Huntsville gazette., 1889-08-10
EX-COlOred Soldiers in the
South
CARD.

A CARD.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala, July 18th 1889.
Editor Gazette;
1t has been some lime since we
have heard any thing from Prof. W.
ID. Castor relative to the condition
of ex-colored soldiers in the South.
We disire to hear from him.
Yours uly,
r. M. LOWE.
Mr.. EDITOR. If you will allow
me to reply to the above carl of
Prof RM. Lowe, / ask leave to say,
that it has been butlittle | have writ
ten, relative to the class Of citizens
alluded to only under the head of
other topics. From 1S66) eighteen
sixty six there condition has been
pecu lar. He leaves the service with
no education, little or no money and
no experience except in the arts of
war. His officers return home to the
north while he only returns to find
his homeless, clotheless moneyless and
hungry wife and children itinerating
through the land looking for laborto
obtain food and rainment
Nearly all government property
is sold by the close Of 1865, at two
hundred and fifty per cent less than
he pays for it on leaving the service.
AS farmer. he must have horse and
and implements to begin anew, his
way in life. The very harse u. on
which he was wounded or frosted,
costs him three hundred dollars, when
it only sold for ten. He pays for it
on time, and in this way begins to
feed and clothe his family, expecting,
soon to get three hun lred dollars
bounty, and if wounded penson He
perhaps, gets one hundred and fifty
or three hundred dollars bounty
which pays for his horse in part, in
terest not less than ten per cent, but
for food, medicine and raiment, there
is no hope but to bow in submission
to motgage or lien. Away goes
all his years work, and all his family
has except what they wear. From
year to year he strives to keep in
sight of his neis shboring brother who
has had three years the start to OIL
tain little home. by being fortu
nate enough not to go into service.
Strange to think, but it is SO, that
the peculiar condition Of this class Of
soldiers, has escaped the pen Of many
of our most distinguished writer's
This unlearned colored soldi, or
window, has often had to battle
against the highest tide of literture
to produce evidence of Surgeon,
Captain or lieutenant whom he has
not seen or heard Of since discharged.
But the colored soldier and widow
must learn to be patient. A brigh..
ter future stands before you now,
than since 0S65) eighteen sixty five,
when the dim of battle no longer
sounded. and the shouts Of freedom
with the declaration of peace, echoed
and very reverbated against the walls
Of your humble little cottage. The
young Tippecanoe and his appoin-
tees, such as Hon. Commissioner
Tanner have evinced the nations
gratitude not to any particular class
but to every class Of soldiers who res
pOnded to the call for rescue and per
petuation of this government. The
great current Of prejudice that
seemed once to intercept his course is
running down, and many ofthe white
citezens Of the south, who once paid
little or no attention to the claims Of
colored soldiers and widows are not
only acknowledging their right to
pension and bounty as well as the
white soldier. but are expressing
their sympathy in aiding them to
obtain the pension and bounty they
justly deserve. The present ad.
ministration Of the nation. shows a
willingness to give to its citizens that
which is due, without distinction Of
race. color or previous condition