Civil War Washington

"Review Of The 2d United States Colored
Troops By Major-General Casey.—The 2d
regiment United States colored troops, Lieute-
nant-Colonel​ S. Fellows commanding, were re-
viewed​ yesterday afternoon at Meridan Hill by
Major-General Casey. The day was very fair,
and all that could be desired for such a pur-
pose​, except that it was rather dusty. The
2d colored troops were raised in and around
this city, and it is the second colored regiment
raised in the District. For some time past
they have been stationed at Camp Chase,
about three miles across the Long Bridge.
They have been an organization nearly two
months. The regiment left their camp about
10 o'clock, a. m., six hundred strong, and com-
menced​ the march for the Hill, which, from
their encampment, is in the neighborhood of
six miles distant. All but one company took
up the line of march. This company remained
behind to take care of the camp. The roads
were very dusty, and before they had gone any
distance they were covered with dust, but un-
mindful​ of this, they kept on and reached
Meridan Hill at 1½ o'clock. Upon their
arrival at this point, a large crowd both white
and black, including not a few ladies, were in
waiting, eager to witness them in their evolu-
tions​. Among the visitors we noticed John
Ross, the celebrated Indian Chief of the Chero-
kee​ nation, who appeared to take a lively inter-
est​ in the manœuvres of the troops. Gen.
Casey appeared on the ground in a carriage,
accompanied by a portion of his family and sur-
rounded​ by a number of his staff. The ground
was also covered with a host of line officers,
from the various regiments quartered in the
vicinity. The troops were then put in a posi-
tion​ for going through the manual of arms.
After a fatiguing march of six miles we would
not think they would be in a good condition to
drill, but they went through the whole manual
like veterans. As we said before, they have
only been under instruction for the past two
months, yet every movement was promptly
and beautifully executed with scarcely a fault.
The regiment was manœuvered by Lieutenant-
Colonel​ Fellows, who handled them as if he un-
derstood​ his business. They marched and
countermarched, formed into a hollow square
and formed in line of battle and other move-
ments​ incidental upon the battalion drill, which
elicited both surprise and pleasure from the
lookers on, particularly the soldiers belonging
to the Invalid corps, who were present in large
numbers. After going through the evolutions
for about two hours they passed in review
around the carriage of General Casey, headed
by a band of music which discoursed some
spirited airs. General Casey was much sur-
prised​ at their aptness and precision in the
drill, and expressed himself as extremely satis-
fied​ with their behavior, and had no doubt if
they should ever get into battle that they
would stand up to the work like heroes, and
never desert the old flag until the last man had
shed his life-blood in its defence.

After passing in review before the General,
they filed out into the road and took up the
march for camp, the large crowd following.
When near the city the dust was somewhat
settled by a shower of rain, which also fur-
nished​ the men with a bath before reaching
their tents. The men are composed of fine ma-
terial​, and look as if they would render excel-
lent​ service for their country. Some of the
non-commissioned officers we noticed particu-
larly​ were splendid models of the soldier. The
commissioned officers were all men of educa-
tion​ and refinement, and before being placed
in their positions passed through a thorough
and rigid examination. They are true men
and tried. At the conclusion of the drill and
review, the large crowd of visitors returned to
the city, satisfied that the colored troops, if
opportunity offered, would faithfully perform
their duty.