he works have all been
held, and the trophies remain in our hands.

'This victory is all the more important to us as the troops never
have been regularly organized in camps where time has been given
them to learn the discipline necessary to a well-organized _corps
d'armee_, but they had been hastily concentrated and suddenly
summoned to take part in the trying campaign of our country's
being. Such honor as they have won will remain imperishable.

'_To the colored troops comprising the division of General Hinks,
the General commanding would call the attention of his command_.
With the veterans of the Eighteenth Corps they have stormed the
works of the enemy and carried them, taking guns and prisoners, and
_in the whole affair they have displayed all the qualities of good
soldiers_.

'By command of
'W. F. SMITH, Major-General.

'WM. RUSSELL, JR.,
'Assistant Adjt.-General.

'Official: SOLON A. CARTER,
'Captain and A. A. A.-G.'

It may be added that 'Baldy' Smith has never been known as being
particularly partial to the use of negro troops. He is reported to have
said, after the assault on Petersburg, that the war was virtually ended,
because the negroes had now shown that they could fight, and so it was
only a question of time.

The man is not to be envied who can contemptuously disregard this
record. And while we give unstinted honor to the heroes whose valor has
made the Army of the Potomac immortal in history, and made its campaign
of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania a campaign of glory, let us not
forget that negro troops in that army, and in other armies in the same
campaign, have borne their part faithfully, and deserve well of the
republic. Nor let us forget the damning atrocities at Fort Pillow, where
black men in United States uniform were massacred in cold blood, because
they were willing rather to die freemen with their white comrades of the
United States army, than live slaves to rebel masters:[D] thus
vindicating their claim to freedom, and reflecting upon our country's
flag the especial honor which such determined bravery has ever been
awarded among men--reminding us of the Three Hundred at Thermopylae, and
the Old Guard at Waterloo, disdaining to surrender.

So strange are the events of history! So mysterious is the plan of
Providence, choosing now, as in the days of the apostle Paul, 'base