hickahominy, and have safely
brought them to our present position. These are colored cavalry, and are
now holding position as our advance toward Richmond.'

May 25th, the War Department announced, in a bulletin, that 'General
Butler, in a despatch dated at headquarters in the field, at seven
o'clock this morning, reports that Major-General Fitzhugh Lee, lately
promoted, made, with cavalry, infantry, and artillery, an attack upon my
post at Wilson's Wharf, north side of James River, below Fort Powhatan,
garrisoned by two regiments, all negro troops, Brigadier-General Wild
commanding, and was handsomely repulsed. Before the attack, Lee sent a
flag, stating that he had force enough to take the place, demanding its
surrender, and in that case the garrison should be turned over to the
authorities at Richmond as prisoners of war(!); but if this proposition
was rejected, he would not be answerable for the consequences when he
took the place. General Wild replied: 'We will try that.' Reinforcements
were at once sent, but the fight was over before their arrival.'

It has been not unfrequently said that negroes were cowards and would
not fight. The best answer that can be made to that charge is the
official order, hereto annexed, of General 'Baldy' Smith. It will be
remembered that Grant had just accomplished the transfer of his army
from the swamps of the Chickahominy to the south side of the James
River, and had immediately thereupon attacked the earthworks in front of
Petersburg. The time was June--a month later than the official
despatches from Butler already quoted:

'_To the Eighteenth Army Corps_:

'The General commanding desires to express to his command his
appreciation of the soldierly qualities which have been displayed
during the campaign of the last seventeen days. Within that time
they have been constantly called upon to undergo all the hardships
of the soldier's life, and be exposed to all of its dangers.

'Marches under a hot sun have ended in severe battles, and, after
the battle, watchful nights in the trenches gallantly taken from
the enemy.

'But the crowning point of the honor they are entitled to has been
won since the morning of the 15th instant, when a series of
earthworks on most commanding positions and of formidable strength
have been carried, with all the guns and materials of war of the
enemy, including prisoners and colors. T