Part 21 (1/2)

That they might fall again, So they could once more see That burst of liberty!

This was what 'Freedom' lent To the Black Regiment.

Hundreds on hundreds fell; But they are resting well; Scourges and shackles strong Never shall do them wrong.

Oh! to the living few, Soldiers, be just and true!

Hail them as comrades tried; Fight with them side by side; Never in field or tent, Scorn the Black Regiment.”

[See Appendix for further matter relating to the Department of the Gulf.]

FOOTNOTES:

[22] In November, while the 2nd Regiment was guarding the Opelousas railway, about twenty miles from Algiers, La., their pickets were fired upon, and quite a skirmish and firing was kept up during the night. Next morning the cane field along the railroad was searched but no trace of the firing party was found. A company of the 8th Vermont (white) Regiment was encamped below that of the 2nd Regiment, but they broke camp that night and left. The supposition was that it was this company who fired upon and drove in the pickets of the Phalanx regiment.

[23] Captain Andre Cailloux fell, gallantly leading his men (Co. E) in the attack. With many others of the charging column, his body lay between the lines of the Confederates and Federals, but nearer the works of the former, whose sharpshooters guarded it night and day, and thus prevented his late comrades from removing it. Several attempts were made to obtain the body, but each attempt was met with a terrific storm of lead. It was not until after the surrender that his remains were recovered, and then taken to his native city, New Orleans. The writer of this volume, himself wounded, was in the city at the time, and witnessed the funeral pageant of the dead hero, the like of which was never before seen in that, nor, perhaps, in any other American city, in honor of a dead negro. The negro captains of the 2nd Regiment acted as pall-bearers, while a long procession of civic societies followed in the rear of detachments of the Phalanx. A correspondent who witnessed the scene thus describes it:

” * * * * The arrival of the body developed to the white population here that the colored people had powerful organizations in the form of civic societies; as the Friends of the Order, of which Capt. Cailloux was a prominent member, received the body, and had the coffin containing it, draped with the American flag, exposed in state in the commodious hall. Around the coffin, flowers were strewn in the greatest profusion, and candles were kept continually burning. All the rites of the Catholic Church were strictly complied with. The guard paced silently to and fro, and altogether it presented as solemn a scene as was ever witnessed.

”In due time, the band of the Forty-second Ma.s.sachusetts Regiment made its appearance, and discoursed the customary solemn airs. The officiating priest, Father Le Maistre, of the Church of St. Rose of Lima, who has paid not the least attention to the excommunication and denunciations issued against him by the archbishop of this this diocese, then performed the Catholic service for the dead. After the regular services, he ascended to the president's chair, and delivered a glowing and eloquent eulogy on the virtues of the deceased. He called upon all present to offer themselves, as Cailloux had done, martyrs to the cause of justice, freedom, and good government. It was a death the proudest might envy.

”Immense crowds of colored people had by this time gathered around the building, and the streets leading thereto were rendered almost impa.s.sable. Two companies of the Sixth Louisiana (colored) Regiment, from their camp on the Company Ca.n.a.l, were there to act as an escort; and Esplanade Street, for more than a mile, was lined with colored societies, both male and female, in open order, waiting for the hea.r.s.e to pa.s.s through.

”After a short pause, a sudden silence fell upon the crowd, the band commenced playing a dirge; and the body was brought from the hall on the shoulders of eight soldiers, escorted by six members of the society, and six colored captains, who acted as pall-bearers. The corpse was conveyed to the hea.r.s.e through a crowd composed of both white and black people, and in silence profound as death itself. Not a sound was heard save the mournful music of the band, and not a head in all that vast mult.i.tude but was uncovered.

”The procession then moved off in the following order: The hea.r.s.e containing the body, with Capts. J. W. Ringgold, W.

B. Barrett, S. J. Wilkinson, Eugene Mailleur, J. A. Glea, and A. St. Leger, (all of whom, we believe, belong to the Second Louisiana Native Guards), and six members of The Friends of the Order, as pall-bearers; about a hundred convalescent sick and wounded colored soldiers; the two companies of the Sixth Regiment; a large number of colored officers of all native guard regiments; the carriages containing Capt. Cailloux's family, and a number of army officers; followed by a large number of private individuals, and thirty-seven civic and religious societies.

”After moving through the princ.i.p.al down-town streets the body was taken to the Beinville-street cemetery, and there interred with military honors due his rank.” * *

The following lines were penned at the time:

ANDRE CAILLOUX.

He lay just where he fell, Soddening in a fervid summer's sun.

Guarded by an enemy's hissing sh.e.l.l, Rotting beneath the sound of rebels' gun Forty consecutive days, In sight of his own tent.

And the remnant of his regiment.

He lay just where he fell.

Nearest the rebel's redoubt and trench, Under the very fire of h.e.l.l, A volunteer in a country's defence, Forty consecutive days.

And not a murmur of discontent, Went from the loyal black regiment.

A flag of truce couldn't save, No, nor humanity could not give This sable warrior a hallowed grave.

Nor army of the Gulf retrieve.

Forty consecutive days, His lifeless body pierced and rent, Leading in a.s.sault the black regiment.

But there came days at length, When Hudson felt their blast, Though less a thousand in strength, For ”our leader” vowed the last; Forty consecutive days They stormed, they charged, G.o.d sent Victory to the loyal black regiment.

He lay just where he fell, And now the ground was their's, Around his mellowed corpse, heavens tell, How his comrades for freedom swears.

Forty consecutive nights The advance pa.s.s-word went.