The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-03

H. Smith, and also of Prof. H. H. Smith,
father of Hoke Smith, a Northern man
with a Southern wife. 1 suppose, there
FORE that II is Prof. Smith who says, in
the Atlanta Journal that since 1865 there
has been a great change in the Republi
can party. From advocating negro
equality, civil rights and regu-
ar army commissions, they have come to
deny them Regular army appointments"
etc. Prof. Smith is in error as to regular
army appointments of negroes as mono
nave been made by Republicans. Presi-
dent Cleveland, a Democrat, made the
first negro appointment in the regular
army. Rev. Allan Allensworth of Ken
lucky, as chaplain on the recommended
ion of Senator Joseph E. Brown and 9TH
er Democratic Senators. Ripper and the
other negroes went into the army through
West Point, for which certain Republican
congressman were responsible.
President Mckinley, however, did ap-
point two negroes as paymasters in the
volunteer service during the Spanish
American war, and they were assigned
to pay off white, instead of colored,
troops. Chaplain Allensworth was as
sigued 10 the Twenty-four h United States
Infantry, colored, and not to white SOL
diers. Lieut.. II. o. Flipper, of Georgia,
made a fine record at West Point and
also in the regular army until he fell
into the social habits of some of the
white officers, which led to his unjust
dismissal, the offense not warranting so
severe a punishment. So far as l know
he is the only negro officer in the regu-
lar army who has made a creditable mill
itary showing. Despite his social troubles
some Of his most distinguished superior
officers testified in his favor and strongly
opposed his dismissal However, being the
n pei
and become fine officer in the regular
army, the court-martial made a clean
out of the colored element in their YER
diet.
Mrs. Passie Fenton Ottley, IN the Attain
"a Journal Of Jan. q, reviews George w.
Renck's biography of Col. Theodore
0Hara, the gifted and gallant poet-sol-
,ier of Kentucky, whose beautiful poem.
The Bivouac of the Dead" has made
mis- name one that was mot born to die
Mrs. Ottley errs greatly when she says:
1t is doubtful if the Federal government
OF the United States would have used
che lines in such lavish fashion in memo
rlalizing the dead of the Union army, had
they been recognized as the product Of
the genius of a soldier and officer of the
other side" The lines referred to-:
ION Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards with solemn round
The bvouac of the dead"
were written by one who had been a gal
liant soldier la the Mexican war, and the
fact that he later became Confederate
soldier, has never lessened his fame
as poet or in any way detracted from
his grand war poem so literally quoted
from on Memorial days at the North and
West. over nat onal cemetery gates. and
on Union soldiers monuments these Ines
can be found, and they were put there by
men and women who knew that Col.
OHara was a Confederate soldier, but
also knew that he was a brave Mexican
War veteran. Mrs Ottley also errs in
stating TINT Mr. r n k had ere cuel
from absolute obscurty the memory" OF
the author Of this grand poem. Long be-
fore l ever heard of Mr.. Ranck | pub
lished in the Detroit Free Press. I'm its
series of war articles, biographical
sketch Of Col. O'Hara and some three
years ago ! contribu ed m ustr d ar
tiole on the same subj CT to the Atlanta
Journal There are thousands Of South
ern people who know ali about Col
O'Hara and his INN rial poem and vet
never heard OF Mr. RRnck.
Sidney Herbert.