The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-06
RUSSELL AND PRITCHARD
SENATOR WANTED TO DISMISS
THE WHITE TROOPS.
SEND SECOND REGIMENT BACK HOME
Gov Ru sselI Refused to do il But Consented
to an Arrangement Whereby the
Battery has been Converted in
to Negre Battalion.
to a Negre Battalion.


troops into the service of the United
States, happened yesterday.
J.. The number of men allowed III u
company was reduced from the maxi
mum (S4) to the minimum (S0).
y 1t was decided to turn the battery
of heavy artillery into Il battalion of ne
gro troops composed of three companies
3. Certain of the companies i'll the Sec
ond Volunteer regiment were ordered to
come TO Raleigh at once and go into
camp.
1t now appears that it was not on ac-
count of a lack of tents and blankets
that the order commanding the Second
Volunteer regiment to come to Raleigh
was rescinded, but to Il little game of
politics Governor Russell and Senator
PIitchard were playing.
The game wound up yesterday in the
defeat of Pritchard, and to-day he is
wondering what the soldiers of the Sec
ond regiment are going to say and think
about his action in trying to swap them
off-after they had volunteered, taken
the oath and been ordered to Raleigh
for regiment of negroes.
The North Carolina negroes are anXi-
Gus to go to war;
they have been organizing and clamoring
for recognition in this matter of yolun-
teering. More than regiment, they say
has been raised, despite the discourage
ments with which they have met in the
way of uncertainty about being called on
for service.
Finally it was decided to call on them
for one battalion of troops. The call
se, : ~
two regiments of infantry and one bat
terry of artillery. A regiment must con
sist of II companies of not less than so
nor more than 81 men. The Governor
called for the maximum number-S4 to
the company This would make 1,00S
men, including officers, in each of the
two regiments. Add to this about 175
men for the battery of artillery, and we
have 2,193 men in the two regiments and
the battery of artillery. or 1913 men less
than the number called for from North
Carolina.
This the Governor decided to make up
out of negro troops. AT first this seem
ed to be satisfactory, but it was not.
Negroes continued to volunteer and to
bring pressure to bear on the Governor
for recognition, as soldiers, more in ac-
cord with their voting population. Both
the patriotic spontaniety of the volunteer
movement among them and the political
effect of ignoring their claims were urged
to good effect.
Then it was discovered that the stand
ard of North Cardinals quota was the
two regiments and the battery of artil-
lery, and not the 2,6S4 men. This again
threw all plans into confusion.
Officials ut Nacbinufnn xyara rom
municated with, looking to an enlarge
ment of North Cardinals quota so that
more negroes might be taken in. The
War Department referred to its author
lied statement that the quotas as origi-
naIly made out would stand, and said
it didn't see how it could make an ex-
ception of North Carolina.
The negroes now appealed to Senator
Pritchard. and that great statesman hied
him out to see what he could do, and i'm
cidentally put his ancient enemy III Il
hole The Senator was not long in dig
ging his pit for the Governor who at
once refused to humble in, but yanked
the Senator himself in.
1t was decided, between Pritchard and
the Secretary of War that one of North
Cardinals two regiments should be com
posed of negroes, and that to do this the
Governor should disband the Second
regiment Of white troops, which had al
ready been ordered here. Those that had
not started were to be advised not to
come, and those already here were to be
sent back.
This would have been an indignity TO
which even the First regiment would not
have submitted, and those not already
llp nfn a limited
States service would have marched back
home, and Governor Russell knew it.
So he telegraphed the Secretary of War
that he should not comply with his order
that the Second regiment, through the
efforts of the Adjutant General and other
patriotic men of the State. had already
been raised and was under waiting or.
ders to come to Raleigh; that he would
not now dismiss them for lot of ignor
ant. unframed negroes; that the good
faith of the State and the nation was
pledged to the Second regiment. and he
proposed to see to it that it was not
violated.
Further. the Governor pointed out in
this dispatch that the Hull bill gave Tho
preference, in the matter of volunteering
to the State Guard--traned men-and
that seven of the twelve companies il
the Second regiment, are State Guar6
companies. Under this law. the Cover
nor said he could not execute the order
10 dismiss them and put negroes who dc
not know what carry arms" means il
their place.
The Governor indicated. however, tina
he was willing TO do all in his power [,
give the colored people such recognition
as was possible under the present call
He suggested that the battery of ar
tillery called for be turned into bat
talon of three colored companies, ant
that the companies in the white regi
ments be reduced to eighty men each
the minimum number under tn,
present call. He suggested that TIN
companies in the two white regiments b.
reduced to so men each, the minimum
number
The reduction takes away just 96 men
leaving 960 in each regiment, or 1,92t
in the two regiments, instead of 2,016
TThe negro battalion is correspondence