arrival
here. There may be others at the Hilton Head Hospital; and others
are doubtless on Morris Island; but I have no names or statistics
relative to them. Those in Beaufort are well attended to--just as
well as the white soldiers, the attentions of the surgeons and
nurses being supplemented by those of the colored people here,
who have shown a great interest in them. The men of the regiment
are very patient, and where their condition at all permits them,
are cheerful. They express their readiness to meet the enemy
again, and they keep asking if Wagner is yet taken. Could any one
from the North see these brave fellows as they lie here, his
prejudice against them, if he had any, would all pass away. They
grieve greatly at the loss of Colonel Shaw, who seems to have
acquired a strong hold on their affections. They are attached to
their other officers, and admire General Strong, whose courage
was so conspicuous to all. I asked General Strong if he had any
testimony in relation to the regiment to be communicated to you.
These are his precise words, and I give them to you as I noted
them at the time:

"'The Fifty-fourth did well and nobly, only the fall of Colonel
Shaw prevented them from entering the Fort. They moved up as
gallantly as any troops could, and with their enthusiasm they
deserve a better fate.' The regiment could not have been under a
better officer than Colonel Shaw. He is one of the bravest and
most genuine men. His soldiers loved him like a brother, and go
where you would through the camps you would hear them speak of
him with enthusiasm and affection. His wound is severe, and there
are some apprehensions as to his being able to recover from it.
Since I found him at the hospital tent on Morris Island, about
half-past nine o'clock on Saturday, I have been all the time
attending to him or the officers of the Fifty-fourth, both on the
boats and here. Nobler spirits it has never been my fortune to
be with. General Strong, as he lay on the stretcher in the tent,
was grieving all the while for the poor fellows who lay uncared
for on the battle-field, and the officers of the Fifty-fourth
have had nothing to say of their own misfortunes, but have
mourned constantly for the hero who led them to the charge from
which he did not retu