| OCR Text |
Show August 1974 residents of Salt Lake City. The editorial, entitled ‘“‘An Unfortunate Change;” spoke of the close social ties that existed between members of the Sixteenth Infantry and residents of the city and how the departure of that unit would ‘the Twenty-fourth“In addition, Taylor observed the Tribune was “the accepted organ of: the “sever Welcome to the Twenty-fourthInfantry.” many presence and many warm friends.” The not always been so warmly regarded by the people of the city. In the report .of the Secretary of War for the year 1869-1870, it was observed, give the 24th Infantry as soon:as practicable, Republican party.’ By way of contrast, The Salt Lake Herald did editorialize on October 10th, “Glory and honor to the Sixteenth Infantry! The post of Camp City, resembles the place where persecuted _ refuge and have. protection American flag. | The Tribune editorial can of the regiment, apparently. considered “bitter’’~ and of under prejudiced. Later he immediate action followed recommendation January 22, manding Officer to Secretary Mr. Murray’s Lamont, but on 1896, Colonel J. Ford Kent, Comof the Twenty-fourth — Infantry, added to what must have been a -considerable number of requests to have the Twenty-fourth moved.to a northern station. Writing from the. regiment’s headquarters at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, Colonel Kent requested a ‘good — station’’ and announced that ‘’a natural feeling © observed, when the regiment returnedto Salt Lake City from Cuba, “it had the hearts of the people.” 3 No the the- position gentiles G. Muller, an officerof the Twenty- take Douglas, at Salt Lake somewhat William a change in station and it is suggested that the subject be again considered when changes of stations will be made during the coming year, and that this regiment be given a northern station if it is found practicableto do so.” fourth, in his unpublished account of the history editorial the most prominent occurrence connected with the unit’s stay in Utah. Although he could not recall the exact dates the regiment was stationed at Fort Douglas, he did recall that feelings against the “Negro soldiers’ were an American consolate in a foreign city — a f “Much. consideration to this subject has heretofore been given, with the desire to of Fort Douglas and its military contin- gent on the west bench overlooking the city had ‘The Broad Ax . Page 15 _ , pointed out the fact that the residence portion of the city lay between the prevails that it is on account of their color that central city. and Fort Douglas. It would be necessary, it argued, for “colored’’ soldiers to travel on street cars to and from the post and ‘barred from the better loca- - the regiment is tions.’’ Kent sought support for his request by this would ~ Commanding General,’’ supported his request. Schofield had given a favorable endorsement for bring them in direct contact . noting that General with whites and especially white women. The editorial also pointed to the difference of white soldiers and Black soldiers when they are drunk. A Black soldier, according to the writer, “will be sureto want to assert himself” when on a car with white ladies. It would be best, the editorial concluded, to lay the facts before the Secretary - of War and ; he might change and still be send the colored induced to make men relocation informed connection with the content him in May that “it had been decided, The writer dia’ not uncover documents. that: the of 15, 1895 and had inspec- in the event of a possibility in changes of station, that the 24th Infantry should be sent to. Fort Douglas..." tended to shed more light on Schofield’s promise to Kent. other station where they would be just as comfortable, where they would not be a In on February by then “the late ted Kent’s post in May. Kent ‘in his letter to the Adjutant General noted that General Schofield to some - source of apprehension and discomfort the people of a large city like this. Schofield, Lake But, to apparently, as noted in the Sa/t Herald ‘’Fort Douglas is considered by all - _ Army people to be the pleasantest station in the west .if not in the whole country.” If this was the case and the Army sought to reward the ~ Twenty-fourth Infantry for its service in the — the editorial, Senator Frank J:-Cannon met with Secretaryof War Lamont and asked that some - southwest, as it apparently did, Salt Lake City was a likely location. In endorsing Colonel other regiment: be sent to Fort Douglas other than-the Twenty-fourth Infantry. According-to eral Commanding the Department of the Colo- Kent’s request, undesirability ment’’ in the of locating immediate ‘‘a colored neighborhood University of Utah. Secretary, eventhough sympathetic Cannon's appeal, very of the it impassible to change reflected what was on the minds of many of the city’s citizens when it reported: ‘‘Some people say that there is a good deal of politics mixed up minds of colored slavery,” observed people that Secretary from was a Democrat and for this reason would not change the Despite all the excitement and people. cane Under President Benjamin Harrison’s administration, 730 persons were lynched while 1,077 were lynched during Cleveland's Republican administration. Despite Taylor’s. speculation Lamont’s motivation for not with- drawing his order to move the Twenty-fourth, the reason for selecting Fort Douglas for the Twenty-fourth, it is not conclusive that this was ..the reason. In addition to criticizing Senator Cannon for his part in trying to prevent the Twenty-fourth from being stationed at Fort Douglas, Taylor was critical of The Salt Lake City Tribune for being the only newspaper in Salt Lake City to raise ‘‘any sort of objection to the location of Samuel reported Breck, Assistant that . the Secretary The Arrival speculation, the buffalo soldiers began to arrive in Salt Lake City on Friday, October to think there was a correlation between politics and violence, and by implication violence against Black Wyoming, General, ‘was considering changes of station for Infantry regiments and wanted Miles’ opinion: “‘What shall | say?’" Miles replied, ‘‘No objection.” printed what amounted.to an apology ‘to the’ Twenty-fourth. Taylor of The Broad Ax was not nearly so generous and characterized The ‘Tribune as a ‘‘Negro.hater.”’ cn, 16, 1896. On September 18, 1896, it was reported: “Colored Men Will Come.” The response in Salt order to transfer |the Twenty-fourth to Fort Douglas. Taylor seemed concerning Yellowstone, Adjutant Muller also pointed out that a year after the Twenty-fourth’s arrival; The Salt. Lake Tribune . political of War Lamont ae As late as September 16, 1896, the decision to transfer the Twenty-fourth Infantry did not appear settled. In a telegram to General N.A. Miles, who .was° apparently visiting at Fort the order. . . The Sa/t Lake Herald must have the Infantry stationed at remote stations... BEVERLY PEREA BECAME AN OFFICER IN THE 24TH INFANTRY ~ to Senator ‘Taylor, editor of The Broad Ax, a paper, as he put it, “democratic in politics, attached to the principles of Jefferson and Jackson in support of. honest silver and dedicated to the liberation of glad to see the 24th at Fort Douglas. The regiment has ‘rendered long, hard and meritorious service regi- in the move of the Twenty-fourth Infantry to Fort Douglas.” No one, however, seemedto know just what the “politics’’ were. Julius F. | f Further, it was reported, the ‘found Brigadier Gen- _tado, said he would be an account of the meeting published in the Deserét Evening News, at least a part of Senator Cannon’s appeal to the Secretary had to do with the Frank Wheaton, Requests 1879 had been made at a change in the for least as early as —not Lake City was primarily one of surprise because it was certain now that black soldiers Twenty-fourth Infantry’s location from the southwestern territories to a northern state or territory. By January of 1895, requests had become more specific and supporters of relocation were asking for a “station near a large city.’ George would garrison Fort Douglas, but because it had been thought the change would not be made was We can reasonably. speculate that the city pending alive with discussion concerning the Forts arrival of the “Colored Gentlemen” from the Bayard and Huachuca. On September 20th, d ‘aforementioned uncharitable editorial appeare er in the Sa/t Lake Tribune and on Septemb Murray, apparently a civilian. supporter of the Twenty-fourth, in a memorandum to the Secretary of War presented a number of facts for his consideration: 1) there is a difference in treat- ment betweén Black and white units; 2) ‘“every _ infantry regiment in the Army has had, or now © - have, a station near a large city except the Twenty-fourth;’’ and, depression and demoralization. results. from service too long in the _ wilderness. This particular memorandum was received in February 7, the Adjutant 1895 Lieutenant General and General's was office submitted Commanding the the Army. In endorsement, the Lieutenant General wrote: it carried an article titled: “‘Capt. 23rd, Hoffman’s View,’” which reflected. favorably Infantry. Captain the Twenty-fourth upon ‘William Hoffman, apparently a resident of Salt on to cage until spring. W. Lake | ment City, said he was acquainted with the regi- saad “34 ‘Continued next issue _ |
