The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-14
coon ENOUeH ron rHEM.
Records Of Two American 0mcers VINO were
Proud TO serve win the Twenty.feurth


To THE EDIroR or TEE sUN-Sir: Con-
cerning the editorial In TIL Sun OF Novem-
Der II Lest We Forget let ne say that
there may be buriais In the War Department
Reports Of 1893" and In other cemeteries. but
no mar who loves fair play can dismiss from
his mind the deeds of the Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-ffth Infantry and the Ninth ccd
Tenth Ca valry.
In Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson lies
the body Of the dearest chum a man could
have. my brother -in-law, John J. Brereton.
He commanded q company OF the Twenty
fourth at San Juan Hill. His record in that
tight. given In Markley's repor TO the War
Department. speaks for itself. Brereton had
always said to me: The Twenty-fourth Ia
good enough for me-" He was assigned to
that regiment on graduation with the class
Of 1877. He but once asked for another as
siRnment, and that was as military instructor
at Rutgers College. to obtain educational
advantages for his young daughter. T h
burial Of Captain Breretonis record OF service
at San Juan In the Department files Of isss
was unfair beyond belief.
Brereton was invaded home from San
Juan with q painful wound. I was then his
constant companion. No groan came from
him except from his heart when he thought
Of his regiment doing the yellow fever nursing
at Siboney. His worry during that period
had much TO do with his sad dealt at Manila
shortly sfterwsrd.
When the Twenty-fourth came TO Montauk
I went there with Brereton and saw him shed
tears at the condition Of the officers and men.
They were a pitiable sight. am no ~-niRger"
lover, but my hat comes OF TO that body Of
men as true soldiers.
Since that day another Brereton, Tall
madge H., q worshipper Of his stepfather,
has served his country well. part Of the time
in the Twenty-fourth He applied for trans
for from Nha EOa.rth TTpftaA GNafaa Infa nfrV
in order TO remain on the fighting line In the
Philippines. Three tours Of duty in that
climate sent him the same road his revered
stepfather travelled. He now lies in Ar
lineton.
These two gallant soldiers are dear TO the
memories Of all the colOred enlisted men. And
the Breretons we're proud OF the old Twenty
fourth. You will pardon me IL ! relate an
Incident showing how loved was the name OF
Brereton among the colored soldiers.
My nephew. Tsllmadge II. Brereton, went
TO Cuba with the Seventy-frst United States
Volunteers. His company did not lie In the
trail" lie came to Montauk so Ill that his
name was often mentioned in detention
camp" as the next man to 60" l went there
to get him home alive and succeeded in get
ting him furloughed. I took up quarters at
Amagansett to be close to him. The night
previous to my taking him to New York
there was an awful storm of rain and wind.
The hospital tent in which the boy was lying
blew down. as well as other tents. The boy
managed to crawl from under the wet canvas
and make his way to the guard tent. The
sentries were either of the Ninth or Tenth
Cavalry. The boy crawled into the tent
which was occupied by the reliefs not on post.
He told the sergeant Of the guard: Il am Cap
tain Brereton's stepson." is you his son?
Get up. you niggers, and give Captain Brere-
tons boy your blankets" Ten of the men
made a soft bed Of their blankets and went
outside in the storm and slept in empty dry
goods boxes. | found the kid comfortably
housed offered to pay the soldiers for their
kindness. but they would not accept anything
for caring for de Captains boy"
These are not the kind Of men to shoot up
a town unless under strong provocation.
Some very fine history OF the doing OF the
colored troops in 1898 is buried in the records
OF the War Department.
BRADIsH JOHNSON SMITH.
HAcKENsACk. n. j., November -.