[22] “The Ninth and Tenth Cavalry regiments fought one on either side of mine at Santiago, and I wish no better men beside me in battle than these colored troops showed themselves to be.  Later on, when I come to write of the campaign, I shall have much to say about them.”—­T.  Roosevelt.

[23] The major commanding the squadron in which Sergeant Givens’ troops served, writes to the sergeant the following letter: 

     Sergeant William H. Givens, Troop D, 10th Cavalry, Fort
     Clark, Texas.

Sergeant:—­When making my report as commander of the Second Squadron, 10th U. S. Cavalry, for action of July 1, 1898, at San Juan Hills, I did not mention any enlisted men by name, as I was absent from the regiment at the time of making the report and without access to records, so that I could not positively identify and name certain men who were conspicuous during the fight; but I recollect finding a detachment of Troop D under your command on the firing line during the afternoon of July 1st.  Your service and that of your men at that time was most creditable, and you deserve special credit for having brought your detachment promptly to the firing line when left without a commissioned officer.

     THEO.  J. WINT,
     Lieutenant-Colonel, 6th U.S.  Cavalry. 
     Second Lieutenant, 10th Cavalry.

     True copy: 

[24] Extract from The Statesman, Denver, after the departure of the 25th Infantry, and the arrival of the 34th: 

Two policemen killed, the murderer at large and his comrades of the 34th Regiment busy boasting of their sympathy for him, and extolling his deed to the skies, yet not a single petition has been prepared to have the regiment removed.  The 25th Infantry, with its honor undimmed by any such wanton crime, with a record unexcelled by any regiment in the service, was the target for all sorts of criticism and persecution as soon as it arrived.  The one is a white regiment, composed of the scum of the earth, the other a black regiment composed of men who have yet to do one thing of which they should be ashamed.  Yet Denver welcomes the one with open arms and salutes with marked favor, while she barely suffered the other to remain.

Had it been a negro soldier who committed the dastardly deed of Saturday night the War Department would have been deluged with complaints and requests for removal, but not a word has been said against the 34th.  Prejudice and hatred blacker than the wings of night has so envenomed the breasts of the people that fairness is out of the question.  Be he black, no matter how noble and good, a man must be despised.  Be he white, he may commit the foulest of crimes and yet have his crimes condoned.

CHAPTER XI.

The Colored Volunteers.

     The Ninth Ohio Battalion—­Eighth Illinois—­Twenty-third
     Kansas-Third North Carolina—­Sixth Virginia—­Third
     Alabama—­The Immunes.