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SIDELIGHTS ON NEGRO SOLDIERS
SIDELIGHTS ON NEGRO SOLDIERS
BY CHARLES H. WILLIAMS Special Investigator of Conditions among Negro Soldiers in the World War With an Introduction by BENJAMIN BRAWLEY BOSTON B. J. BRIMMER COMPANY 1923 Copyright 1923 By B. J. BRIMMER COMPANY First Edition, June, 1923 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE AMBROSE PRESS, INC. Norwood, Massachusetts Dedicated to the Memory of My Mother and to My Aunt Mrs. Maria Burnside...
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PREFACE
PREFACE
It is the purpose of this book to tell something of the achievement of the Negro soldier in the World War and to describe the conditions under which he lived as these were seen by the writer, who for eighteen months investigated conditions in America and France under the auspices of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America and of the Phelps-Stokes Fund, with the recommendation of the Secretary of War and the Adjutant General of the United States Army. Most of the information was secu
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
It gives me great pleasure to write a word of introduction to this interesting and important book that Mr. Williams has written. The story of the Negro soldier is one of the romances of American history. Even in the days of the Revolution and the War of 1812 he played an honorable part; but it was the Civil War that gave him his first large opportunity, and at Port Hudson, Fort Wagner, or Fort Pillow he passed through the baptism of fire, striving that the emancipation of his people might be gua
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CREDENTIALS
CREDENTIALS
WAR DEPARTMENT Washington February 11th, 1919. To: Officers Commanding Colored Units from Over Seas Service From: The Secretary of War. Subject: Interview. This will introduce to you Charles H. Williams, who desires to interview both colored officers and men who have seen over seas service. I desire that every practical facility be afforded Mr. Williams in carrying out the work. Sincerely , [ SIGNED ] NEWTON D. BAKER , Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War . WAR DEPARTMENT The Adjutant General’s Off
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CHAPTER I THE CALL TO THE COLORS
CHAPTER I THE CALL TO THE COLORS
Little did the American Negro think, as he struggled with his own problems in the early days of the World War, that he would be called upon to aid his fellowmen three thousand miles away. He looked with interest upon the conflict in Europe, his adventurous spirit was quickened by the accounts of heroism and sacrifice, and he could but marvel at German efficiency as he watched the great war machine crush its way through Belgium. As the German armies marched across the fields of France, however, l
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CHAPTER II IN CAMP
CHAPTER II IN CAMP
The late Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, said that two hundred thousand men out of the first two million composing the American army could neither write to their mothers and fathers nor read the letters written to them. Just how many Negro soldiers were illiterate will probably never be known, but it is certain that tens of thousands of them could not read or write. The percentage of illiteracy was highest in the non-combatant units, where education was not primarily essential and w
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CHAPTER III THE NEGRO OFFICER
CHAPTER III THE NEGRO OFFICER
The Plattsburg idea of military training was inaugurated in 1915, when Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood organized a special training camp for civilians. The purpose of the camp was to offer four weeks of intensive training under the direct supervision of officers of the United States Army, and it was intended that this should be of such thoroughness that the men receiving it would be able to serve as officers in an emergency, as was afterwards done by a large number of Plattsburg men who served under Gene
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CHAPTER IV HOPES AND FEARS
CHAPTER IV HOPES AND FEARS
Propaganda was recognized by all the belligerent nations as a mighty weapon when effectively used. That great things could be accomplished by its use was demonstrated when a part of the Russian army surrendered to the enemy without bloodshed, when the Russian people rose up against their rulers, and when the German sailors turned against their commanders. In spite of some suggestions made to him, however, the Negro in the United States chose the better part, pledging his loyalty and support to t
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GIRLS’ PROTECTIVE AGENCY
GIRLS’ PROTECTIVE AGENCY
The Girls’ Protective Agency was active in several cantonment cities where Negro soldiers were stationed. Comparatively few colored women represented this organization, but those who did labored most effectively. The worker at Anniston, Ala. , gave her entire time to colored girls. The Negro women of the city formed a co-operating committee composed of representatives from every church. The names of girls who were thought to be careless in their conduct were given to the one in charge and she vi
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TRAVELERS’ AID SOCIETY
TRAVELERS’ AID SOCIETY
Representatives of the Travelers’ Aid Society often rendered genuine service to colored women visiting cantonment cities in search of their friends in the camps. They usually put them in touch with the local Y. W. C. A. or with representative women who could tell them of reliable places where they could stay. While some assistants were indifferent, most of them were impartial and took the same interest in providing for the Negro women who came to their cities as for the white women. This was esp
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Y. W. C. A.—HOSTESS HOUSES
Y. W. C. A.—HOSTESS HOUSES
The Young Women’s Christian Association established constructive work in cantonment cities by organizing the best girls into clubs and patriotic leagues for various kinds of war effort. Such endeavor was in the field of preventive rather than of constructive work. That at Louisville is fairly representative of what was done in the cantonment cities. Here an attractive building was secured and placed in charge of an executive secretary, who was assisted by a girls’ worker. Clubs were organized am
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IN FRANCE
IN FRANCE
As one traveled among the soldiers in France he saw in almost every camp the Y. M. C. A. hut or tent. There were 7850 “Y” workers overseas, 1350 of whom were women. Of this large number 87 were Negroes and 19, women of the race. Only three of these Negro women were in France during the actual fighting, and not until the spring of 1919 did others sail. At the head of the colored secretaries was Dr. John Hope, president of Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga. , who was stationed at the “Y” headquarters
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CRITICISM OF THE “Y”
CRITICISM OF THE “Y”
The work of the Y. M. C. A. in American camps was so conducted that it met with comparatively little criticism. Headquarters could be easily reached for the adjustment of any question arising over the Negro, and during the war public sentiment was more decidedly against discrimination than in peace time. Such matters as arose generally grew out of the attitude or action of individual wearers of the red triangle. At Camp Greene, Charlotte, N. C. , for instance, there were 10,000 Negro soldiers. F
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SALVATION ARMY
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army did little or no work for Negro soldiers in American camps, but when the men returned from France they spoke about the service the organization had rendered with an appreciation akin to reverence. This agency did not have great buildings and hundreds of workers distributed throughout the camps, but it did have here and there faithful representatives imbued with the spirit of service. One of its largest huts was at St. Nazaire, and here the relation between men of different rac
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus erected their first building for Negro soldiers at Camp Funston, Kan. This was opened on December 1, 1917, with Clarence Guillot as executive secretary and two assistants. Religious services were conducted every Sunday for the four hundred Catholics in the camp, with communion every Sunday morning. One of the two chaplains was always available for consultation, there were excellent library facilities, and also special effort for recreation. In Camps Taylor, Dodge, Meade,
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AGENCIES IN THE ARMY
AGENCIES IN THE ARMY
In addition to the work of the welfare organizations in the camps, the Army also contributed something to the pleasure of the soldiers by providing for athletics and socials. Holidays were usually given on Wednesdays, Saturday afternoons, and Sundays, though in the non-combatant units these were not always observed. In the combatant units where athletic officers were selected, there was competition in baseball, basket ball, or football, and occasionally a track meet was held. For the most part,
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NEGRO CHAPLAINS
NEGRO CHAPLAINS
It mattered not how ignorant a Negro soldier was, or how difficult his life had been, he believed in God and in the efficacy of prayer. There was something about his religion that was satisfying and genuine, and no one could attend his services and hear him sing and pray without being touched. In writing to his family and friends he usually asked for their prayers. “Tell them all to pray for me and that I am trusting in the Lord,” said one in dictating a letter, and another: “Tell them not to wo
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BASE HOSPITALS
BASE HOSPITALS
In the National Army cantonments there were at times from 40,000 to 60,000 men. As a part of the equipment of these camps great base hospitals were erected and supplied with the most modern improvements. Negro soldiers shared with others the blessings of wonderful discoveries in surgery and preventive medicine. Even in camps where living conditions were unsatisfactory, in the base hospitals they were well treated. Sometimes, as at Camp McClellan at Anniston, there was such a marked difference wi
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RED CROSS. NEGRO NURSES
RED CROSS. NEGRO NURSES
When American men were called to service, women throughout the country enrolled as Red Cross members and worked for the organization in various ways, rendering every service that would make life more comfortable for the soldiers. They not only served as nurses but also as canteen workers; and they knitted, sewed, and made bandages. Hundreds of qualified and registered Negro nurses gladly offered themselves for service. The Red Cross appeared to be willing to use these nurses and at times greatly
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RED CROSS CANTEEN SERVICE
RED CROSS CANTEEN SERVICE
Over 65,000 women enrolled in the seven hundred American Red Cross canteens. This service consisted of canteen kitchens, medical supplies, and small transfer hospitals. It was organized to stimulate the morale of the soldiers and to make them feel that the people of the country appreciated the loyal manner in which they had responded to the country’s call. In some of the chapters there were organized Negro canteen auxiliaries, and these did very effective work in such centers as Hamlet, N. C. ,
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WAR CAMP COMMUNITY SERVICE
WAR CAMP COMMUNITY SERVICE
Raymond B. Fosdick, chairman of the Committee on Training Camp Activities, said in writing about the work of the Commission: “It is our task, in the first place, to see that the inside of the sixty-odd army camps furnish real amusement and recreation and social life. In the second place, we are to see to it that the towns and cities near by the camps are organized to provide recreation and social life to the soldiers who flock there when on leave. The Government will give the men while they trai
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THE NEGRO CHURCH
THE NEGRO CHURCH
In the cantonment cities, especially in the South, there were numerous representative Negro churches. A few of these had adequate facilities for the entertainment of soldiers, but many were too poorly located or equipped to conduct social centers. The ministers’ unions or alliances always endorsed the war work for the soldiers, but rarely was there organized effort on the part of the churches. On one occasion in Columbia, S. C. , the ministers’ alliance assumed responsibility for the money contr
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FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The General Wartime Commission of the Churches was constituted by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America soon after the nation entered the war. This commission was composed of more than a hundred men chosen from the different religious bodies which were dealing with the problems raised by the war, and its activities were conducted through committees charged with specific phases of war work. Reports of conditions in the camps led to the Appointment of a Committee on the Welfare
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PIONEER INFANTRY ORGANIZATIONS
PIONEER INFANTRY ORGANIZATIONS
There were fourteen other organizations in France, known as Pioneer Infantry Regiments, which did mainly stevedore work. These were composed largely of men who were drafted during the summer of 1918 and who were given from one to three months of intensive military training in American camps and then sent overseas. The commissioned officers were white, and the enlisted personnel colored. In France a small number of colored dental officers, chaplains, and band leaders were assigned in some of the
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INFANTRY ENGAGEMENTS
INFANTRY ENGAGEMENTS
From Bourbonne-les-Bains the infantry regiments and headquarters troops were moved to Bruyères, and it was here that they heard for the first time the roar of the big guns. Here also it was that the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, General John J. Pershing, first visited the division. After spending twelve days in securing necessary equipment, all moved to St. Die. Here the Americans were welcomed as deliverers. The Germans had occupied the city for fourteen days in 1914
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ARTILLERY
ARTILLERY
The various other units in the Division contributed their share toward developing the efficiency which it attained. The 167th Field Artillery Brigade surprised not only old Army officers but Americans generally by the ability of the men to absorb training, which was fully demonstrated when they forced the enemy to retire from strong fortifications held for four years. It had been thought that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find Negro men with adaptability for this work; yet sometim
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317TH ENGINEER REGIMENT
317TH ENGINEER REGIMENT
The 317th Engineer Regiment was formally organized at Camp Sherman on November 4, 1917, as the sapper engineer regiment of the 92nd Division. Two thousand draftees were turned over to this regiment from the 158th Depot Brigade. After careful examination 1490 of these men were inducted into the regiment. This group included a large number of men who had knowledge of the building trades and also students from well known industrial schools. After it was decided to organize an engineer regiment in t
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92ND DIVISIONAL TRAINS
92ND DIVISIONAL TRAINS
The 317th Motor Supply Train was composed of 18 officers and 475 enlisted men. At first it operated 35 trucks in the divisional area in France, but the demand soon increased this number to 49. When there was a scarcity of supplies the soldiers in the outfit were often required to work both day and night and even then they were not always able to meet the demands made upon them. In the 317th Military Police there were 9 officers and 200 enlisted men. This group was trained at Camp Funston and did
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SECRETARY BAKER AND GENERAL PERSHING
SECRETARY BAKER AND GENERAL PERSHING
In all the exploits and achievements of Negro soldiers in the World War, and the difficulties that they encountered in their display of loyalty, it is not to be forgotten that there were true friends who were interested in them and who believed that each one should be given a man’s chance. One explanation of how it was that they were able to “carry on” even under the most adverse conditions was that they believed that the men guiding the destinies of the American arms were fair, broad-minded men
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369TH INFANTRY
369TH INFANTRY
The 369th Infantry, or the old 15th New York National Guard Regiment, was first organized in New York City in 1916 by authority of the New York State Legislature. It was reorganized by the War Department as a National Guard regiment of the United States on April 9, 1917, and placed under the command of Colonel William Hayward. It is proud of the fact that it was the first National Guard regiment of the United States to reach war strength of 2001 men and 56 officers, that it was the first in the
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370TH INFANTRY
370TH INFANTRY
The 370th Infantry Regiment, which was otherwise known as “the old 8th” of Chicago, was one of the federalized National Guard units that entered the World War with a record of achievement and with a tradition to uphold. The regiment’s beginning dates back to 1892, when a small group of men in Illinois banded themselves together for the purpose of organizing a battalion of Negro soldiers. The first company was formed with B. G. Johnson as captain, John C. Buckner as first lieutenant, and John R.
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371ST INFANTRY
371ST INFANTRY
The 371st Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel P. L. Miles, was organized and trained at Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C. It was composed mainly of North and South Carolina men and was officered largely by Southerners. The commanding officer was interested in the welfare of his men, so also were many of the junior officers; and in spite of some discouraging circumstances the soldiers were faithful in their work. Especially had there been strong protest against having Negroes trained in Columbia;
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372ND INFANTRY
372ND INFANTRY
The 372nd Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Stuart, Newport News, in January, 1918, of infantry troops from the First Separate Battalion of Washington, D. C., the Ninth Separate Battalion of Ohio, First Separate Company I of Maryland, First Separate Company K of Tennessee, First Separate Company M of Connecticut, and Company L of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment. These organizations had survived since the Spanish-American War by reason of the enthusiasm of a few commanders who had held them
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CHAPTER X HOME-FIRES
CHAPTER X HOME-FIRES
“Keep the home-fires burning, While your hearts are yearning; Though your lads are far away They dream of home; There’s a silver lining Through the dark cloud shining; Turn the dark cloud inside out Till the boys come home.” To the American returning from France in 1919, the whole country that had been the scene of the war came back like a panorama or a dream. The moans of the dying and the devastation of homes and villages mingled with the treasures of art and the shrines of devotion. Perhaps h
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