major in the volunteer service
during the Spanish-American war and was placed in command of the Ninth
Battalion of Ohio volunteers. After the Spanish-American war he returned
to the Regular Army with a reduced rank, but ultimately became a Major
in that service. Upon America's entry into the European war he was
elevated to the rank of Colonel.

At the breaking out of the Spanish-American war in 1898, Negro military
organizations existed principally in the Regular Army. These were soon
filled to their maximum strength and the desire of Negroes north and
south to enlist, seemed likely to meet with disappointment. Congress, to
meet the insistence of colored men for service, authorized the raising
of ten Negro volunteer regiments of "immunes"--men who had lived in
sections where the yellow fever and other malignant or malarial
visitations had occurred, and who had suffered from them or shown
evidences that they in all probability would be immune from the
diseases. The plan to place white men in all commands above the grade of
second lieutenant, prevented Negroes from enlisting as they otherwise
would have done. Four immune regiments were organized--the 7th, 8th, 9th
and 10th.

Several of the states appreciating the value of the Negro as a soldier
and in response to his intense desire to enlist, placed volunteer Negro
organizations at the disposal of the government. There were the Third
Alabama and Sixth Virginia Infantry; Eighth Illinois Infantry; Companies
A and B Indiana Infantry; Thirty-third Kansas Infantry, and a battalion
of the Ninth Ohio Infantry. The Eighth Illinois was officered by colored
men throughout. J.R. Marshall its first colonel commanded the regiment
during the Spanish-American war and did garrison duty in Santiago
province for some time after the war; being for a while military
governor of San Luis.

Gov. Russell of North Carolina, called out a Negro regiment, the Third
Infantry, officered by colored men throughout. Colonel Charles Young
commanding. It was not mustered into the service.

Company L. Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, was a Negro company serving in
a white regiment. John L. Waller, deceased, a Negro formerly United
States Consul to Madagascar, was a captain in the Kansas regiment.

About one hundred Negro second-lieutenants were commissioned in the
volunteer force during the Spanish-American war. There was a Negro
paymaster, Major John R. Lynch of Mississippi, and two Negro chaplains,
th