New-York tribune., 1903-02-07
THE UNION LEAGUES REGIMENTS.
"reminiscences of the March Downtown of
the Twentieth Colored Regiment
70 the Editor Of The Tribune.

Sir; Your article of January 81 the Union
League Club must have awakened cherished fnem-
ories in surviving soldiers who owed their oppor-
tunties to the Leagues patriotism and energy. IL
may interest your readers to know that not only
did the club raise three regiments OF Northern
colored soldiers in 1868, but they provided these
troops with special uniform, superior in con-
renience and adapta biity to the service dress of
tion coat, the skirt Of which had always been a
nuisance TO men who handled muskets, re-
placed by jacket with large buttons, and CATERS
were provided for the legs. SO the bottoms of the
mems trousers were protected from dust and mud,
the other of which would usually make a
soldiers new pair of loose bottomed trousers un-
slightly in week Years afterward the regular
army was provided with service uniform which
was practically identical with that OF the clubs
colored troops.
The company officers OF the clubs colored regi-
ments were selected from enlisted men OF Cwhite)
regiments already in the field the selections being
made by a board of regular army officers. under
the craftsmanship of General Sas Casey. author of
the armys infantry tactics. The examinations were
competitive; pull counted for nothing. and the
sitting of several thousand competitors done so
severely by request Of the League and by order of
Secretary Stanton, that there were days when only
one applicant received a commission. After ap-
pontment, most Of the newly 1edged officers had
to wrestle with the dscouraging fact that they
would be obliged to purchase outft--officers
uniform, sword, belt, sash, etc, which at war
prices came 10 500 or more-although they needed
the wherewithal for mess expenses until the in
definite coming of the paymaster, who in those
days was generally about four months behind his
obligations. Learning of this the Union League
Club promptly offered cash assistance to each and
all, lending in many hundreds OF dollars to
each officer with no security but the borrowers
promise TO pay when his pay should be re-
ceived.
Regarding the Goth Coored Troops whose march
through New York was described in your article.
and Of which l was junior officer, allow me To
say a word. Despite the apprehension of attack
by the baser element of the crowds in the streets
the ammunition issued to not allowed
10 be opened; IL placed in the cartridge boxes
in the original packages OF ten the purpose being
to prevent any chance firing in case of excitement
and to leave the men dependent upon their bayo-
nets for self-defence should attacks be made. Our
colonel, \. p. Bartram, veteran Of the Potomac
Army. said that, as he had never armed SOL
diers Withstand bayonet prods, he did not believe
New-York rowdies would be less careful OF their
own persons. A brother lieutenant and I We're
sent steamers dock with fifty men. to hold
the dock against any possible mob attack We
were instructed to depend solely upon the hayonets
and, to make assurance doubly sure. we were not
allowed to issue any cartridges. When told this
to police sergeant who brought large detach-
ment down to assist U.S. he said he thought we
would be entirely able TO take care Of ourselves
so he took his men off.
One word more about Colonel Bartram. When
the march about to begin he said 10 the
been borrowed for the occasion: Il want you to
play John Browns Body Lies MouldeTing in the
Grave The band leader, though a regular, vent
ured protest, for he had his opinion OF New
York dangerous class, but the colonel insisted:
play John Brown 'Tis the proper music for
my march to-
An hour after the march from Union Square be-
gan sentry the head of Canal-st. pier called
the corporal and reported IAN awful up the
street" 1t took but a moment to form our detach-
ment in line at the head of the pier. but in that
moment / had more forebodingS than had pre-
viously known IN service in the field. My brother
lieutenant and ] did best to Stffen mems
nerves and to assure them that with
bayonet through his body could do them any harm.
hut forbore to say what crowd as great as
the approaching might do by mere
force of impact The noise increased frightfuly,
and know that at least defender of the pier
felt his heart crawling his throat AS the crowd
neared the noise became separable into two war
ring parts, of which consisted of cheers and a
few boots. while the other was the words Of John
Brown" roared by several hundred members of the
Union League Club marching in front Of the regi-
Tnent Never before after did see fifty bayo-
nets gisten cheerily; they really seemed to be
another on the change Of situa-
ton. LIEUTENANT.
New York Feb ], 1903.