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[31]
“Charge!”
cried Ogden.
The citizens charged, and the Negroes, surprised by bayonets, broke and fled.
Captain Angel led his company against the Gatling gun. Dropping their arms in scorn, the citizens ran at the gun, cuffed and kicked the Negro gunners, chasing them in and out of yards and stores, until the tag-rag reached the Custom House, and found a refuge under the Federal flag.
Hardly one of the Negroes stood to fight.
One Negro general crept into an undertaker's shed.
“ Get out,” shouted the little French coffin-maker, “zey will follow you and murder me!”
The Negro stripped himself of lace and feathers.
“God's sake, massa, let me hide!”
A citizen entered; no brigadier-general to be seen: nothing but a Negro in a sack mopping the mire from a hearse.
The citizen looked round, gave the Negro a kick, and went out laughing.
Neither General Longstreet nor General Emory interfered.
At five o'clock the four companies arrived from Holly Springs, but were not placed by Emory at Packard's disposal.
Longstreet held the State House, which was not attacked.
By six o'clock the firing was over, and the victorious citizens grounded arms in presence of the Federal troops.
1875.
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