Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-03-30
NEGRO SOLDIERS IN THE WARS
OF THE WORLD
By Irene Mccoy Gaines

of the military genius of the Negro race
which has been presented in modern times,
and which is perhaps unsurpassed in any
other age of the worlds history.
Having been slaves for centuries, the Hay
tan blacks decided to throw off their yoke
of bondage by an appeal to arms; and they
afford the only illustration in the history OF
the human race where slaves unaided have
risen against their masters and secured their
freedom by their military valor and courag
eous fighting. In this attempt to throw off
their bondage the Haytian Negroes were pit
ted against the Spanish, French and Eng
lish armies, and in turn defeated them all.
Toussaint lOuverture was the guiding
spirit of the Haytian army, and was assisted
by his faithful generals Jean Francois, Bal
sou Jeanot, and Christophe. The disting-
uished black military leader and his Negro
Spanish armies, but they defeated the
French generals in command Of the very
flower of Napoleon's army. General Lamar
tinerie and Magny successfully defended
Fort Crete A-Pierrot with only 900 black SOL
diers against the French army of 10000
strong. The Haytian Negro general Jean
Louis Villatte successfully defended Cape
Francois from September, 1895, to March,
1896, against the combined naval and land
forces Of England and Spain which is only
equalled by General Elliot s defense of Gi-
braltar in 1904.
This Revolutionary war Of Haytian free
dom affords innumerable instances not only
OF the Negroes courage, but his military gen.
ius and the highest forms of statescraft
Although the Haytian soldiers were poor
ragged and half clad, they made up in cour-
age and patriotism what they lacked in mon
ey. They not only secured their freedom but
they conquered the whole island Of Hayti
and reared upon the remnants of the Europ-
can colonial government the inspiring struc-
ture of Negro republic, democracy of
black men which still exists today as an i'm
posing monument to the Negroes ability in
war and in government.
In the last charge that determined the vic
tory Of the Negro soldiers over the French,
the Haytian soldiers were led by the great
Toussalnt l'Ouverture and it is said that
these black soldiers were so impressed by the
commanding personality of their distinguish
ed general that they regarded his appear
ance upon the battle field of death and car
mage as an inspiring gift from the gods. The
Haytians threw themselves with desperation
upon the wavering and faltering columns of
the French army; the black soldiers formed
and charged again and again and as they
charged the last time they went singing ''La
Marsaillaise, - the national anthem of France.
When the French soldiers heard their ma
tonal anthem some cheered, some wept, but
the entire command, exhausted and shatter-
ed, staggered back to the coast, and Hayti
was free forever!
No language, however rich, can measure
the services which the Negro soldiers of Hay
IL nave rendered the Negroes of the world in
their conspicuous example of self-won free
dom. Words are inadequate to express the
valor and bravery of these Negro soldiers
and their illustrious leader, Toussaint POu
venture.
Wendell Phillips, the prince of anti slavery
oratory, in an Grafton at Fanuel hall. paid
the greatest tribute to Haytis greatest Neg
70 soldier that perhaps was ever paid to anv
soldier of the world. Among so many true
and beautiful things he said:
Now, blue-eyed Saxon, proud of your
race, go back with me to the commencement
OF the century and select what statesmen YOU