shots mowed them down like grass and so continued.

"'Colonel Bassett being driven back, Colonel Finnegas took his
place, and his men being similarly cut to pieces, Lieut.-Colonel
Bassett reformed and recommenced; and thus these brave people
went in, from morning until 3:30 p.m., under the most hideous
carnage that men ever had to withstand, and that very few white
ones would have had nerve to encounter, even if ordered to.
During this time, they rallied, and _were ordered to make six
distinct charges_, losing thirty-seven killed, and one hundred
and fifty-five wounded, and one hundred and sixteen missing,--the
majority, if not all, of these being, in all probability, now
lying dead on the gory field, and without the rites of sepulture;
for when, by flag of truce, our forces in other directions were
permitted to reclaim their dead, the benefit, through some
neglect, was not extended to these black regiments.

"'The deeds of heroism performed by these colored men were such
as the proudest white men might emulate. Their colors are torn to
pieces by shot, and literally bespattered by blood and brains.
The color-sergeant of the 1st. La., on being mortally wounded,
hugged the colors to his breast, when a struggle ensued between
the two color-corporals on each side of him, as to who should
have the honor of bearing the sacred standard, and during this
generous contention one was seriously wounded. One black
lieutenant actually mounted the enemy's works three or four
times, and in one charge the assaulting party came within fifty
paces of them. Indeed, if only ordinarily supported by artillery
and reserve, no one can convince us that they would not have
opened a passage through the enemy's works.

"'Capt. Callioux of the 1st. La., a man so black that he actually
prided himself upon his blackness, died the death of a hero,
leading on his men in the thickest of the fight. One poor wounded
fellow came along with his arm shattered by a shell, and jauntily
swinging it with the other, as he said to a friend of mine:
"Massa, guess I can fight no more." I was with one of the
captains, looking after the wounded going in the rear of the
hospital, when we met one limping along toward the front. On
being asked where he was going, he said: "I been shot bad in t