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CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S PREFACE..
LOYALTY AND DEMOCRACY OF THE NEGRO, BY SECRETARY BAKER.
TRIBUTE TO THE NEGRO SOLDIER, BY GENERAL PERSHING...
THE NEGRO'S PART IN THE WAR, BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
CHAPTER I.-HOW THE GREAT WAR CAME TO AMERICA...
The Underlying Causes of the War-Racial Hatreds and National Enmities
-Germany's Ambition to Rule the World-The Gathering of the War
Clouds-Germany's Attempt to Stir Up Trouble Between the United States
and Mexico-Events that Led to America's Participation in the War.
CHAPTER II.-THE CALL TO THE COLORS...
Negro Troops that Were Ready When War Was Declared-The Famous
9th and 10th Cavalry, U. S. Army-The 24th and 25th Infantry-National
Guard Units of Colored Troops-The 8th Illinois-The 15th New York-
National Guard Units of Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, and
Tennessee-First Separate Battalion of the District of Columbia-How All
of These Responded to the Call.
CHAPTER III.-OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE NEGRO'S INTEREST......
Appointment of Emmett J. Scott as Special Assistant to the Secretary of
War-Difficulties Encountered in Establishing the Negro's Status Oppor-
tunities Afforded for Effective Work on Behalf of Negro Soldiers-Better
Opportunities for Negro Officers, Soldiers, Nurses, Surgeons, and Others
Obtained Through This Official Connection.
CHAPTER IV.-THE WORK OF THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT...
Guarding the Interests of Negro Soldiers and Civilians-Promoting a
Healthy Morale-Cases of Alleged Discrimination Against Negro Draftees-
The Edward Merchant Case-The John D. Wray Case-How Justice Was
Secured-A War Department Inquiry-Training of Colored Officers.
CHAPTER V.-THE NEGRO IN THE NATIONAL ARMY....
Selective Service Law the Most Complete Recognition of the Citizenship
of the Negro, North and South-All the Duties and Responsibilities of
Patriots Imposed Upon the Negro by the Draft Act-Tribute by the Provost
Marshal General to the Colored Soldier-Assignment of Negro Draftees to
Cantonments.
PAGE
9
15
16
17
23
32
40
51
66
CHAPTER VI.-A CRITICAL SITUATION IN THE CAMPS....
Race Problems that Had to be Solved-Fear of the Southern Whites that
Trouble Would Follow the Training of Negro Troops in the South-
Situation Complicated by the Houston Riot-Protest of the Governor of
South Carolina-Dr. Scott Called to Spartanburg, S. C., to Allay Trouble
There How the Negro Soldier Finally Won the Respect and Confidence
of the South.
CHAPTER VII.-COLORED OFFICERS AND HOW THEY WERE TRAINED...
First Officers' Training Camp for Colored Men at Fort Des Moines, Iowa-
Major J. E. Spingarn's Fight for the Establishment of This Camp-Methods
of Training Reserve Officers-Negro Educational Institutions Furnish
Personnel-Seven Hundred Colored Officers Commissioned at Fort Des
Moines.
CHAPTER VIII.-TREATMENT OF NEGRO SOLDIERS IN CAMP....
Men from the South Sent to Northern Camps to Face a Hard Winter-
Attempts at Discrimination Against Negro Soldiers and Officers-Firm
Stand of the Secretary of War Against Race Discrimination-General
Ballou's "Bulletin No. 35"-Members of Draft Boards Dismissed for Dis-
crimination Against the Race.
CHAPTER IX.-EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS....
Secretary Baker and the Trying Situation at Camp Lee, Virginia-Reports
on Investigations at Numerous Camps-Improved Conditions Brought
About Gradually-The Case of Lieutenant Tribbett and Similar Cases of
Race Prejudice.
CHAPTER X.-NEGRO SOLDIERS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
French Colored Colonials the First Black Soldiers to Take Part in the
War-The Story of These Senegalese Fighters-Their Important Part from
the Beginning of the War-The Fight for the African Colonies-German
Employment of Negro Troops in the Early Part of the War.
CHAPTER XI.-THE NEGRO COMBAT DIVISION.
Full Detailed Account of the Organization and Fighting Campaigns of
the Famous Ninety-Second, as Recorded by the Division's Official His-
torian-Complete Official Reports of Every Battle in Which the Ninety-
Second Took Part-Commendation by Commanding Officers.
CHAPTER XII.-CITATIONS AND AWARDS, 92ND DIVISION....
....
Officers and Men of the Famous Negro Division Whose Heroic Conduct
Gained for Them the Distinguished Service Cross-Details of Their Deeds
of Heroism in Action-Special Mention of Officers and Men by Various
Commanding Officers.
CHAPTER XIII.—THE STORY OF "THE BUFFALOES'
Glorious Record of the 367th Infantry Regiment-Colonel James A. Moss-
Presentation of Colors by the Union League Club-"The Buffaloes" in
France-How They "Saw It Through" at Metz-Their Heroic Conduct
Under Fire-Regimental Colors Decorated by Order of the French High
Command-A Tribute from France to "These Sunburned Americans."
75
82
92
105
117
130
173
190
CHAPTER XIV.-RECORD OF "THE OLD FIFTEENTH".
.. 197
The Glorious Story of the 369th United States Infantry, Formerly of the
New York National Guard-The Regiment That Never Lost a Man Cap-
tured, a Trench, or a Foot of Ground-First Negro Troops to Go into
Action in France.
CHAPTER XV.-"THE EIGHTH ILLINOIS".
Story of the 370th U. S. Infantry-Another Negro National Guard Regi-
ment that Won Distinction on the Battlefield-Chicago's Colored Fighters-
Called "Black Devils" by the Germans and "Partridges" by the French
Because of Their Proud Bearing-First American Troops to March into
the Fortified City of Laon-Their Stubborn Resistance at the Oise-Aisne
Canal.
CHAPTER XVI.-THE 371ST INFANTRY IN FRANCE...
How This Colored Regiment of the "Red Hand" Division Helped to Win
the War-Service in the Trenches under General Goybet-In the Great
Champagne Offensive-Fierce Fighting and Heavy Losses-The Regiment
Decorated by the French-Individual Citations and Awards.
CHAPTER XVII.-THE RECORD OF THE 372nd....
A Regiment Made Up of National Guard Troops and Drafted Men-Attached
to the Famous French "Red Hand" Division-Its Splendid Record in
France At Hill 304-Heroic Exploits of Individuals-The Regiment Dec-
orated with the Croix de Guerre-Citations and Awards.
CHAPTER XVIII.-NEGRO HEROES OF THE WAR.....
The Exploit of Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts-How One American
Soldier in No-Man's Land Killed Four Germans and Wounded Twenty-
Eight Others Single-Handed-First American Soldiers to Receive the
French Croix de Guerre-Other Instances of Individual Heroism by Negro
Soldiers.
CHAPTER XIX.—THE NEGRO SOLDIER AS A FIGHTER.
...
Unanimous Praise by Military Observers-Value of Negroes as Shock
Troops Discipline and Morale Under Fire-What the War Correspondents
Said About Them-Comments by Foreign Military Observers-Estimates
by American and French Officers.
CHAPTER XX.—WITH OUR SOLDIERS IN FRANCE..
Official Reports of the Only Accredited Negro War Correspondent-Ralph
W. Tyler, Representative with the A. E. F. of the U. S. Committee on Public
Information-The Story of the Life and Fighting of American Negro
Soldiers in France as Seen by This Trained Observer.
CHAPTER XXI.-NEGRO MUSIC THAT STIRRED FRANCE...
Recognition of the Value of Music by the U. S. War Department-The
Patriotic Music of Colored Americans-Lieutenant James Europe and His
Famous "Jazz" Band-Other Leaders and Aggregations of Musicians-
Enthusiasm of the French People and Officers for American Music as
Interpreted by These Colored Artists and Their Bandsmen.
214
231
239
256
274
284
300
CHAPTER XXII.-THE NEGRO IN THE SERVICE OF SUPPLY...
.. 315
A Vast Army of Colored Stevedores in France-Their Important and
Efficient Work-Essential to the Combatant Army in the Trenches-Their
Loyalty and Cheerfulness-Important Lessons Learned in the War-The
Labor Battalions-Well-Earned Tributes to These Splendid Colored
Workers Overseas.
CHAPTER XXIII.-"WITH THOSE WHO WAIT".....
Provision for Technical Training of Draftees-Units that Did Not Get to
France-Vocational and Educational Opportunities Opened to Them-The
Negro in the Students' Army Training Corps-In the Reserve Officers'
Training Corps.
CHAPTER XXIV.-GERMAN PROPAGANDA AMONG NEGROES.....
Insidious Efforts to Create Dissatisfaction Among Colored Americans-
Germany's Treacherous Promises-How the Hun Tried to Undermine the
Loyalty of Our Negro Citizens-Steps Taken to Combat Enemy Propa-
ganda-Work of the Committee on Public Information.
CHAPTER XXV.-How COLORED CIVILIANS HELPED TO WIN..
Their Co-operation in All the Liberty Loan Drives-The Negro and the
Red Cross-In the United War Work Campaign-How the Negroes Bought
War Savings Stamps-Special Contributions and Work of Colored Citi-
zens-The "Committee of One Hundred" and Its Valuable Work.
CHAPTER XXVI.-NEGRO LABOR IN WAR TIME...
Organization for War Work-The Division of Negro Economics-Pioneer
Work of Dr. George E. Haynes-Negro Representation in Council-Seeking
to Improve Race Relations-Good Work by Negroes in the Shipyards—
Attitude of Organized Labor-The Opportunities of the War.
CHAPTER XXVII.-NEGRO WOMEN IN WAR WORK....
Enthusiastic Service of Colored Women in the Wartime Emergency-Over-
coming the Problems of Race by Pure Patriotism-Work for the Red
Cross-The Young Women's Christian Association-The Colored Hostess
Houses and Rest Rooms for Soldiers-War Problems of Living-The Circle
for Negro War Relief-Colored Women in the Loan Drives-Important
Work in War Industries.
CHAPTER XXVIII.-SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES..
Important Welfare Work of the Young Men's Christian Association and
Other Organized Bodies-Negro Secretaries of the Y. M. C. A.-The Prob-
lem of Illiteracy in the Camps-The Social Secretaries-Results of Educa-
tion-The Y. W. C. A. Hostess Houses-The Knights of Columbus--Caring
for Returned Soldiers.
CHAPTER XXIX.-NEGRO LOYALTY AND MORALE...
Eager Response of Colored Draftees-Notable Tributes to the Patriotism
of the Negro Race by the White Press-Also by President Wilson, Secretary
Baker, Secretary Daniels and Others-Negro Loyalty Never Doubted—
Patriotic Negro Demonstrations and Other Instances of Loyalty.
328
344
355
365
374
398
411
CHAPTER XXX.-DID THE NEGRO SOLDIER GET A SQUARE DEAL?...... 426
Reports of Widespread Discrimination and Harsh Treatment in Camp-
Many Manifestations of Prejudice by White Officers-The Question of
White or Negro Officers for Negro Regiments-Higher Officers of the Army
Usually Fair-Disinclination to Utilize Colored Nurses and Colored Medical
Men-Secretary Baker's Efforts to Prevent Race Discrimination-Reports
of Negro Observers on Conditions Overseas.
CHAPTER XXXI.-WHAT THE NEGRO GOT OUT OF THE WAR...
.......
A Keener Sense of His Rights and Privileges as a Citizen of the United
States-Racial Attitude of the South-Returning Negro Soldiers and Con-
ditions in the North-The Attitude of Organized Labor-Instances of Dis.
crimination-The Black Man and His Claims to Equal Treatment.
458
APPENDIX.-COLORED OFFICERS COMMISSIONED AT FT. DES MOINES.... 471
COLORED CHAPLAINS IN THE U. S. ARMY.
482
OFFICIAL SUMMARY OF THE TREATY OF PEACE....
483
MAP OF CENTRAL EUROPE SHOWING TERRITORIAL CHANGES UNDER THE
TREATY
502