New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-20
King George-ls the general confusion, alp into his
pocket AN INQUIRER
Nev- York, Sept. i6, 1879
THE SAN ANTONIO MfITINY

NECESSITY FOR THE AID OF THE TEXAS STATS
PoLICE-INCoMPETEScE OF THE NEGRO AS A
SOLDIER.
To the Bdftor Of The Trt5Vne.
SIR: The letter from which have copied
the following extracts written by army officer In
Texas, in comment upon editorial in TIE TRIBUNE
bearing upon the mutiny OF coored garrison
OF san Antonio As he has been an officer Of coOred
troops ever since the first employment Of them during
the war; and it his radical antl-Savery convie
lions that then led him to accept commission in a col
orcd regiment, no imputatioD Of inexperence or OF
prejudice hold good 20 inyalidate his criticism Of
the negro's qualities a soldier. CHG.
Phiiadelph,a Penn Sept. l6, 1873.
THE TRIBUNE editorial think IA very
sensbly inspired but the writer IN animadyertDg upon
the officers alluded could not have been cOgnzant OF
all the facts Of the trouble The Captain encb) OF the
accomplished little with the muneers for other
reasons than that every man from First Sergeant down
arrayed against him, and that there other
troops at the post TO suugate the mglcOnents hence
the necessity OF Gen. Augrs employing the poles
20 overcome them. Generally where mutnles occnr
there IS at least squad among the troopss loyal 10 tho
commandant and hostile 70 the muuneers. Such
squad, though greatly inferior in numbers II properly
differed, can by GOODNESS aud fearlessness overcome
body OF mutineers tenold greater IN numbers In THIS
San Antonio affair there company Of co men ar
rayed against three commissioned officers. the non
commissioner officers OF TINS company were, uhiOrtu-
nately all Most cOOred companies have some
non-commssioned officers preferably first sergcants
other than OF negro blood wnose influence II tney are
decent and capable tends TO break 40 the cannsnness
which negroes cultivate the army. Capt French has
been San officer in the regular army since
1861, is the Of the late Prof. French
or the Military Academy, and under his father
himself educated West Point He, doubtless, does
admire coored soldiers more than most others,
hut he Is neither Incompetent nor cOwardY. Had II
been IN power he would have decyey buried every
mutineer in dshOnOable grave before sundoWn OF the
rlOtOus day.
II negroes are 70 constitute a portion OF army.
they should be most carefully recruited ana DroUlscu
Ously distributed through all regiments; az nshnet
organizations fair trla regular soldiers does NOT
show a great success. They not self sustaining.
white corps properly manipulated is IN time brought 70
OF efficiency, all requiring hard Work on Ina
part of officers and at nrst; but that efficiency
relax for the Intelligence pride aud ambition OF tho
and file contribute TO preserve the standard on
other hand troops though a. readily brought
TO the standard OF efficiency, permit no relaxation
Of rigorous discipline moderation IN routine OF In
strctIOn. Their constant tendency Il Ia retrOgessOn,
and only the most laDOriOus efforts ncessant and wear
ing mentally aud physically ron the Obcers WIZ Keep
them ~ 10 the required standard AS Gen. Quincy a.
Gilmore sad the other day Negro troops resent as
cipne II they thought an approach 70 the servtuoe
they endured before emancipation; and in trying 10
avenge any fancied insult they are brutal reckless ana
passionate beyond the capacity or white men," Ii
nv experience 1 have had any trouble
with nv soldiers. 1 do not allow my serg ants
TO affiliate with their and put white men N suoh
positions when l get them. Familiarity DetWeea
non-cOmmssiOned officers and priyates especially
breeds contempt OF authority moreover rule al WIN
a rod Of IRON aud they pretty thoroughly understind
that orders memorable. NOuld glalJ
race their Incidence, mprOvdence, bestiaty are IN
durable and for the skeleton army OF regulars when
the law allows, can afford u exact other qush-
fc9tlOuS than these.