History of Negro Soldiers in the Spanish-American War, and Other Items of Interest

In Short

Edward A. Johnson’s historical record documents the crucial contributions of African American soldiers during the Spanish-American War. Combining detailed military accounts with personal letters, press dispatches, and official testimonials, the text traces the journey of black regular and volunteer regiments from cold Western outposts to the tropical battlefields of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Johnson chronicles how soldiers in units like the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Infantry proved indispensable at San Juan Hill and El Caney. The book stands as a lasting monument to black patriotism, challenging white supremacy and advocating for equal rights.

The Story

The narrative begins by tracing the geopolitical tensions that led to the Spanish-American War, highlighting the destruction of the Battleship Maine in Havana harbor and the subsequent declaration of war. Against this backdrop, Johnson introduces the four regular African American regiments of the U.S. Army: the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Infantry. These units, long stationed in harsh frontier posts like Montana and Minnesota, welcome the call to action despite years of institutional neglect by the War Department.

As the troops deploy south to Florida and eventually embark for Cuba, Johnson details the severe physical conditions and military hurdles they encounter. In Cuba, the black regiments are thrust directly into the heart of the conflict. At the Battle of El Caney, the Twenty-fifth Infantry endures hours under intense fire, pushing through dense undergrowth and barbed wire before executing a decisive, unprompted charge to capture the Spanish blockhouse. At San Juan Hill, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry fight alongside Roosevelt's Rough Riders, charging up blood-soaked inclines to shatter Spanish lines and save imperiled white units.

Beyond the front lines, Johnson highlights the conduct of black troops during the occupation, noting their resilience to tropical disease and their interactions with local populations. He emphasizes the stark contrast between the color line in the United States and the more fluid racial dynamics in Cuba and Puerto Rico. The narrative extends beyond the regular army to examine the struggles of black volunteer regiments, such as the Sixth Virginia and Third North Carolina, who fought for the right to serve under officers of their own race against white political resistance.

The account concludes by reflecting on the broader implications of these military victories. Johnson compiles overwhelming praise from white officers, journalists, and politicians who marveled at the soldiers' courage. Yet, he contrasts these triumphs with the lingering reality of racial violence and disenfranchisement waiting for these veterans back home. Ultimately, the work asserts that the sacrifices of black soldiers irrevocably disprove theories of African American inferiority, establishing an indelible claim to full constitutional rights and social respect.

How It Unfolds

The spark of conflict Following years of Cuban insurrection against Spanish rule, the explosion of the Battleship Maine in Havana accelerates American public sentiment toward war, prompting Congress to authorize military intervention.

Orders from the frontier Soldiers of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, enduring severe winter conditions at isolated posts in Montana, cheer upon receiving orders to move south, eager to prove their worth on the battlefield.

The assault at El Caney Under intense fire and navigating thick jungle brush, the men of the Twenty-fifth Infantry push forward without waiting for formal commands, charging up the steep hill to seize the enemy blockhouse.

Rescue on San Juan Hill The Tenth Cavalry advances through the bloody torrents of the San Juan River, charging enemy strongholds and providing crucial support that protects the Rough Riders from heavy casualties.

Testimony and praise Eyewitness accounts, press reports, and declarations from military commanders like General Joe Wheeler affirm the unmatched discipline, bravery, and endurance of the black regiments.

Resistance in the volunteer ranks The Sixth Virginia Volunteer Infantry faces internal turmoil and administrative betrayal as black officers are pressured to resign, underscoring the ongoing struggle for leadership and equity within the armed forces.

A vision for citizenship Reflecting on the heroism of troops who fought faithfully for a nation that denied them full rights, the book closes with a call for the African American community to use these accomplishments to demand full equality.

The People

Edward A. Johnson The author and advocate who compiles these historical accounts to ensure the valor of black troops is preserved, using their military achievements to challenge racial prejudice and argue for equal civil rights.

The Men of the Twenty-fifth Infantry Enlisted regular soldiers who endure long years of harsh frontier service before demonstrating extraordinary initiative and bravery by leading the charge at El Caney and capturing the Spanish flag.

The Tenth Cavalry Troopers Famous veteran cavalrymen, known as the "Buffalo Troopers," whose relentless advance at San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill saves white regiments from disaster and earns high praise from military leaders.

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Commander of the volunteer Rough Riders, whose military success in Cuba relies heavily on the support of the black cavalry units fighting on his flanks, leading him to publicly acknowledge their heroism.

Colonel James H. Young The commander of the Third North Carolina Volunteer Infantry, who demonstrates exceptional leadership and maintains high morale among his all-black officer corps and enlisted troops.

In Its Own Voice

"Responsibility in this report is not fixed on any 'person or persons.' It reads something like the usual verdict of a coroner's jury after investigating the death of some colored man who has been lynched..."

This passage reflects the author's sharp commentary on the official court of inquiry following the destruction of the Battleship Maine.

"'He done that to me, he did; stayed by me an hour and a half, and me only a nigger.'"

A wounded black cavalryman shares this touching detail in the hospital after a white Rough Rider held his bleeding artery on the battlefield.

"Their naked bodies seemed to present a perfect target to the fire of the dons, but they never flinched."

A wounded officer describes the sheer resolve of the Tenth Cavalry as they advanced through the river under relentless Spanish fire.

What It's Really About

The work is fundamentally an argument for full African American citizenship and social equality, presented through the lens of military sacrifice. Johnson uses the battlefield successes of black regiments to dismantle prevailing white supremacist assertions regarding African American cowardice or inferiority. The text contrasts the soldiers' unwavering loyalty to the American flag with the harsh reality of lynching, segregation, and political disenfranchisement waiting for them at home. By documenting the hypocrisy of asking men to die for liberty abroad while denying them basic rights at home, the book asserts that equal civic status is not a gift to be granted, but a right fully earned through blood and service.

Why Read It Today

This work offers a vital, contemporary window into late nineteenth-century African American history and military life. Modern readers will appreciate the authentic compilation of primary sources, ranging from field reports and personal correspondence to newspaper clippings and official testimony. The book captures the tension between deep patriotism and systemic injustice, offering an unfiltered look at how black Americans navigated the complex post-Reconstruction era.

Readers should be prepared for period terminology and historical race labels that reflect the language of 1899. The structure is episodic rather than a seamless narrative, mixing historical summaries with transcripts and lists. However, the emotional core of the book—the profound pride, resilience, and determination of soldiers fighting for a country that refused to treat them as equals—remains deeply moving and historically essential.

<ElicitationsGroup message="Explore related historical contexts:">

<Elicitation label="Examine the post-Reconstruction political climate for black veterans" query="Describe the political and social conditions faced by African American soldiers returning home after the Spanish-American War in 1898."/>

<Elicitation label="Compare the accounts of black regular regiments with volunteer units" query="What were the main structural and political differences between regular African American army units and volunteer regiments in the Spanish-American War?"/>

</ElicitationsGroup>