The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1945-02-24
NEGRO Soldier in History"
Highlights Huachuca Course

flag is the only flag we have ever
known" The two most potent fac
tors in moulding opinion among
Negroes, the pulpit and the press
have expressed the thoughts mo.
tivating Negroes in the present con-
flict as the desire to get away
from being second class citizens
from being a problem for whom
special provisions have to be made
separate and apart from other ra.
cial groups in America. They de.
sire to get away fro mbeing per-
manently consigned to a place OF
condition in society because Of
an accident of birth, from which
they can never hope to rise, a con-
cept fundamental to segregation
which the Negro, both North and
South, abhors because of the in
equalities and injustices he has
come to associate with it through
a long, painful, humiliation, and
bitter series of experiences.
In each war Negroes have had
to struggle for the privilege OF
fighting. In the Revolution, the
Civil War, and World War I, the
same arguments in different set
tings have been used, both for and
against the use of Negro soldiers.
Nevertheless, Negroes, who have
always volunteered at the first sign
of war, have often had to wait IN
til manpower shortages made nee
essary the favorable consideration
of their use. The experience has
placed premium on combat SER
vices in the minds of Negroes.
Unit commanders of Negro troops
must make free use of the Negroes
pride in his military tradition to
stimulate pride of outfit in his
command. This appeal will produce
results not only for Negroes but
for Whites as well, because both
arc often in contact with each
other, both in training activities
as well as in combat, and such dis
cussions lead to a better under
standing and spirit.
There were many Negroes in the
Colonial utilities although when
George Washington took over the
Continental Army at Cambridge
he Immediately discharged all The
Negroes. 1t was not until the Bril-
fish took in 5000 Negroes at Saw
annah that Washington rescinded
his action and was sustained in SO
doing by an act of the Continental
Congress. One Negro was in the
boat with Washington when he
crossed the Delaware.
The first person killed in the
Boston Massacre was Crispus At
tucks, a Negro. A Negro, Peter Sa-
lem, fought at Lexington, Concord,
Bunker Hill, and Saratoga. 1t was
he wos stemmed the tide at Bunk
er Hill and saved the day by shoot
ing Major Pitchirn. The rifle he
used is now hanging on the wall at
the monument commemorating the
famous battle.
Salem Poor, Oliver Cromwell,
Prince Whipple, Lemuel Haynes, at
Fort Ticonderoga, all rendered yeo-
man service to the Centennial Ar
my.
There was larger proportion of
Negroes in the Revolutionary Navy
than there were in the Army. They
were experts and knew every cove,
harbor, and estuary fro mProvi-
dence to Hatteras.
Negroes have served their coun-
try as spies. Pompey Lamb, dis
guised as a vegetable huckster,
secuted the British Fort at Strong
Point for General Anthony Wayne.
James Arnnistead, a spy in Lafay-
cites forces, warned the French OF
Cornwalls' planned surprise attack
at Petersburg, an act for which the
Virginia legislature freed him.
Perhaps the most famous spy
among Negroes was woman, So
journer Truth, leader in the I'm
deground Railroad. She was parti-
cularly adept at bringing slaves
North by this method. She went
about armed and once visited the
plantation in Maryland from which
she had herself escapted, and pass.
ed her former master by without
his recognizing her, circumstance
quite appropriate for his health ano
longevity since she was an expert
pistol markSman.
After the McClellands disastrous
peninsular campaign with the de.
feat of the Union army at Chancel.
lnrSuille and at Eredericlch11rr