the charge at San Juan. On numerous occasions, with
none of the heroic setting of the Santiago campaign, have colored
soldiers time and again command detachments and companies on dangerous
scouting expeditions, and in skirmishes and fights with hostile
Indians and marauders. The entire Western country is a witness of
their prowess. This meritorious work, done in remote regions, has
seldom come to public notice; the medal which the soldier wears, and
the official entry in company and regimental record are in most cases
the sole chronicle. A typical instance is furnished in the career of
Sergeant Richard Anderson, late of the Ninth Cavalry. The sergeant has
long ago completed his thirty years of service. He passed through all
non-commissioned grades in his troop and regiment, and was retired as
Post Commissary-Sergeant. The story of the engagements in which he
commanded give ample proof of his ability and bravery. It would be no
service to the sergeant to disturb his own frank and formal narrative.

The Sergeant's story:--

"While in sub-camp at Fort Cumming, New Mexico, awaiting
orders for campaign duty against hostile Indians (old
Naney's band), on the evening of June 5, 1880, my troop
commander being absent at Fort Bayard, which left me in
command of my troop, there being no other commissioned
officer available, a report having come in to the commanding
officer about 1 o'clock that a band of Apache Indians were
marching toward Cook's Canon, Troops B and L, under general
command of Captain Francis, 9th Cavalry, and myself
commanding Troop B, were ordered out.

We came upon the Indians in Cook's Canon and had an
engagement which lasted two or three hours. Three or four
Indians were killed and several wounded. We had no men
killed, but a few wounded in both L and B Troops. We
followed the Indians many miles that evening, but having no
rations, returned to Fort Cumming late that evening, and
went into camp until the following morning, when the two
troops took the trail and followed it many days, but being
unable to overtake the Indians, returned to Fort Cumming.

In August, 1881, while my troop was in camp at Fort Cumming,
New Mexico, awaiting orders for another campaign against
these same Apache Indians, my troop commander having been
ordered to Fort Bayard, New Mexico, on general court-martial
du