History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With MexicoSweeney, William Allison
History
History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With Mexico
Sweeney, William Allison
African American soldiers; African Americans -- History -- 1877-1964; World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American
Several of the states appreciating the value of the Negro as a soldier
and in response to his intense desire to enlist, placed volunteer Negro
organizations at the disposal of the government. There were the Third
Alabama and Sixth Virginia Infantry; Eighth Illinois Infantry; Companies
A and B Indiana Infantry; Thirty-third Kansas Infantry, and a battalion
of the Ninth Ohio Infantry. The Eighth Illinois was officered by colored
men throughout. J.R. Marshall its first colonel commanded the regiment
during the Spanish-American war and did garrison duty in Santiago
province for some time after the war; being for a while military
governor of San Luis.
Gov. Russell of North Carolina, called out a Negro regiment, the Third
Infantry, officered by colored men throughout. Colonel Charles Young
commanding. It was not mustered into the service.
Company L. Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, was a Negro company serving in
a white regiment. John L. Waller, deceased, a Negro formerly United
States Consul to Madagascar, was a captain in the Kansas regiment.
About one hundred Negro second-lieutenants were commissioned in the
volunteer force during the Spanish-American war. There was a Negro
paymaster, Major John R. Lynch of Mississippi, and two Negro chaplains,
the Rev. C.T. Walker of Georgia and the Rev. Richard Carroll of South
Carolina.
Owing to the briefness of the campaign in Cuba, most of the service of
Negro troops devolved upon the Regulars who were fit and ready. But all
troops were at mobilization or training bases and willing and anxious to
serve. No pages in the history of this country are more replete with the
record of good fighting, military efficiency and soldierly conduct, than
those recording the story of Negro troops in Cuba. Colonel Roosevelt
said that the conduct of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry reflected honor
upon the whole American people, especially on their own race. He could
hardly say otherwise in view of the splendid support given by those two
regiments that--such is, and will continue to be the verdict of history,
saved him and his "Rough Riders" from annihilation at San Juan Hill.
Cuba, in her struggles for freedom, had among her own people two
splendid Negro leaders, Antonio and Jose Maceo.
Following the Cuban campaign, Negro troops saw distinguished service in
the Philippine Islands uprisings. They have from time to time since
garrisoned and preserved order in those possessions. A very limited
number of Negro officers have been attached to their racial contingents
in the Philippines, and there will be found but a few of competent
military authority in this country, who will deny that educated,
intelligent and qualified Negroes, are fitted for positions of
leadership and command.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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