ring this prolonged conflict. Upon both
sides men were killed with the butts of muskets. White and black
men were lying side by side, pierced by bayonets, and in some
instances transfixed to the earth. In one instance, two men, one
white and the other black, were found dead, side by side, each
having the other's bayonet through his body. If facts prove to be
what they are now represented, this engagement of Sunday morning
will be recorded as the most desperate of this war. Broken limbs,
broken heads, the mangling of bodies, all prove that it was a
contest between enraged men: on the one side from hatred to a
race; and on the other, desire for self-preservation, revenge for
past grievances and the inhuman murder of their comrades. One
brave man took his former master prisoner, and brought him into
camp with great gusto. A rebel prisoner made a particular
request, that his own negroes should not be placed over him as a
guard. Dame Fortune is capricious! His request was _not_ granted.
Their mode of warfare does not entitle them to any privileges. If
any are granted, it is from magnanimity to a fellow-foe.

"The rebels lost five cannon, two hundred men killed, four
hundred to five hundred wounded, and about two hundred prisoners.
Our loss is reported to be one hundred killed and five hundred
wounded; but few were white men."[102]

Mr. G. G. Edwards, who was in the fight, wrote, on the 13th of June:

"Tauntingly it has been said that negroes won't fight. Who say
it, and who but a dastard and a brute will dare to say it, when
the battle of Milliken's Bend finds its place among the heroic
deeds of this war? This battle has significance. It demonstrates
the fact that the freed slaves will fight."

The month of July, 1863, was memorable. Gen. Mead had driven Lee from
Gettysburg, Grant had captured Vicksburg, Banks had captured Port
Hudson, and Gillmore had begun his operations on Morris Island. On the
13th of July the New York Draft Riot broke out. The Democratic press
had advised the people that they were to be called upon to fight the
battles of the "Niggers" and "Abolitionists"; while Gov. Seymour
"_requested_" the rioters to await the return of his adjutant-general
whom he had despatched to Washington to have the President suspend the
draft. The speech was either cowardly or treasonous. It mean