The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-26
PROF.. RR1cE WRITES.
lie Gives Ills View of the Conduct OF
the Negro Troops.
Camp Russell. Ft. Macon n. G.


Camp Russell. let. Mncon, n. G.
August 80, 1898
10 the Editor. Sir:I have II deep rcu-
son for believing that at heart, you nrc.
u man for tair play and justice and will
not knowingly, injurc and reflect I'M.
justly upon the good name of !, 100 men.
because of two or three bad breaks here
and elsewhere 10y about six or eight
vicious characters among them.
disclaim here and now the role of
defender an apologizcr or a palliatcr ol
crime. What am about to say is sim
ply in the interest of the truth being
here entirely outside OF the regiment.
not expecting any job, not cocrccd, per
fcctly free and independent, working
purely and simply in the interest OF
helping the men in the broad Young
Mems Christian Association capacity.
wish to state plainly what has been
done and who did il.
Until within the last two weeks, this
camp has been perfection itself every
body went regularly along about his du-
~. over to MorchCad on detail with com
missioncd officers after frcights and OK
press, over to Beaufort on various or
r0nds and everybody, white and black,
praiSing the conduct of the soldiers boys.
Some two weeks ago. the paymaStCr
came for the first time to this regiment
and. in two days after that, Gus AbCr.
nathy. Clarence Gordon and Green Car
tor. MI of Company A, got across 10
Morchcad City--one on detail with other
good men for service, one to see Il dying
wife, ms he said; the'third with his cap
tain rs sponsor for his good behavior
These men all bought whiskey from u
white woman whom the mayor. in the
presence of six or seven men, wished
was ut Santiago, got drunk and raised
Il fuss among themselves, were appre-
hcnded, taken by the one policeman. and
fined. 1t is untrue that hundreds or
even dozens or any numbers Of these
black soldiers were over to Morchead
City ut the same time and attempted to
rescue those three convicted men. 1t is
untrue that white officers bringing the
condemned men to Fort Macon were en-
dangcred or narrowly escaped with their
lives. 1t is untrue that the commander
Of the regiment was unable to discipline
his men. For ] saw the officer who
came over with the men, quietly escorted
by Capt. York of Co. G, to Col. Young's
office aud / heard Col. Young tell the
officer that every man who created any
disturbance in his town or any town
should be promptly turned over to the
civil authority and he wanted such a
man punished to the fullest extent. lie
then ordered Capt. Stitt to get Green
Carter and take him to the boat for the
officer
This disturbance which | have spoken
of in detail has been taken ND and mag
nifed and put with great headlines in the
4 I rs,,
ston sheets and copied by your and other
newspapers over the State with such
semblanoe of truth that good people may
possibly begin to believe that well nigh.
the whole regiment is made up of fools.
cut-throats, toner's, and ruffians. The
truth is that the most preiudiccd who
spend any time here soon become delight
cd that not over one or two dozen out
of the entire regiment have given any
trouble at ALL Telegraph operator, Mr..
Webb. a day or so ago, out in the open
streets said: "This is the best behaved
regiment of soldiers have ever heard OF
as Il whole, excepting a very few / can
say nothing but give them praise for their
good behavior" One man. an evangelist
who carried on meetings here for 10
days, said before leaving: 81 have gone
in and out among these boys both night
and day and have not heard one oath
nor any unbecOming language" 1t IS
VOW unjust to a people, struggling and
otherwise unfortunate, for all to have to
he held w as criminals because these
three or four men have done wrong. The
few unwise soldiers who misbchaved on
the public thoroughfares are misguided.
low and wrong and should be punished
if guilty of crime and yet this whole reg
imcnt should not have to suffer any more
than all the soldiers at Fort CaSwell
should suffer for the savage doings Of the
few aat Wilmington a few days ago. i
can truly say that excepting about rs or
Is men This entire command is nearly
perfect in obedience to their superior
officers, that he officers though human
beings and have faults are, upon the
whole, gentlemen who have learned how
to demean themselves quite well in their
new departure. For the soldiers boys
| can cheerfully and truthfuly testify
that thousands come into our tent. | Wis
it hundreds upon all sorts of occasions
and they are tractable, clean now, proud,
ready and exact in their obedience, and
respect their superior officers. / feel more
hopeful for the future of their race. since
seeing how neat attractive. careful and
proud they can he when given this half
of a chance than Ihave ever felt before
and if given justice, this regiment will
not suffer in comparison with any other
Respectfully,
n. G. BRUCE,
Secretary Y. NJ. C.. 4. Tent.