The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-11
JUSTICE TO THE BRAVE
FINE TRIBUTE TO A COLOREI
NAVAL HERO.
CHAPTER BY SERGEANT MAJOR PUlLtN
A Defense of The Third North Carolina Regi.
ment by Or. Meserve-- The Book is
Well Printed and Handsomely
illustrated,
Illustrated.

History of the Negro Soldiers in the Spanish
American War. By Edward A. johnson, autho
of the "School History of the Negro Race.
Price rs cents and 81. Capital Printing Com
pany, Raleigh,
In a little over 40 pages negro has
told the story of his race III the recen
war with Spain. 1t is an interestin;
story. told i'll an interesting and intel
lgible style.
1t is more than a history. 1t is de-
fence--a plea, il you please, for justice,
for that need of praise that belongs ever
to the brave of whatever nationality, OF
whatever color.
The author, Edward 4. Johnson, is !
lawyer of more than ordinary ability. lie
was for several years a professor at
Shaw University, and is now chief clerk
to the District Attorney. Several years
ago he wrote a school History of the
Negro Race" that attracted wide atten-
ton, being the only history OF the race
ever written. 1t has been adopted as .
text book in the colored schools Of this
and other States.
In the book before me. which came
from the presses OF the Capital Printin.
Company yesterday, the author treats
his subject in fair and impartial man
ner, attempting to bring together and
perpetuate the praise given his race by
others rather than bestow that praise
himself
The first chapter of the book reviews
briefly hut intelEgibly the causes that
led to the war with Spain. With the
second chapter-Beginning of Hostilitie>
commences the history of the Negro
in the war. 1t is in this chapter that
the following touching tribute is paid to
"a colored hero in the Navy Is.
Tunnel, OF Acconlac county, Virginia,
who fell with Ensign Bagley, on the
torpedo boat Winslow. in the harbor OF
Cardenas May II, 1893, in the Spanish
American war:
Elijah b. Tunnel was employed rs
cabin cook ON the Winslow. The boat,
under severe fire from masked bat
teries of the Spanish on shore, was dis
,abled. The Wilmington came to her
rescue, the enemy meanwhile still polg.-
ing on heavy fire. 1t was difficult to
get the Zine" fastened so that the Wins
low could be towed off out of range OF
the Spanish guns. Realizing the dan
ger the boat and crew Were in, and
anxious to be Of service, Tunnel left his
regular work and went ON deck to assist
while thus engaged a shell came. which,
bursting over the group of workers. kill
ed him and three others 1t has been
stated in newspaper reports of this Incl
dent that it was an iH-aimed shell of one
of the American boats that killed Tun-
nell and Bagley Tunnel was taken on
board the Wilmington with both legs
blown off, and fearfully mntilated
Turning to those about him he asked,
Did we win the fight boys The reply
was, Yes He said Then | die hap
py.' While others fell at the post of
duty it may be said of this brave Negro
that he fell while doing more than his
duty. lie might have kept out of harms
way IT he had desired, but seeing the
situation he rushed forward to relieve it
as best he could, and died volunteer
In service. doing what others ought TO
have done All honor to the memory Of
Elijah Is. Tunnel, who, if not the first
certainly simultaneously with the first.
martyr of the Spanish American war
While Otlr white fellow citizens Justly
herald the fame of Ensign Bagley. who
was known to the author from his
youth, let our colored patriots proclaim
the heroism of Tunnel of Accomac.
While not ranking as an official in the
navy, yet he was brave, he was faith
full and we may :Escribe over his grave
that he died doing what he could for
his country
Another interesting chapter is chap
ter LII. in which Sergeant Major Frank
w. Pullen, of the 10Th Infantry. de-
scribes the conduct of the negro soldiers
around Ell Caney. Sergeant Pullen is a
native of Raleigh, though his people now
live at Enfield, \. c. He was educated at
Shaw University. His regiment, the
10Th Infantry, was formerly commanded
by Col. Burt afterwards Brigadier-Gen-
eral Burt in command of the brigade
in the Seventh Army Corps of which the
First North Carolina regiment formed a
part. Pullen was a great favorite with
General Burt. and ac made several at
tempts to have him promoted.
The next several chapters tell of the
bravery of negro soldiers, i'll the words
of Governor Roosevelt. Jacob A. Ris,
General Miles. Cleveland Moftitt, Presi-
dent Mckinley, General Thomas j. Nor
gan and many Others including the edi-
tors OF the leading newspapers of the
country.
The following is the list of the colore1
volunteer regiments as given in this
Ihlrd North Carolina-All colored Of
ficers.
Sixth Virginia Wni,e officers finally.
the colored officers resigned under pres
sure, after which there was much
trouble win the men. they claimed
to have enlisted with the understanding
that they were to have coIored officers
Ninth Ohio-All colored officers: Col
Charles Young, graduate of West Point
Twenty-third kansels-CoIored of.
fcers
l. ghth lllinois-Under colored officers
and did police duty at San Luis. Cuba
Seventh L. $. Volunteers.
Tenth L. s. Volunteers
Eighth Z. S. Volunteers
Ninth Il. s. Volunteers.
A sketch is given of each of these
regiments. In course Of the history Of
the Third North Carolina regiment the
structures made upon it in the public