The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-04
ANCIENT LETTERS
Reveal the True Negroes Patriotism
and Loyalty More Than Half a
Century Ago.

family and through the kindness of
one of his sons, ]. B. Reeve, who lives
here at 912 w. Eighth street, he has
loaned the Bystander this most inter-
esting old letter, permitting US to pub
fish the same for the first time. Next
week we will publish another one.
Captain Reeve was captain of COL
ored company and this letter tells of
what he thinks about the Negro SOL
diers:
Camp 1st Alabama Infantry Vols.
of African Descent, U. S. A., Corinth,
Miss, May 20, 1866.
. Dear Friends: l have not written
you since about the 18th on account Of
having been so very busy. On the
18th l received an order from Brig.
Gen. Dodge to report to Col. J. M.
Alexander for duty, having been ap-
pointed captain of Co. D of the above
titled regiment. The company was
only fairly commenced and l immedi-
ately commenced recruiting to fill it
up and we are building barracks,
drilling, ETC., drawing clothing, camp
and garrison equipage, ETC., and we
have not one moment leisure. From
the colonel down to the privates all
are hurried. But we are succeeding
fine and in short time think we will
have one of the best regiments in Cor
NTH. My company contains at pres
ent 80 enlisted blacks, one orderly SER
geant Ia white soldier from the 7th
Kansas) and two lieutenants, both
from the 18th Kansas. Elbridge E.
Ward, second lieutenant, is from Len
OK, Ohio, used to live with M. Ray,
enlisted with John Brown, Jr. The
officers have not received their CON-
missions yet and some may be thrown
out and others put in their places.
When l get leisure"I inteEd writing
YOU a long letter, as have much that
might be of interest Ihave not got
returns from my application for fur
Tough, but if l SHOULD receive it l do
not expect I should use it now, as I
am too late te Gee father and l could
not consistently leave here just at this
time, as we are just organizing the
very newest material into troops and
no man can we'll leave his station. l
received. May goth. Well you see
left off in the very commencement of
sentence and now will try to write
title more. / guess l was about to
say that received my appointment by
a very flattering recommendation
from Lieut.. Col. T. P. Herrick, COM
manding the 7th Kansas, and do not
intend to abuse his confidence. l
should like to come home short time
at all hazards, but l think duty calls
me here at present. A great deal de-
ponds on the line officers and nothing
could recompense failure of success
in this thing. In the recent fights at
Vicksburg our old colonel, now Brig.
Gen. A. L. Lee, was wounded by a
ball entering his right cheek and pass
ing out of the back Of his neck. In
command of the LIST brigade of Gen.
Osterhouse's division he was charging
the enemy in their breastworks. Lieut..
Hodgeman of the 9TH Kansas saw him
at Memphis en- route north and says
he will recover. He is only q years
of age and a very able and brave Of
ficer. He is perhaps as good cavalry
officer as we have in the service, but
greatly to his disappointment when he
received his promotion he was as
signed an infantry command. In his
farewell to the "Jayhawkers" he said
that however much he deplored being
ordered from the branch of the service
that he felt himself adapted to and in
which he had passed through nearly
two years. active experience and as
signed command Of infantry, he had
a copy of Casey's tactics and should
study them and prepare himself for
that branch of the service, and wheth-
er he commanded cavalry or infantry
they must and should fight.
But must close for the present.
Direct to Capt. "A. J. Reeve, Corinth,
Miss, care of Col. J. M. Alexander.
With that direction my letter will
come direct, but were the regiment |
put on they might be detained by men
in our army who belong properly with
Jefferson the LIST. ....,e..,