, must and shall be preserved, rang out all over the land, many who had once been manacled slaves caught up these notes with a sacred joy, as they marched victorious Freedmen in the Capitol of their Oppressors. General Weitzel dispatched, April 3rd, A.M., "We took Richmond at 8.15, this morning."

"'Twas three o'clock of a Sabbath day, And in St. Paul's Chapel, old and gray, With his sad-robed wife, and others too, The traitor sat in his cushioned pew, List'ning the service halfway through, And praying the Lord his soul to shrive, On the second of April, 'Sixty-five.

Three o'clock by the old church dial-- Past the Sexton and up the aisle Walked a trooper with trembling knee, Holding a letter from R. E. Lee to Jefferson Davis, P.S.C. "Up," it said, "out of Richmond drive Ere the third of April, 'Sixty-five."

Twelve at night, and the crashing shell Drown the tone of the steeple bells, Scared at the thickening thunder peals, Hurrying feet and whirling wheels, Flee at the fleeing traitor's heels, And none to stay them are left alive By the third of April, 'Sixty-five'.

Six in the morning, sunrise red, Showed long rows of the Rebel dead, Tired Battalion and torn Brigade Quivered to Weitzel's cannonade; And, half in fury and half afraid, Swore for their City still to strive On the third of April 'Sixty-five.'

Eight o'clock, and the battle call Sounds at the inmost bulwark wall. Hoarser the Rebels' shouts reply-- Their guns are empty, their lips are dry, And hundreds who vowed to win or die Sullenly yield themselves alive On the third of April 'Sixty-five.

Eight and a quarter the strife is o'er, Blind with powder and red with gore, Richmond's garrison, surly and dumb, Stand, while by them with bugle and drum General Weitzel's Freedmen come; And through their streets the cavalry drive On the third of April 'Sixty-five.

And forth from gateway, alley and lane, Glad slaves run trooping, a swarthy train, And martyrs from Libby's Prison hole Laugh and cheer for their long "parole," And a myriad of welcomes heavenward roll, As our host in the Rebel-hold arrive On the third of April 'Sixty-five.

Shout, ye millions of brave and free, O'er flying Davis, and fallen Lee, Honor to Weitzel and Sheridan; Honor to Grant, who laid the plan; Glory to God, who helpeth man, For under his might our cause did thrive On the third of April 'Sixty-five."

The importunate cry of the nation,--"On to Richmond," being answered so successfully by Freedmen clad in blue, must and will appear as a significant fact in the history of the war.

After the surrender of Lee, and in anticipation of the expedition southward, this Regiment marched back to Camp Lincoln, near City Point. May 30th it embarked on the steamer "Atlanta," and proceeding by the Ocean and Gulf routes, arrived at Brazos Santiago, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico, June 23rd. During this expedition it lost, by death, one man, whose body was committed to the great deep. On its march thence to Brownsville, it passed over Taylor's battle grounds of the Mexican war, Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. These preserve some marks of the conflict, but the achievement of our arms then, has been greatly surpassed, by victories on fields recently obtained. It camped, finally, on the bank of the Rio Grande River, opposite the city of Matamoras, Mexico. The flourishing blockade trade conducted by the adherents of Maximilian, on the one hand, according to the French version of neutrality, and by the so-called Confederacy on the other, was now interrupted by the presence of United States Troops. His Majesty, in his plea for imperial recognition by the United States, will not forget to importune by reason of his friendly services during the war.

The Regiment was ordered North, for final discharge, and returning as far as New Orleans, after waiting there for transportation, it embarked Nov. 9th on the steamer Merrimac, having other passengers besides. After a considerable distance at sea, this vessel sprung a leak. The water gained so rapidly, as, in a very short time, to put out the fires, and stop the engine. She now depended entirely on her sails for motive power. The case was a most critical one. Horses had to be thrown overboard, as well as a large amount of goods. The pumps of the main engine were useless, and the other pumps on deck were discovered, certainly by a criminal neglect, to be out of order. Buckets, pails, kettles and barrels were all mustered for bailing, which was conducted through two of the hatchways, fore and aft of the engine, and for the management of which the Regiment was divided into two reliefs. This systematized work was continued day and night for sixty-five hours successively, barely keeping even with the water, until the steamer was run upon the bar, at the mouth of the Mississippi. For the credit of the brave men, and in behalf of the endurance of the race, it ought to be recorded, that they worked cheerfully and well, during all those weary and anxious hours. The Regiment was landed again at New Orleans. After a gratuitous issue of clothing by order of Gen. Sheridan, to supply, in part, the loss incident to this perilous trip, it embarked in the steamer "Costa Rica," arrived at New York, Nov. 26th, and was finally discharged at Philadelphia, Nov. 30th, 1865. Its casualties in service were, officers killed three, wounded eleven, and three discharged by reason of wounds; and men killed, died of wounds and disease, three hundred and six, and missing one hundred and ninety-six.

THE COLORED TROOP.

The object of the Government, in the case of commandants of colored troops, was to secure officers of acknowledged military talent, experience, and unexceptionably good moral character. It therefore instituted the Examining Board for Officers, under the Presidency of General Casey. The officers assigned to commands in this service, entered upon the duties of their respective positions in this regular way. Many of them advanced, battle-scarred, step by step from the ranks. Some were previously connected with the regular army, and others with the volunteer forces. Their ability, bravery and gentlemanly character, in the strictest sense, produced a happy effect upon the troop. When it is considered that in the face of threatenings of a merciless death by the Rebels, should the fortunes of war place them in their hands, and against a current of prejudice, extant almost everywhere, and the whispered doubts and fears even of friends to the cause, they assumed command of this troop in its experimental state, and led it on to victory; their high-toned and unselfish patriotism, in this respect, is only equaled by the bravery and gallantry of their services. They are also the fit witnesses of the endurance, efficiency and bravery of the troop as attested on the field, and their susceptibility of true progress in intellectual culture. This troop in military discipline and efficiency bore a very favorable comparison with any other. Their standard was not simply passable, but excellent. In battle they were remarkable for their great coolness and courage. The school system inaugurated for their benefit, and which was conducted in many commands, in the camp and on the field, in its result was a decided refutation to the argument, that this race could not be improved.

Now, however, by more than sixty thousand sons of Liberty, of African descent, than whom none other fought with greater gallantry, numbered with the patriot dead, and by the many thousand heroic survivors, whose maimed bodies and torn and tattered battle flags, tell how fields were won, what is enjoined on the Nation? This fact alone forbids that any vestige of the former state of the oppression of this race should remain. It requires another positive duty. What are Freedmen without citizenship? Some doubt that they have sufficient knowledge to participate in this right. The presumptive judges, with their emissaries, who have forfeited this right to themselves, and are also culprits, blamable and guilty for any lack of such knowledge, in the case of this loyal race, entertain the doubt; and their weak faith cannot truly be shrouded in deeper uncertainty than that of every intelligent patriot, who contemplates the true exercise of the right of suffrage and representation by those whose hands are yet red with the blood of our noble slain. It is also said the liberated race, in their new relation, will not prove themselves industrious citizens. This argument by the indolent drones of the States in rebellion, and whose very sustenance was derived from the unpaid toil of this people, turns upon them with a peculiar reactionary force. We doubt not, it will be an easier task to elevate to a degree of intelligence, virtue and industry, and to imbue with the spirit of our Institutions as worthy citizens these Freedmen, thousands of whom pressed forward to the support of the Government, in the dark period of our country's history, than by any process of legislation that cleanses only the outside of the platter, to attempt to infuse loyalty into the hearts of those lately in armed rebellion, and in the name of the public peace, and in honor to Republican Liberty, to admit the Catalines and Judas Iscariots to the Senate and Congress of the United States. In a disregard of justice to the memory of our patriot dead, white and colored, such legislation would be worse than treason. No man, who voluntarily raised his hand against the flag, upheld by our patriot martyrs in the field, should ever participate in our legislation. If the Republic will be true to itself, it must and will be also to those who were, and are so eminently true to it. Punish treason, and reward loyalty.