Black Regiments in the Spanish American War: William Lewis Cabell Autograph Letters (2) Signed. Both are written on United C... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

Cabell served as the United Confederate Veterans' commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department. He writes these letters to Captain Frank A. Ryan of the First U.S.V. (Texas Volunteers) Infantry. Both letters concern the use of Texas regiments in the Spanish-American War, but the August letter regards black regiments. In part, "The 'Nigger'! Regiments Seem to be more Sought for than white Regiments and that it is the [?] of the Secretary of War [Russell A. Alger] we the Adjutant Generals to give Negro Regiments the precedence on all occasions. . . . One thing I am convinced of is that all the Negro Regiments and Companies will be retained in Service and all the northern Troops to fill the Regular Army to 61000 men and all white Troops from the Southern mustered out."