The Appeal., 1922-07-22
.DEN|SON RE- :.
=, =. ... 80
TIRES AS BRIG:
AD|ER-CENERAL
Chicago Attorney First Col
ord Man to Attain That Rank
Chicago, July, 1922.
Special to THE APPEAL.

Special to The APPEAL.
Franklin A.<@Denison, first member
of the colored race ever to command
regiment of soldiers in the United
States army, has been retired from
the Illinois national guard, at his
own request, with the rank of briga-
dler general. He is the first mem
Der of his race to attain that rank.
While Gen. Denison's military rec
ord includes long and honorable
service in Cuba and at home, his
brightest mark on records military
OF the nation was organization,
training and commanding of the old
9th infantry, /. N. G., which served
for almost year with French divi-
sions, acquitting itself with glory.
"Upon his own request" reads spe-
cial order No. IS, signed by Adjutant
Gen. G. E. Black, sand under provi-
sions of section 1, article IL, military
and naval code, 1917, Col. Franklin
A. Denison, 9Th Illinois infantry, IL
linois national guard, is hereby
placed on the retirement list with
the rank of brigadier general"
Major Gen. George Bell, Jr., COM
mander of the 33d division Of ma
tlonal guard troops in the war, now
commnders of the 9th corps area, u.
S. A., commended Gen. Denison for
his work with the national guard COL
ored troops before the regiment was
detached from the state division, as
likewise did Major Gen., Milton J.
Foreman, commander of the reor-
ganized division Of state militia, a
colonel of artillery in the 33d division
during the war. .... :.. -.
General Is Practicing Law. =
Gen. Denison is now practicing
law and is an assistant on the staff
Of Attorney General Edward J.
Brundage.
Gen. Denison's military record is a
long one. After helping organize the
9Th Illinois, colorned, he was elected
a major on June %, 1898, and served
in Cuba until April 3, 1899. While
in Cuba he served as president of a
general courtmartial, the first COL
bred man ever to serve thus in the
United States army. In this cam
palgn he also organized a court of
claims and was a member of that
court until his regiment was ordered
home.
On June %, 1903, he was appoint
ed major, chief of the quartermaster
corps, 4th brigade, I. N. G., serving
in that capacity to June II, 1907.
Until January ID, 1914, he served as
major of the Sd battalion, the 9Th
regiment, then was appointed colonel
of the regiment. On June 27, 1916,
he was mustered into federal service
with his command and served on the
Mexican border at Fort Sam Hous-
ton until mustered out of federal
service October ~.
Re-entering the service as a COL
onel of national guard on that same
day, he remained a national guard
soldier until the Presidents call of
July rs, 1917. He was mustered into
federal service for the third time on
August 8, 1917, and took his regi-
ment to Houston again, there to
train under Cen! Bell until the 8thW
remembered the 370th infantry-was
detached from the 33d division and
dispatched to France, there to go
into the line almost Immediately.
First III st. Mihiel.
The 370th United States infantry,
brigaded in the French 18th division,
went into: service at Mulhausen, a
training sector at the extreme south
ern end Of the Western front. Six
weeks later, by easy stages, trans
ferred to the 36th French division, it
went into the st. Mihiel sector, the
first Americans there, seeing twenty
days Of active service there before
joining the 35th French division
north Of Verdun for the Argonne Of
fensive.
Before the Argonne offensive, the
military authorities wishing to get
rid of the colored commander, in
validated Gen. Denison home, al
though he was in perfect health.
After being invalided home he saw
his regiment return to Chicago with
medals of honor hung on nearly
every alternate soldier in the outfit.
Ny work is. finished said Gen.
Denison today: 81 trained the 9Th.
and / believe that / am responsible
for its record I appreciate the
honor given me, elevating me to the
rank of brigadier general upon my
retirement. Although physically out
of the national guard service, shall
always consider myself a soldied Of
the state of Illinois and nv heart
will ALWAYS he with thp r,onnrhn,.s nf