New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-30
COMMUNICATIONS.
Continued from first paoe.

your readers to judge my condition who are
familiar with such scenes. Notwithstanding
the many hard marches since leaving st.
Louis, Missouri-May 10th, 1SG7-through
Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and into
this immortal Texas, and the many other
impediments, have, with a few other asso-
ciates, been striving to gain what little mea-
gre education we have been able TO pick up
here and there. None of the school facilities
have ever been furnished us which the Gov
eminent officials who recruited us promised
at the date of our enlistment. lido not make
mention ofthis as an excuse for any error that
may occur here, but only TO slow the past
history Of the author of this communication,
i will sorrowfally say that, while myself and
few others have been endeavoring to i'm
prove ourselves, there are many of my asso-
ciates who do not care the least about
enlightening themselves, and are to-day Just
as ignorant as they were nine wears ago.
This is a candid statement, and I believe
truthful, for have seen the largest portion
Of the colored troops in the last two years,
and have made this subject study, and
believe it can be safely put down at, though
it appears TO be fearful, two-thrds of the
colored soldiers now serving in the United
States regular army are almost entirely illit-
crate. Some of them have come out here so
ignorant that it appeared to those who had
to teach him soldiers duties to be mpos-
sible for him to learn, and the rash nom
commissioned officers Of our own color would
resort to ill-treatment and punishment rather
than to take a little pains with the disap--
pointed man, who, no doubt, came to Texas
armed with the many sweet words and fala-
cious promises Of some recruiting officer.
thinking he was making an embarkation for
future prosperity, but only to find it to the
reverse. And L know of instances where
men have been made to desert, and some
have been sentenced to the State prison
where the only difficulty was owing to their
happiness to learn, and the want of little
patience and painstakng on the part of those
in authority.
myself and the more enlightened part of
my.associates prayed for the bill introduced
by General Butler in the House of Represent
one as was introduced by Senator Ames, of
Mississippi, last February year ago to
repeal so much of the laws relating to the
organization of the army of the United States
as establishes distinctions to the prejudice
of one class of American citizens TO pass and
to become law. believe it would have
been beneficial in many instances, and think
IT Is just as important for the prosperity Of
our race in the United States to have mixed
soldiers as it is to have mixed public schools.
An! | trust that some of our worthy friends
Will argue the point before the next Con-
gress; though this clause write with hone.
less belief, for, as long as l have read your
worthy paper, which l hail as treasure
each mail day, have never been able to find
any mention made Of the colored soldier iu
any way whatever until recently, when |
stumbled upon this clause in the issue of
the 25th of June last: "Take the case of the
colored people of the country who are not
only law-abiding citizens, but are in the
armies of the nation ready to yield UP their
lives in It's defrnce-"- cannot express the
enthusiastic feeling that entertained after
reading this clause for, in all the arguments
L have seen in your paper made in behalf
of that much needed civil rights bill, setting
forth the present and past faith of the
colored people in their Government, il APP
pears that our colored statesmen had forgot
ten to mention the three thousand colored
men serving in the capacity of soldiers in the
United States regular army; also, it appears
from the remarks of the General of the
United States army, made by him before the
last session Of Congress relative to their
faithfulness in performing their duties, that
they have acquitted themselves with credit
to their race and why any of our more
worthy colored statesmen and writers will
not look after our interests, or speak cheer
ing word now and then, l must leave for
some one else to answer. There is, it is
supposed, according to law, $3.50 colOred
men enlisted in the army of the United
States and believe there is just as many
serving to-day as is allowed, for all the COM
panies 1 know of is about full. They are
divided in four regiments, two of cavalry,
two of infantry, all serving in this military
department-Texas. The 9th infantry, of
which l am a member, and five companies
of the 9th cavalry, are stationed on the Rio
Grande, from Fort Duncan, Texas, to this
place, a distance of four hundred miles. Ny
company is stationed at Fort Brown, Texas,
but for the present month are on detached
duty at this place.
In my next l will attempt to give your
readers sketch of old Fort Brown, one of
the three cradles of the Mexican war, and
the thriving little city that have sprung up
upon its ruins, and Matamoros, Mexico,
which is just opposite to Brownsville. In
visiting Matamoros, Mexico, a few Sundays
ago, called upon Mr.. Delgado, the accom-
plished violinist, who is stopping in that city
for the present. As suppose some of your
readers would like to hear from this noted
man, therefore / mention him here. was
informed by linn that he did not think he
would go into the interior of Mexico this
summer, as he had two months engagement
in that city; then he would go to Indianola,
Texas, to marry, and in September he
would return back to the interior of the
United States. He appears to be very much
satisfied with his visit to Washington and
other Northern cities, but he is down on New
Orleans louisiana