New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
THE COLORED SOLDIER.
is Seen at Fort Riley Encamp-
ment-NO InferjoHty Sh0stn.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: The eacampment at Fort Riley has fur
nished one important demonstration to the country
that is especially opportune at this time. II has
shown that the assumption Of the inferiority of the
American colored man can get no support from the
..xrcrieuces OF The army. To the testimony of the
if,d-c advocate generals department and the
medical department. covering period Of forty
wears. comes now the testimony of this encamp-
merit.
The encampmont included. OF the regular army.
i've regiments Of infantry and three Of cavalry. II
some cases however. it must be remarked. whole
regiments were not present bot in most cases the
greater part Of the REGIMENTS Were on the ground.
There were also rrre5cntatives Of the hospital sig
nal and engineer corps. and seven batteries Of ar
fille-v OF the National Guard there were two
regiments and two batteries from Kansas. one from
Nebraska. one from Iowa. one from Missouri and
ono from Texas These troops. regulars and mi
ltia were all white men with the exception Of the
18th Infantry and the 10th Cavalry and few indi-
1iduals in the National Guard.
IN br1Ea ding the troops 10 attention whatever
was rai6 the great outside question Of race or
color" The 18th put in the Second Brigade.
under the command % General J. Franklin Boil,
perhaps the distinguished brigadier general In
the ercampment. Along with the 18th was put the
9Th Infantry and the 18th Iowa, this latter being
the only militia regiment !u the eacampment
rrfEadcd with regulars, and this regiment behaved
SO wei throughout as To receive the highest COM
rnendation from the gallant commander Of the
brigade. No brigade was more popular than
General Bells brigade. and no regiment IN the brl-
esde received any attention than did the 18th
In the naanauvres the 25th Infantry and the 10th
Cavalry we're often brought face 70 face on op-
nos-e sides of the problem, and fought each other
Nth hearty good will The question Of race or
color had no place whatever in disposing the
f-oors The Texas regiment fought with the 25th
taking its position alcnee;de Of or IN the rear OF
that reeiraeut as occasion required. Colored sol
diers served IN the manpuvrcs simply as plain
American soldiers. and received exactly what they
were entitled 20. Although some men Of the Texas
regiment attempted 10 arouse some feeling on the
race subject the sentiment Of the camp was so
overwhelmingly set the other way that their ef
forts reacted upon themselves and caused the whole
regiment 10 tall Into manifest CisfaVoI The senti-
ment OF The army ln genera Is hot aEalnst tae
negro soldier. On Tho contrary, ne Is regarded as
ia every way q ca bic ana worthy man IN arms
In the army alone OF all the larger institutions Of
the country TIE American coioted man mas had
fair trial, ara the result = faVorsaI
The colored man Is enlisted Oh exactly the sa me
conditions as white men; enters the army 5no
serves under the same laws Others. and. barring
the accidents of tire service experiences the same
isbor The same duty and he same pay and rati ms
10 succeed On this calling he must develop the
TAI force as his white comTade who succ,e eds. II
this success IS equal il Is evident that The capital
IN The manor vres nero the horsemanship 81 the
cavaIryman and tho SIKH and ability n the foot
soldier are put 20 severe test The mintamen soon
jearn that 1t is no PLAY or pleasure outing that they
sre az crCed ia. and d. some OF these regiments IL
- no uncommon thing To see the uufried soldiers
fsr 10 The ground. completely exhausted. Such
H. - rr,irr matches. or rather. footraces made
who was in az the start was there a. the nnish.
guicklv were commented upon enthusiastically by
General Bell Physically FAD Intellectually they
sT-riC5r coio-eG solder one has bit 70 consult
TIE reports Of the Judge advocate general ard the