The Colored Regulars in the United States ArmySteward, T. G. (Theophilus Gould)
History
The Colored Regulars in the United States Army
Steward, T. G. (Theophilus Gould)
African American soldiers; Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Participation, African American
and a quarter, during which they were in plain view of the Spaniards,
who also had their exact range. One man was killed and one wounded.
Their courage, coolness and discipline in this trying hour and a
quarter were of the very highest order. The troop commander says:
"Their coolness and fine discipline were superb." This troop did not
fire a shot. Thus one-half of the squadron moved to its positions and
held them without being able to do any damage to the enemy, as they
were carrying out to the letter their instructions, which were to fire
only when they could see the enemy. Troop B was commanded by Captain
J.W. Watson with H.O. Willard as Second Lieutenant. A detachment of
this troop was placed in charge of four Hotchkiss mountain guns. This
detachment opened fire upon the enemy, using the ammunition sparingly,
as they had but fifty rounds with them. Twenty-two shots were fired,
apparently with effect. The remainder of the troop under Lieutenant
Williard was ordered to move out to the extreme right, which would
place it beyond the line of the First Cavalry, thus bringing that
regiment between Troop A of the Tenth, which connected it with the
Rough Riders and Troop B, which was to be on its extreme right.
Lieutenant Williard's report of this movement is as follows:
"I ordered the troop forward at once, telling them to take
advantage of all cover available. In the meantime the
volleys from the Spanish were coming in quite frequently and
striking the ground on all sides near where we were. I found
it very difficult to move the men forward after having found
cover, and ran back to a portion of the troop near an old
brick wall, and ordered them forward at once. They then made
a dash forward, and in doing so three or four men were
wounded, Private Russell severely. Who the others were I do
not know. We encountered a severe fire directly after this
move forward; and Private Wheeler was wounded in the left
leg. There was a wire fence on our right, and such thick
underbrush that we were unable to get through right there,
so had to follow along the fence for some distance before
being able to penetrate. Finally, was able to get the
greater proportion of my men through, and about this time I
met Lieutenants Fleming and Miller, Tenth Cavalry, moving
through the thicket at my left. I there heard the order
passed on 'not to fire ahead,' as there was danger of firing
into our own forces. In the meantime there was shouting from
the First Cavalry in our front, 'Don't fire on us in rear.'
My troop had not fired a shot to my knowledge, nor the
knowledge of any non-commissioned officers in the troop.
About this time I found I was unable to keep the troop
deployed, as they would huddle up behind one rock or tree,
so I gave all sergeants orders to move out on the extreme
right and to keep in touch with those on their left. Then,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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