The Forty-third regiment United States Colored Troops

by Jeremiah Marion Mickley

On the third of April 'Sixty-five."

The importunate cry of the nation,—"On to Richmond," being answered so successfully by Freedmen clad in blue, must and will appear as a significant fact in the history of the war.

After the surrender of Lee, and in anticipation of the expedition southward, this Regiment marched back to Camp Lincoln, near City Point. May 30th it embarked on the steamer "Atlanta," and proceeding by the Ocean and Gulf routes, arrived at Brazos Santiago, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico, June 23rd. During this expedition it lost, by death, one man, whose body was committed to the great deep. On its march thence to Brownsville, it passed over Taylor's battle grounds of the Mexican war, Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. These preserve some marks of the conflict, but the achievement of our arms then, has been greatly surpassed, by victories on fields recently obtained. It camped, finally, on the bank of the Rio Grande River, opposite the city of Matamoras, Mexico. The flourishing blockade trade conducted by the adherents of Maximilian, on the one hand, according to the French version of neutrality, and by the so-called Confederacy on the other, was now interrupted by the presence of United States Troops. His Majesty, in his plea for imperial recognition by the United States, will not forget to importune by reason of his friendly services during the war.

The Regiment was ordered North, for final discharge, and returning as far as New Orleans, after waiting there for transportation, it embarked Nov. 9th on the steamer Merrimac, having other passengers besides. After a considerable distance at sea, this vessel sprung a leak. The water gained so rapidly, as, in a very short time, to put out the fires, and stop the engine. She now depended entirely on her sails for motive power. The case was a most critical one. Horses had to be thrown overboard, as well as a large amount of goods. The pumps of the main engine were useless, and the other pumps on deck were discovered, certainly by a criminal neglect, to be out of order. Buckets, pails, kettles and barrels were all mustered for bailing, which was conducted through two of the hatchways, fore and aft of the engine, and for the management of which the Regiment was divided into two reliefs. This systematized work was continued day and night for sixty-five hours successively, barely keeping even with the water, until the steamer was run upon the bar, at the mouth of the Mississippi. For the credit of the brave men, and in behalf of the endurance of the race, it ought to be recorded, that they worked cheerfully and well, during all those weary and anxious hours. The Regiment was landed again at New Orleans. After a gratuitous issue of clothing by order of Gen. Sheridan, to supply, in part, the loss incident to this perilous trip, it embarked in the steamer "Costa Rica," arrived at New York, Nov. 26th, and was finally discharged at Philadelphia, Nov. 30th, 1865. Its casualties in service were, officers killed three, wounded eleven, and three discharged by reason of wounds; and men killed, died of wounds and disease, three hundred and six, and missing one hundred and ninety-six.

THE COLORED TROOP.

The object of the Government, in the case of commandants of colored troops, was to secure officers of acknowledged military talent, experience, and unexceptionably good moral character. It therefore instituted the Examining Board for Officers, under the Presidency of General Casey. The officers assigned to commands in this service, entered upon the duties of their respective positions in this regular way. Many of them advanced, battle-scarred, step by step from the ranks. Some were previously connected with the regular army, and others with the volunteer forces. Their ability, bravery and gentlemanly character, in the strictest sense, produced a happy effect upon the troop. When it is considered that in the face of threatenings of a merciless death by the Rebels, should the fortunes of war place them in their hands, and against a current of prejudice, extant almost everywhere, and the whispered doubts and fears even of friends to the cause, they assumed command of this troop in its experimental state, and led it on to victory; their high-toned and unselfish patriotism, in this respect, is only equaled by the bravery and gallantry of their services. They are also the fit witnesses of the endurance, efficiency and bravery of the troop as attested on the field, and their susceptibility of true progress in intellectual culture. This troop in military discipline and efficiency bore a very favorable comparison with any other. Their standard was not simply passable, but excellent. In battle they were remarkable for their great coolness and courage. The school system inaugurated for their benefit, and which was conducted in many commands, in the camp and on the field, in its result was a decided refutation to the argument, that this race could not be improved.

Now, however, by more than sixty thousand sons of Liberty, of African descent, than whom none other fought with greater gallantry, numbered with the patriot dead, and by the many thousand heroic survivors, whose maimed bodies and torn and tattered battle flags, tell how fields were won, what is enjoined on the Nation? This fact alone forbids that any vestige of the former state of the oppression of this race should remain. It requires another positive duty. What are Freedmen without citizenship? Some doubt that they have sufficient knowledge to participate in this right. The presumptive judges, with their emissaries, who have forfeited this right to themselves, and are also culprits, blamable and guilty for any lack of such knowledge, in the case of this loyal race, entertain the doubt; and their weak faith cannot truly be shrouded in deeper uncertainty than that of every intelligent patriot, who contemplates the true exercise of the right of suffrage and representation by those whose hands are yet red with the blood of our noble slain. It is also said the liberated race, in their new relation, will not prove themselves industrious citizens. This argument by the indolent drones of the States in rebellion, and whose very sustenance was derived from the unpaid toil of this people, turns upon them with a peculiar reactionary force. We doubt not, it will be an easier task to elevate to a degree of intelligence, virtue and industry, and to imbue with the spirit of our Institutions as worthy citizens these Freedmen, thousands of whom pressed forward to the support of the Government, in the dark period of our country's history, than by any process of legislation that cleanses only the outside of the platter, to attempt to infuse loyalty into the hearts of those lately in armed rebellion, and in the name of the public peace, and in honor to Republican Liberty, to admit the Catalines and Judas Iscariots to the Senate and Congress of the United States. In a disregard of justice to the memory of our patriot dead, white and colored, such legislation would be worse than treason. No man, who voluntarily raised his hand against the flag, upheld by our patriot martyrs in the field, should ever participate in our legislation. If the Republic will be true to itself, it must and will be also to those who were, and are so eminently true to it. Punish treason, and reward loyalty.

Transcriber's Note:

Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.

Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.