LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the
part taken by my regiment in the attack upon and capture of Blakely:
With the rest of the brigade my regiment was held in reserve the 1st and 2d days of April,
during which time but one slight casualty occurred
On the evening of the 2d the regiment was ordered to the front, taking
position on the left of the Fiftieth Regiment U. S. Colored Infantry
and connecting on the left with the right of General Pile's brigade
(First Brigade, First Division, U. S. Colored Troops). The command
remained at the front, partaking in all the active operations of the division, until the evening of the 8th, when it was relieved from duty in
the trenches by the Forty-seveuth U. S. Colored Infantry, until then
held in reserve. On the 9th, at 5 p.m., the regiment was again ordered
to the front and participated in the successful assault made upon the
enemy's works. While making the charge six men in one company
were severely wounded by the explosion of one of the enemy's subterra
shells. A full list of casualties is forwarded herewith.* The gallantry
of the officers and men of my commmand during all the operations was so
universal that to enumerate special cases would be invidious. There
can be no doubt now, in the minds of their officers at least, but that our
colored soldiers are brave and will fight.
I have the honor to be, lieutenant, your very obedient servant,
Lieut. T. SUMNER GREENE,
Colonel, Commanding Regiment
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 1st Div., U. S. Colored Troops
*Nominal list (here omitted) shows 2 men killed and 1 officer and 14 men wounded.
SOURCE: United States War Department. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.
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