ition); so you
see on this failure we had nothing to do but gain by the
flank. A charge in that manner has never proved successful,
to my knowledge; when it does, it is a surprise.

"Our men went forward with enthusiasm equal to anything
under different circumstances; but, in going through the
fort that had been blown up, the passage was almost impeded
by obstacles thrown up by the explosion. At the same time,
we were receiving a most deadly cross-fire from both flanks.
At this time, our lieutenant-colonel (E. W. Ross) fell, shot
through the left leg, bravely leading the men. I immediately
assumed command, but only to hold it a few minutes, when I
fell, struck by a piece of shell in the side. Capt.
Robinson, from Connecticut, then took command; and, from all
we can learn, he was killed. At this time, our first charge
was somewhat checked, and the men sought cover in the works.
Again our charge was made, but, like the former,
unsuccessful. This was followed by the enemy making a
charge. Seeing the unorganized condition and the great loss
of officers, the men fell back to our own works. Yet a large
number still held the fort until two P. M., when the enemy
charged again, and carried it. That ended the great attempt
to take Petersburg.

"It will be thus seen that the colored troops did not
compose the first assaulting, but the supporting column; and
they were not ordered forward until white troops in greater
numbers had made a desperate effort to carry the rebel
works, and had failed. Then the colored troops were sent in;
moved over the broken ground, and up the slope, and within a
short distance of the parapet, in order, and with steady
courage; but finally broke and retreated under the same fire
which just before had sent a whole division of white
regiments to the right-about. If there be any disgrace in
that, it does not belong exclusively nor mainly to the
negroes. A second attack is far more perilous and unlikely
to succeed than a first; the enemy having been encouraged by
the failure of the first, and had time to concentrate his
forces. And, in this case, there seems to have been a fatal
delay in ordering both the first and second assault."

An officer in the same engagement says:

"In regard to the bravery of the colo