The Colorado statesman., 1915-02-06


in the Sunday Star, it is stated that
one hundred years ago the first col
ored troops who ever served in the
army OF the United States won the
commentator of General Jackson in
the battles in and around New Or
leans" This statement as to when
the first colored troops served in the
army of the United States is incorrect,
writes Albert N. Seip in a communi-
cation to the Washington Star. Ban
crofts History, volume five, pages
152, 153. says: "On the first of Janu-
ary, 1776, the tricolored American ban
'ner, not yet spangled with stars, but
showing 1S stripes of alternate red
and white in the field, and the united
red and white crosses of Saint George
and Saint Andrew on blue ground in
the corner, was unfurled over the
new continental army around Boston,
which, at that moment of its greatest
weakness, consisted of but $3.50 men.
On that day. free Negroes stood in the
ranks by the side of white men. In the
beginning of the war they had en-
tered the provincial army; the first
general order which was issued by
General Ward had required a return,
among other things, of 1.-The complex
ion" of the soldiers; and black men.
like others, were retained in the serv-
ice after the troops were adopted by
the continent.
We have seen Edward Rutledge de-
feated in his attempt to compel their
discharge. In October, the conference
at the camp, with Franklin. Harrison
and Lynch, thought it proper to ex-
clude them from the new enlistment;
but Washington, at the crisis of his
distress, finding that they were very
much dissatisfied at being discarded,
reversed the decision and asked the
approval of congress. That body ap-
pointed Wythe, Samuel Adams and
Wilson to deliberate on the question;
and, on the report of their ablo COM
mittee, they voted that the free Ne
groes who had served faithfully in the
army at Cambridge might be re-en-
listed therein, but no Others" The
right of free Negroes to take part in
the defense of the country having thus
been partially admitted by the high
est power, the limitation was lost sight
Of, and they served in the ranks of the
American armies during every period
of the war
When in 1878 the army was reduced
to it's lowest point In numbers, Ban
croft states, in volume six. page 4S,
that "Varnum, a brigadier of Rhode
Island, proposed the emancipation of
slaves in that state, on condition of
their enlisting in the army for the war
The scheme, approved by Washington,
and by him referred to Cooke, the
governor of the state, was accepted Ev-
cry able-bodied slave in Rhode Island
received law liberty to enlist in the
army for the war On passing muster
he became free and entitled to all the
wages and encouragements given by
congress to any soldier. The state
made some compensation to their mas
ters.
AS the object of this communication
is simply to correct the error of Mr..
Croggon as to when the first colored
troops served in the army of the Unit
ed States, it is not necessary to refer
to the well-known fact that Negroes
fought at the battle of Bunker HILL
taking part in common with the white
yeomanry of Massachusetts and other
states. Their services in the Union
army during the Civil war are well
known.