Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-02
Only One Colored Officer in the Army.

Only three colored young men have
ever graduated from the United States
military school at West Point-Lieu
tenants Flipper Alexander and Young.
Lieutenant Alexander died about two
years ago, and Flipper is not how in
the service
Charles Young graduated in 1894. and
is now first lieutenant of the Ninth
United States cavalry. 1t has required
an extraordinary degree of courage
for colored men to face and live
through the five years of petty pers"-
cutions and race hatred in the govern
mcnt military school. The colored
man who is fortunate enough to get
the appointment and smart enough to
pass the examinations and sterling
enough in the qualities of manliness to
complete the course and graduate
ought to make a first-class soldier.
Lieutenant Charles Young is large in
size and of an imposing. soldierly ap-
pearance. He is but 81 years OF age
and was born in kentucky. His father
was Il gallant soldier in the federal
army during the rebellion. He moved
over into Brown County, Ohio, for the
purpose of giving his son the best pos
sible education. After graduating
from the Ripley high school at the age
of 16 years, Charles applied himself
diligently tn the study of Greek and
Latin preparatory to entering a Jesuit
college in Cincinnati. Ohio. His amhi-
ton then was to become a priest. His
diligent study after he left school and
while teaching was fitting him for an
| opportunity that he little dreamed of
After two years of such preparation
he entered a competitive examination
for Il cadctship from the twelfth
Ohio congressional district and won The
appointment over twenty-scVcn com
pctitorS.
After graduating in 1889, Young was
assigned to duty with the Ninth United
| States army cavalry as second lieu
tenant. He served five years with this
fighting cavalry. Three years Of tht
time he acted as post adjutant and
| post quartCrmaster. in addition to his
| duties as second lieutenant. In 1885,
| President Cleveland assigned him t.
| duty at Wilberforce University. Ohio
| as professor of military tactics and
! science. His work al this school has
| been of the highest character. The r.
ports that have been sent to Washing
ton by the inspection officers show
| that the students of Wilberforce under
Lieutenant Young's training arr
among the best drilled found in any ri
the colleges. The white students OF
Antioch College have been glad u
avail themselves of Lieutenant
Young's mastery in the art of drilling
During last summer Lieutenant YOUNG
| was detailed by the war department
for the inspection and instruction oi
| the Ninth battalion of the Q. n. g., ir
camp at Newark. In this work he was
ably assisted by the students Of hi
own training from Wilberforce HI
won his commission as first lieutenant
by examination at LeavenWorth. Kan
| If a colored regiment or brigade is
| formed anywhere in the United States
for active military service composed
entirely of colored men, Lieutenan,
Charles Young will probably command
| it. He has drilled and instructed
| enough young colored men in military
tactics to furnish any military organi-
cation with all the officers need
| ed for its complete equipment