Читать книгу Colored girls and boys' inspiring United States history and a heart to heart talk about white folks - William Henry Harrison - Страница 22

Table of Contents

WHENEVER Colored people hear mentioned the Spanish-American War, their first thoughts naturally dig up proud memories of the 9th and 10th Colored Cavalries, the 24th and 25th Colored Regiments, The 8th Illinois, Ohio Battalion and others bravely facing raining shot and shell pouring down from the hill tops of El Caney and San Juan. And ever will it go down in history that they were members of the celebrated 10th Colored Cavalry who while fighting on San Juan Hill sprang to the timely rescue of the late Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his famous Rough Riders and saved them from certain and horrible deaths at the hands of the merciless Spaniards.

But why here go further into details regarding the conduct of Colored men in that war when the official reports of such capable warriors and experienced military judges as Major-Generals W. R. Shafter, J. F. Kent, H. W. Lawton, Joseph Wheeler, Colonel (now General) Leonard Wood and other high commanding officers give rightful credit and praise to the Colored soldiers who displayed such remarkable patriotism and heroism in that short and fierce “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town To-night” war? (This quotation is the title of a very popular tune sung during this war by the American soldiers and civilians.)

When Hobson made his dare-devil and world-famed sea trip through a gauntlet of Spanish frowning guns, there were more than twenty-five Colored sailors with him who then shared all of his dangers and later a little of his fame. Another most important naval action centered around a Colored sailor, John C. Jordan, Chief Gunner’s Mate, who on May 1, 1898 during the battle of Manilla fired the first shot from the crusier, “Olympia,” flag ship of the late Admiral Dewey. That was the shot that opened the first decisive battle of the Spanish-American War as well as starting the destruction of the modern Spanish Armada. It is surely in place to mention here that Jordan entered the Navy as a third-class apprentice and was honorably retired as a Chief Petty Officer after spending thirty of his best years in the Navy working and waiting for “Uncle Sammy” to give him his just recognition and “Aunt Liberty” to give him a fuller caress of citizenship privileges.