Colored Troops Promoted
August 13, 1898
Summary
The Planet rejoices as some of the African American soldiers finally received the recognition they deserve.
Transcription
Six brave colored non-commissioned officers who rendered gallant and meritous service at Santiago De Cuba July 1st and 2nd have been promoted to the position of second lieutenants in the colored immune regiments.
Their names are Sergeants William Washington, Troop F and John C. Proctor Troop I of the 9th Cavalry and Sergeants William McBryar, Company H; Wyatt Hoffman, Company G: Mason Russel, Company H, and Andrew J. Smith, Company B of the 25th Infantry.
They should congratulate themselves upon their good fortune.
This was no doubt done upon the recommendation of their commanding officer.
It has set us to thinking however. NO colored man can pass the “deadline” in the regular army, as referred to by Mr. Fortune.
To reach even a lieutenancy, he must be put “out of doors” so to speak. He must be detached form the regular army and placed in command of volunteers.
These brave men were good enough to fight with their regiments as subordinates. They were not good enough to serve with it as commanding officers. Where will discrimination end? What will be done about it? The War Department has more than once officially recognized the existence of caste—the color—line in the army.
The President of the United States seems to have concurred in this recognition. We would not have believed it of that pure, patriotic statesmen, William McKinley, and even now we hesitate before charging him with an offense which will shock the manly sensibilities of ever race-loving Afro-American in this country> Again we ask it, where will the end be?
Their names are Sergeants William Washington, Troop F and John C. Proctor Troop I of the 9th Cavalry and Sergeants William McBryar, Company H; Wyatt Hoffman, Company G: Mason Russel, Company H, and Andrew J. Smith, Company B of the 25th Infantry.
They should congratulate themselves upon their good fortune.
This was no doubt done upon the recommendation of their commanding officer.
It has set us to thinking however. NO colored man can pass the “deadline” in the regular army, as referred to by Mr. Fortune.
To reach even a lieutenancy, he must be put “out of doors” so to speak. He must be detached form the regular army and placed in command of volunteers.
These brave men were good enough to fight with their regiments as subordinates. They were not good enough to serve with it as commanding officers. Where will discrimination end? What will be done about it? The War Department has more than once officially recognized the existence of caste—the color—line in the army.
The President of the United States seems to have concurred in this recognition. We would not have believed it of that pure, patriotic statesmen, William McKinley, and even now we hesitate before charging him with an offense which will shock the manly sensibilities of ever race-loving Afro-American in this country> Again we ask it, where will the end be?
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“Colored Troops Promoted,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1553.