Colored Troops and Patriotism
August 6, 1898
Summary
The Planet defends the African Americans who have not volunteered for the war and points out that many white men have not volunteered either.
Transcription
The Richmond, Va., Dispatch says:
“The colored men of Virginia are not distinguishing themselves by rushing to the front. They are taking their time about volunteering. They are making up their quota very slowly. If white officers had been forced upon them, we should have been told that that was the cause of the delay. As it is, no explanation is vouchsafed for the slackness in patriotism shown by that part of our population, which by some in the North is regarded as the only loyal class in the South.”
The above is a very “unkind cut,” in view of the disgraceful manner in which Virginia’s quota from the white population was secured.
Men had to be accepted who would not have passed muster at the regular army=headquarters in this city.
More than this, many were drummed out of the headquarters of the First Virginia Regiment, corner Seventh and Marshall Sts., because they refused to enlist.
When the men marched form the Exposition Grounds to the railway station, many presented a most ludicrous and unfortunate appearance. It looked like every white “rag-tag and bob-tail” in the state had been drafted into service.
You must have noticed this, even as we did and fairness and justice should have caused you to hold your tongue.
AS for the colored men, the companies were recruited up to more than the required number. They were subjected to a most rigid examination, and by till is means the commands were reduced in some cases to as much as forty per-cent.
It looked as though they were not wanted. Despite that fact, every Richmond company has left with the full quota.
If white officers had been selected each colored company would have been composed of ten men instead of one hundred and six as required by the United States regulations.
Keep quiet on these questions, —you’ll get your feelings hurt
“The colored men of Virginia are not distinguishing themselves by rushing to the front. They are taking their time about volunteering. They are making up their quota very slowly. If white officers had been forced upon them, we should have been told that that was the cause of the delay. As it is, no explanation is vouchsafed for the slackness in patriotism shown by that part of our population, which by some in the North is regarded as the only loyal class in the South.”
The above is a very “unkind cut,” in view of the disgraceful manner in which Virginia’s quota from the white population was secured.
Men had to be accepted who would not have passed muster at the regular army=headquarters in this city.
More than this, many were drummed out of the headquarters of the First Virginia Regiment, corner Seventh and Marshall Sts., because they refused to enlist.
When the men marched form the Exposition Grounds to the railway station, many presented a most ludicrous and unfortunate appearance. It looked like every white “rag-tag and bob-tail” in the state had been drafted into service.
You must have noticed this, even as we did and fairness and justice should have caused you to hold your tongue.
AS for the colored men, the companies were recruited up to more than the required number. They were subjected to a most rigid examination, and by till is means the commands were reduced in some cases to as much as forty per-cent.
It looked as though they were not wanted. Despite that fact, every Richmond company has left with the full quota.
If white officers had been selected each colored company would have been composed of ten men instead of one hundred and six as required by the United States regulations.
Keep quiet on these questions, —you’ll get your feelings hurt
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“Colored Troops and Patriotism,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1518.