The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-12
rHE pIsaRACED BATTALION.
An Ex-Privates Comments On tho Action
OF the President.

To THE EDITOR OF THE sUH-Sir: Your
article concerning the wholesale discharge
without honor OF colored soldiers by order OF
the President is quite to the point. Aside
from the fact that these men are forever
barred from holding any place in the civil
service. there Is another phase OF the cues
ton understood only by those who have been
soldiers.
Faithful service for twenty years earns the
right of entrance to the Soldiers Home at
Washington. All of these years these men
have been paying fer this right. A colored
man once a soldier n usually a soldier for
ever. This Is a rule proved by the fact that
some OF the colored companies have not had
a recruit since the Spanish war. His one
idea Is to serve faithfully and honorably until
he has earned retirement or death gives him
his discharge. His faithful and honorable
service is an actual fact. The record OF court
martials in the negro regiments amply sub
stantiatss this statement. As The Sun asks.
rs not the service at Caney TO receive reoog-
nition?" and l ask. Is not the service OF the
Ninth Cavalry at Wounded Knee and Its won
derful forced march to receive some reward3
And il so, could not part Of the reward be q
fair deal to the Twenty-hfth?
Although the conduct Of some OF its men
was deplorable, the action OF their battalion
was not without a precedent. and although
harsh justice was administered in the former
Oaot ~ was w u Atah Who $50 w
svery man in the Twenty-ffth refused to be.
The incident to which l refer occurred in
1891 in Walla Walla. Wash. man OF D troop.
Fourth Cavalry. named Miller. was shot by
q tinhorn gambler and In a short time died.
The murderer was arrested and lodged In
the county jail with a promise OF q speedy
trial. This pronis caused elation In the
garrison, but it also created doubts. The
doubts were 30 strong that suddenly one
night the jail was surrounded by armed
men. Singularly the arms were or Gov
eminent make. The murderer was taken
from his cell. compelled to kneel on the lawn.
allowed to pray and was then shot. A num-
Der OF oldiers were arrested. confined in
jail. each with a determination to rot there.
If necessary. and with shoulder to shoulder.
like men-enlisted men-prepared to meet any
fate. Silence is golden and not one word was
uttered, SO all were discharged.
Now for the fellow who sought approba-
ton and reward. A non-com. OF ID troop
offered to squeal IL discharged. He was
arrested, CIapped into the guard house. tried
and sent to Alcatraz Island for seven years.
His name was Arnold. Fateful name. Com
pare the two results and then hail 10 the
Officers Of the Fourth for their action. and
shame on the other.
am no ne gro lover. / never had a negro AZ
a guest at my table, but l did eat with them.
and the same blanket covered me. q private
of the Fourth Cavalry. and a negro from the
Tenth Cavalry. We we're soldiers. / never
extended the glad hand TO one negro and a
dishonorable discharge to 200 negro soldiers
for refusing to squesl. These men have given
the best years OF their lives to their country's
service, and some Of their bunkies have died
cheerfully with the flag floating over their
heads. DENIS DUNN.
Formerly Private Troops f and l.. Fourth
Cavalry.
NEW York, November II.