The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-06-21
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
24TH u. s. INFANTRY

If civilization the regiment had seen
since its organization, twenty years
before. So great was the prejudice
Of the people of Salt Lake City
against the Colored soldier whom
they had never seen, and a special
went to Washington, D. c.
for the purpose of discouraging this
but to no avail, and the regi-
ment was moved there.
The bearing behavior and deport-
ment of the soldiers here, however,
were of such high character that on
the first anniversary of its arrival,
the biggest and leading newspaper
there quietly took occasion to editor
ally publish an extensive article re-
lating the fact of the pre-arrival pre-
judice against the regiment and
apoligized for it's stating that the de-
meanor of the soldiers had astounding
manner and expressing the regard
and respect the regiment held and
had deservingly won by their soldier
ly department and gentlemanly man.
ner during their stay here The
article welcomed the regiment most
enthusiastically and sincerely hoped
for their long sojourn here At the
time OF the outbreak of the Spanish
American War the oath U. S. Infantry
was still at this station. On the day
of it's departure for Cuba, the occasion
was observed by the entire city of
Salt Lake, and the greatest honor
was paid. The streets were literally
covered with decorations and crowded
with people, business was suspended
and a holiday declared. A monstrous
demonstration of respect was held
The governor Of Utah and his staff
with delegation of citizens, accom-
panied the regiment to the next
station on its journey to Cuba.
The National Guards turned out and
the city was delivered to the soldiers
They were welcomed back to the city
and bid God speed on their journey
The history of the regiment in the
Spanish-American War firmly ant
firmly clinched the respect and regart
of the people. Its history is writer
in general field order dated JULY
16, 1898, at Siboney, Cuba, in which
its services are recorded on monu
ment. The order named cities the
fact that the regiment, after endur
ing the severest hardships and serving
with honor in the campaign, was plac
ed on duty to nurse and care for the
sick in the Yellow Fever hospita
at Siboney. There is an official re
port of this service in the Office of the
Adjutant General of the Army, which
states that the oath U. S. Infantry
was on this unspeakably harsh dut,
for forty long days and forty wear,
nights. This. tour of duty was alst
written up and editorially published
in the New York Sun, and New
Orleans Times Democrat. For forty
days and nights while hardly able t
stand themselves, the men faithful,
and kindly cared for the living anC
buried the dead from this awfu
Camp, without so much as murmul
tof protest: cheerfully cooking thei
own food in the boiling sun and pour
ing rain by open camp fires il
utensils left by deserted Spaniards
hundreds of the flower of American
youth had their last few hours O
agony soothed by the kindly minis
/ trations Of these men, and hundred
more owe their lives to the efficien
| and careful nursing of these, thei
colored brethren.
The oath U. S. Infantry itself di
OF 456 engaged III this service, onl
not escape this dreaded disease on
"a, failed to contract it. This on
service has in itself, endeared tn
regiment to those familiar with his
tory of the Spanish-American cam
paign.
Here mention should be made O
the. brilliant victory of the 24th U. S
Infantry at San Juan HILL After al
all days fight, much of it over opel
ground, the oath U. S. Infantry as
sisted by the 9Th and 18th Infantrie
mad the 10th U. S. Calvary saved tn
day for the rough riders under Col
Roosevelt and captured the blacl
house Of San Juan Hill. This vic
tory successfully ended the Spanish
American war.
In September 1898, the oath U. S
Infantry returned to the Unite,
States and was sent to various post
on the Pacific coast, where it re
mained until June 1899
In 1899, the troops were sent to tn
Philippine Islands to quell disturb
ances among the instructors there
1t took part in numerous encounters
A few with gallant yet humorous in
cidents in them. The most gallan
attack was made at Naquilian Oh
December 2S, 1899, three companie
of the oath U. S. Infantry were sen
from Canayan to Naquilian to quel
an uprising on the banks of the rive
there, when they arrived at a poin
on the river bank opposite the town
a French flag was seen flying AM
much activity was noticed in tn
streets. The commander Of the de
tachment, surprised at seeing a neu
tral flag flying but wishing to re
assure the population, waved a hanG
kerchief at them. This show o
friendliness was met by a sharp fir
from securely entrenched position
on the opposite bank of the river
The detachment was deployed and aI
vanced to the river bank, but coul
not secure means to cross, seyera
efforts to launch bamboo RATS me
with no success on account Of tn
! Continued on page A.