New-York tribune., 1903-07-05
NEGRO H BRAVE FIGHTER.
His Courageous Work in the Girl
Var and Later.

when the 54th Massachusetts, Regiment stormsd
Fort Wagner, July 1S 1868. only to be driven back
with the loss OF it's colonel Robert Gould shaw
and many OF its rank and file II established for
all time the fact that the coIored soldier would
Tight and fight well.' says Oswald Garrison Willard
In The Atlantic Monthly" This had already
been demonstrated in Louisiana by colored regi-
ments under the command of General Godfrey
Weitzel in the attack upon Port Hudson on May
z OF the year. On that occasion regineuts
composed for the greater part OF raw recruits
plantation hands with centuries OF servitude under
the lash behind them. stormed trenches and
dashed upon cold steel in the hands Of their former
masters and oppressors. After that there was no
more talk in that portion OF the country OF the
natural cowardice' of the negro. But the heroic
qualities OF Colonel Shaw, his social prominence
and that OF his officers. and the comparative near
ness Of their battlefield TO the North attracted
greater and more lasting attention to the daring
and bravery Of their exploit until 1t finally became
fixed IN many minds as the first real baptism Of
fire OF coIored American soldiers.
After Wagner the recruiting OF colored regi-
ments, originally opposed by both North and South
went on apace. particularly under the federal gov
eminent which organized no less than ISL dszg-
mated as United States CoIored Troops Colonel
Shaws raising Of a colorsd regiment aroused quite
as much comment in the North because of the raca
preJudice 1t dehed because Of the novelty OF the
new organization General WeitzeI rendered his
resignation the Instant General & f Butler as
signed black soldiers to his brigade and was with
ulmculty induced to serve on. His change OF mind
was wise one, and not only because tbszA col
ored soldiers covered him with slorv at Por- T4u4
SON. 1t was his good fortune 10 be the central
ngure in one OF the dramatic incidents OF q war
that must ever rank among the most thrilling and
tragic the world has seen. The black cayaIrvu1sn
Who rode into Richmond the first OF the NIorrharn
troops to enter the Southern capital went in way
lns their saSres and crying TO the negroes On the
siue"aIAs. We have come 10 set you free Thsv
were from the division OF Godfrey vsitzal ana
f0rJFh h7s
1t fell 10 the lot OF the 9th and 10tb ~av,1rv
- prove that the negroes could 90 as well under
nre IN the Indian wars as they had v-rar @-b+-rg
Ior the freedom Of their race While thu a4rb ana
o,, nao merely garrison work TO 60. the
." anu IUtn cavalry secuted for years AGAINST
hostue Indians in Texas New-Nfaxfeo Colorado
ana Kansas, always acquitting themselves b,n9r-
aoiy- In September. 1855 little over rv-, ,sars
4'e1 'NsT organization. three troops OF the sth
cavalry did we'll in action AGAINST Indians AZ
Horsehead Hills, Tex. When CyeDa-,I c.
Forsyth and his detachment OF hftv scours vve-s
surrounded and 'corralled' by seven hundred In
olans on an island in the Republican River II was
IN. .ne troop OF Captain Louis II. Carpenter OF the
mtn Cavalry, which first came 70 their rsscus
Similarly. when Major T T. Thornburp,s command
was nearly wiped out by Utes in 1873 IT was Cap
tain F. 5 Dodge's Troop D OF the 9Th which sue
ceeueo IN reaching IT IN time losing all its ho-ses
- 80 oolns- rms regiment alone took part in sixty
IIiulah hSnts between 1858 and 1890, during which
time II lost three officers and tvve1tv-savsn uen
killed ard had three officers and thIrty-four nsn
wounded The 10Th Cavary's casualties were also
heavy during this same period and il fought for
many years over most difficult country in New
mexico and Arizona. taking q conspicuous part in
running to earth Geronimo's and Victoria's bands
OF Apaches.
In the battle OF Santiago the four coIored regi-
nents won praise from all sides, particularly for
theH advance upon Kettle Hin in which the
Housh RIDERS also figured. From the very begin
hlns OF the movement OF the army after its LAID
ms tue negro troops were L. the front OF the
Hshuhs' and contributed largely 70 the successful
result Although they suffered heavy losses es-
peciary in officers. the men fought with the sane
eanantry they had displayed on the plains. IS IS
at'ested oy the honors awarded In every com
pany there We're instances Of personal gallanuS
The first sergeants especially lived Up 70 the re-
sponsioiities placed upon them The color sergeant
OF the 10th Cavalry. Adam Houston. bore to ne
'front.' not only his own days, but those OF the 50
cavalry when the latter's color sergeant was snos
COVE In several emergencies where troops C. coha
panies lost their white officers. the senior ser
geants took command and handled their men IN >
iaGltless manner. notably IN the 10Th Cavalry
Indeed, the conduct OF these men has done ruuea
te dispel the old belief that coIored soldiers WI
hght only when they have efficient white OiacsiS
This may well have been true at period OF q,
civil War. when the colored whole p-e
never even had the responsibilities attaching y
free men, 1t Is growing less and less true as u'1'
passes and better educated men enter the rahNs
In addition 20 the 18th and 9th Volunteers. 10