BLACK PHALANX CAVALRY BRINGING IN CONFEDERATE PRISONERS! Shortly after this Colonel Williams received information that one of the prisoners held by Livingstone had been murdered by the enemy. He immediately sent a flag of truce to Livingstone demanded the body of the person who committed the barbarous act. Receiving an envious and unsatisfactory reply, Colonel Williams determined to convince the rebel commander that that was a game at which two could play and directed that one of the prisoners in his possession be shot, and within 30 minutes the order was executed." He immediately informed Major Livingstone of his action, sending the information by the same party that brought the dispatch to him. Suffice it to say that this ended the barbarous practice of murdering prisoners of war, so far as Livingstone's command was concerned. ------------------- Click to listen to Black History weekly on The Gist of Freedom www.blackhistoryUniversity.com Join us as John Franklin, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) specialist talks about the origins of African American Holidays, Black Holidays! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thegistoffreedom/2012/04/19/1916four-centenariansex-slaves-celebrate-emancipation-day ---------------------- This party was suprised and attacked by a force of 300 rebels commanded by Major Livingstone, and defeated, with a loss of 16 killed and five prisoners, three of which belonged to the 2d Kansas Battery and two to this regiment. The men of the 2d Kansas Battery were afterwards exchanged under a flag of truce for a like number of prisoners captured by this regiment. Livingstone refused to exchange the colored prisoners in his possession, and gave as his excuse that he should hold them subject to the orders of the rebel War Department. ------------------------------------ By way of introduction to the American public, of the author and editor of this book, JOSEPH T. WILSON we beg to say, is not altogether unknown to the literary world, having already published several works relative to the Negro race. His services during the war of the Rebellion secured for him a flattering recognition. He served in the 2nd Regiment Louisiana Native Guard Volunteers, also the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers,—the most famous of the Union negro regiments that engaged in the struggle, receiving several wounds. He was the first negro member of the National Council of Administration of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a delegate to the National Encampment, and was appointed Colonel—A. D. C. to the Commander-in-Chief G. A. R. He was chosen by his comrades to be the historian of the negro soldiers, and has overcome many almost insurmountable difficulties in gathering the scattered facts, particularly those of the early wars of the United States, that were necessary to complete this work. -------------- In the meantime, I formed five companies of the 1st Kansas Colored, with one piece of artillery, on my right flank, and ordered up to their assistance four companies of the 18th Iowa Infantry. Soon my orderly returned from the rear with a message from Capt. Duncan, stating that he was so closely pressed in the rear by the enemy's infantry and artillery that the men could not be spared. At this point, the enemy opened on me with two batteries--one, of six pieces, in front, and one, of three pieces, on my right flank--pouring in an incessant and well-directed cross fire of shot and shell. At the same time he advanced his infantry both in front and on my right flank. From the force of the enemy--now for the first time made visible--I saw that I could not hope to defeat him, but still resolved to defend the train to the last, hoping that reinforcements would come up from Camden. I suffered them to approach within one hundred yards of my line, when I opened upon them with musketry charged with buck and ball, and after a contest of fifteen minutes duration, compelled them to fall back. Two fresh regiments coming up, they again rallied and advanced upon my line, this time with colors flying and continuous cheering, so loud as to drown even the roar of musketry. Again I suffered them to approach even nearer than before, and opened upon them with buck and ball, their artillery still pouring in a cross fire of shot and shell over the heads of their infantry, and mine replying with vigor and effect. And thus, for another quarter of an hour, the battle was waged in a desperate fury. The noise and din of this almost hand-to-hand conflict was the loudest and most terrific it has ever been my lot to listen to. Again they were forced to fall back, and twice during this contest were their colors brought to the ground, but as often raised. During these engagements fully one-half of my infantry engaged were either killed or wounded. Three companies were left without any officers and seeing the enemy again reinforced with fresh troops, it became evident that I could hold my line but little longer. I now directed Maj. Ward to hold the line until I could ride back and form the 18th Iowa in proper shape to support the retreat of the advanced line.
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