Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-04-01
Our Sacrifice
Of Blood
NEGRO SOLDIERS IN THE WARS
OF THE REPUBLIC.
(By JOHN Z. BRUCE)
written Expressly for The Denver
Statesman.)

Some years ago 1 wrote q series Vi
articles on this subject for an Ohio
newspaper and will begin where l left
of. a series for the Denver States
man. | believe Negroes are the only
people in this country who are not
preserving a consecutive historical
record of Negro achievement in many
departments of laudible endeavor-
Outside of the Negro Academy at
Washington, d. c.. which was founded
oy Rev A. A Crummell, one of the
most scholarly clergymen in his life
time in this country, and the Mono
graph company, established by Prof.
j. W. Cromwell and r. L. Pendleton.
ESQ.,, for the publication of rare docu-
ments OF historical value to the Ne
gro. | know of no other agencies
whose mission and purpose 1t is to
grther together the fugitive scraps OF
history concerning the Negro in this
country and putting them in shape
for the use and benefit OF coming gen.
erations. One of the newest books
published. treating upon the Negro
soldier. is THE Black Phaianx." by
Col. Jas. T. Wilson. himself soldier
and scholar who has seen service in
the army of Venezuela and in the
United States. 1t is packed full of
useful historical data concerning the
Negro as a soldier. in all the wars in
this country. and any colored man
who did not purchase a copy OF this
book when ii was first published some
25 or 80 years ago. was either foolish
or he did not realize how much such
book would appreciate in value as
the years passed.
1t was my good fortune to have
Lz ,aI h.-s x,-;tI n
copy of The Black Phalanx" in
Washington, d. c.. in the early eight
les. and this is one of two books that
do not lend. The other is Miss
Wheatley's poems, published in l773.
Atthe time when | wrote the first
series of these articles. l had the good
fortune to have the friendly and sym
pathetic aid of an ex-union officer who
was at the head of division in the
u. S. pension office at Washington.
where ell the facts relating to the en-
listment. names given. when enlist
ing, place of enlisting, etc. of colored
men was on file. as well as a number
Of .,egroes serving in the army, num-
ber of battles in which they engaged
when and where fought and names of
the principal officers and regimental
surgeons attached. If this bureau or
division still exists it will be identi-
fled with the army and navy surviv-
ors' DIVISION Its card system is al
most If not entirely perfect, and many
widows and orphans have been en-
abled, through their attorneys. to Sc
cure the necessary data to complete
their claims for pensions granted. For
instance: Sam Henson, slave, ran
away from his master in the state of
Maryland, found his way to camp
William Penn in Pennsylvania, enlist
ed in one of the many Negro regi-
ments. sent out from there as Henry
Williams. Sans wife heard as the
war progressed that he had Joined the
Yankees and assumed that he joined
rs Sam Henson.
Sam is eventually shot trying to
stop n rebel bullet somewhere. and
the news of his death is communicat-
ed to his wife in that inscrutable
manner in which news reaches the
Negro here as in far off Africa, where
there is neither wireless telegraphy.
telephone nor plain telegraph. Any
how she hears her Sam got shot at
Milliken's Bend. or some other Bend.
and realizes that she is n widow. She
goes to Washington. finds employ
ment. saves n little money and hires
a claim agent, who requires the pay
ment of $40 down as his fee. He
takes his notes, after quizzing Mrs.
Henson as to her husband, full name,
ege as near as she can give 1t. color,
distinguishing marks. II any, etc, etc.
goes to the army and navy survivors
division. consults its card index and
finds that Sam Henson was killed as
Henry Wilson, corporal of Co. G.
Sixth U. s. colored troops, enlisted
May 10. 1864. Camp William Penn.
Pa, shot at battle of Milliken's Bend.
etc. The rest Ia easy and the widow
hsnds out another $40, signs the ap-
plication blank. and waits. as they all
do. for the machinery Of this great