The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07
OUR BLACK TROOPERS
NINTH CAVALRY COMPOSED OF MEN
WHO HAVE SEEN FIGHTING.
with other COIOred warriors, They
Invade Cuba, IL Necessary.

sage from the department commander was
delivered late last night to Lieut. Col.
Hamilton. Orders were issued before mid
night for preparations for immediate en-
barking aboard train. For several weeks
It has been the talk of the troopers that
they were to be removed to a point in
Florida and in the event of war would be
moved into Cuba as the nucleus of the in
vading army 1t was the understanding
that the department contemplated sending
the negro soldiers to that point because
better service might be expected of them
under the circumstances than of the white
troops. There are six hundred members of
the Ninth, officers and men,
1t is reported here that the Tenth Cav
airy, also colored, now in northern Mon
tana, has been ordered South as fast
steam will carry them No one knows ex-
actly when they will start 1t will require
several trains of freight cars to transport
the horses From the orders to load all
camp equipment. the impression is that
field service is coming.
Already the Twenty-ffth Infantry has
been sent to Florida, and the only other
colored troop of negro soldiers, the Twen-
ty-fourth Infantry. is expected TO go at
once. This will make force of over 1000
colored troops ready to embark for Cuba
OF 10 90 WOrk at SOulnern points. COiOnel
Perry commander of the Ninth Infantry,
is away on sick leave, and Col. Hamilton
commands. The officers refuse to say what
orders have been received or when the
troop will move. For several days freight
cars have been held here. presumably for
this purpose. The members of the troop
have taken a keen interest in the war news
Tor weeks, and all tonight express pleasure
at the prospect of fighting the Spaniards.
The opinion has been ventured in official
circles here that the government will utilize
the colored troops to cooperate with the
Cuban insurgents.
RECORD OF THE NINTH.
A peculiar feature of the composition of
the Ninth Cavalry is that it was originally
recruited of ex-slaves of almost pure "A.
rican extraction, and to-day retains its
traditional color, nearly every member be-
Ing as black as ebony. This characteristic
does not obtain in the other negro forces
IN the service recruited at the same time
Many mulattoes are among the other negro
soiolers of Uncle Sam. Another feature
which gives the Ninth peculiar distinction
Is that 1t was the first of the colored
troops enlisted at that time to receive the
baptism of fire. 1t had been generally pre-
dlcted that the negro would not stand i'm
pattle. The courageous conduct of the Ninth
ulSpelied this idea and gave the coIored
SQIolers standing and rank in the military
A veteran army officer at the headouar
ters remarked a few days since as he no.
, nSea che preparations among General Cop
buIsers stan to get the Ninth ready for
Scuon: 1T Is wonderful how public opinion
mas changed concerning the fighting uuaIi-
, nlss OF these black boys. When the black
me act or Congress of 1866. having just be-
x1r " TASTE the sweets Of freedom. they
weIe Jserssu at and IL was predicted that
lhey would run at the first fire. The Ninth
was one Of the organizations then enlisted
via qa i{ Hlist same regiment is the terror OF
come In contact wiki the ''Fighttng Ninth
curing It's career or the Western plains.
me regiment has done more desperate
work IN its time than any other i'm the serv-
Ice. Western people appreciate this IL the
a-asteInefs do not. The Ninth is no parade
command IL was never given anything but
a ngnting assignment. 1T was never as
signed, even Tor a season. al any of the de-
they are negroes. but because they are first
class nghting men and the War Depart
ment wants TO keep their hands in
Il remember well when the negro troops
We're mustered in. The recruiting quarters
We're opened at New Orleans in the fall of
tS66. We enlisted over two thousand negroes.
they came from Louisiana, Mississippi
Arkansas and Kentucky-great big fellows
oiaci. as ebony and as fine specimens of
physical manhood as ever donned uniform.
Two cavalry regiments. the Ninth and
nTenthf and two infantry regiments, the
formed oe them. The people were doubtful
of the experiment. The Ninth was at once
sent TO open up communities ton in Texas.
Since the opening of the wsr the trail be-
tween Fort Sam Houston and Eel Paso had
been closed by Indians and outlaws Be
tween these posts thousands of the fiercest
and best lighting Indians in the country
The trail was dotted by small posts, mere
barracks, which had been deserted for six
years. Six months after the Ninth enlisted
1t received its first shock of battle. 1t was
La
small post on the Texas plains. The thou
SANDS of Indians who surrounded the fort
day they met them in Battle their opinion
changed. The negroes fought like demons.
They obeyed their white officers perfectly.
and were more ready to fight than to eat.
An account of their conduct reached civil
ization several months later, and was a rev.
elation to those who had ridiculed the negro
soldier. From that day 1t has been one
long fight with the Ninth. Their deeds of
daring would fill volumes and though their
ranks have almost wholly changed since the
first enlistment the command has always
been made UP of lighters.
COOL AND DARING.
THE Ninth remained on the Mexican bor-
der until 1915. enduring the horrors of In
dian wars almost constantly. Then they
moved into New Mexico, with headquarters
at Santa he. There they continued to see
hot service until 1881, when they went fur
Their north. with headquarters at Fort Riley,
commander OF the Ninth. He never fall
tered in his opinion of his black soldiers,
aud was with them in all their hottest work.
Why. those Ninth cavalrymen would have
followed Hatch to the devil, and though he
has been in his grave these ten years, the
memory of that gallant fellow continues To
stimulate the dusky troopers he led against
odds of ten to one among the red men OF the
Southern plains
''Fron Riley, the Ninth continued north
being transferred to Fort Mckinney. Wyo..
in 1885. The 400 miles the Ninth made over
land, just TO show what they could do. And
It was wonderful what time these men could
make. No wonder they were terror to
the Indians. for they were here day and
one hundred miles away the next, fighting
like devils The government always kept
these troopers in action, and as the Indians
moved further into the heart of the Rockies
OF the north, so were the troopers removed
into more isolated districts. They have re-
ferred however 10 Fort Robinson as head
quarters in the meantime.
recall a hundred desperate engage
ments of this troop, showing their wonder
ful GOODNESS and daring qualities Their
iatessl work IN the Sioux campaign of 1890
1891 marked the Ninth as lighting COM
Tnand of wonderful energy. They were in
the Bad Lands hunting Indians ia miles
from Pine Ridge on Dec. so. 1890. That
was the day of the battle of Wounded
Knee, where Clusters old command the
Seventh, wiped out old Two Strikes's band
of Sioux Incidentally ii may be mentioned
that the Seventh lost Eearly two score of
men there, so IL WIS hot work on both
sides.