^^^ » o "^ ' * * ' * ^ . ^^ " • * " A'^ 1^^^ ^5^^ \ „. f\'' S • • , •<^-v \*^ *i« ' A cJ» '5- r<> •> L •6,-' "^ • Sft/'jilil'vi A o > -ft _^ ^o 4 ^ ' • ■» • • Presentation of Colors TO The 367th Regiment of Infantry The Union League Club and The Parade of The Regiment in New York City March 23, 1918 • • '-y^ y^,^^:^^i^.sujl. i^i^4f^r. ^^:s^ \ T.a..^^r 'J,»- yk. riJU^i;!r-ru IsLcudM^ :iX^.. e PRESENTATION OF COLORS To The 367th Regiment gf Infantr)^ COLONEL JAMES A. MOSS Commanding By THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB and The Parade of the Regiment in New York City cTVIarch, 23, 1918 1^'t 3^ AUG 20 1921 THE REGIMENTAL COAT OF ARMS ^.TTHto W EiGIMENT ^ The EAGLE symbolizes the United States of America. The CROSSED RIFLES mean Infantry. The BUFFALO HEAD signifies colored soldier, because in frontier days the Indians used to call our colored soldiers "Buffalo Soldiers," because in color they were black or brown like the Buffalo, and like the Buffalo they were good fighters, as the Indians had learned from experience. The REGIMENTAL MOTTO, "See It Through,' expresses the spirit, the soul of the Regiment. The LAUREL LEAVES typify victory,— the vic- tory that the Regiment will always bend every effort to achieve, and for which it will willingly make every sacrifice. COLONEL JAMES A. MoSS. Commanding 367th Infanti A PRELUDE MARCH, 1863 New York City, in March, 1863, was possessed by a smouldering hatred against the Negro. In the early days of July of that year this feeling against the col- ored man broke all restraint. He was pursued with an ignorant but bloody hatred by the populace of the city. The Negroes of the city were threatened with extermination. Colored men were hunted from their homes. They were killed in the streets, — almost open- ly and always by a mob. It was feared for a time that the race hatred would spread throughout the country. Five months later, — the same unreasoning hatred for the black man still smouldering within the breasts of many, — came the President's call for volunteers. Agencies for the enlistment of white men were in abundance, but little or nothing was done to enlist col- ored men. During the race riots, — before and after them for that matter, — the Union League Club stood firmly and boldly for equal rights. Again the Club stalked out into the open. A committee was appointed to raise volunteers. The committee decided to enlist the Negroes of New York City. By private subscrip- tion a fund of $18,000 was raised and within the month, — November, 1863, — one thousand and twenty Ne- groes, — a regiment, — were in training on Riker's Island. There remained in addition six hundred men who formed the skeleton of a second regiment which the Club subsequently raised. These regiments were known as the Twentieth and the Twenty-sixth U. S. Colored Troops. Later the Club assisted in the recruiting of two more colored regiments. The recruiting of the regiments was not regarded with favor. The then Governor of New York State not only refused his authority, but he withheld his sanction of the movement. It was necessary for the Club to obtain the proper authority from the War Department. THE VINDICATION MARCH, 1918— FIFTY-FIVE YEARS LATER The animosity that smouldered in March, 1863, and which burst into a fierce flame in July of that year, has died a natural death. On March 23, 1918, New York City informally declared a holiday and marked time while the Union League Club, still hewing straight to the line of equal justice, presented a stand of colors to the 367th Infantry. Hundreds of thousands of peo- ple, practically all white, lined Fifth Avenue on both sides of the street, while three thousand colored sol- diers marched. Applause unrestrained and spontaneous rose from the huge crowd. Hisses, and acts of violence had given way to cheers. THE BUFFALOES LEAVE FOR NEW YORK The afternoon of Friday, March 22, at Camp Up- ton, Long Island, sixty-five miles from New York City, the men of the 357th Infantry, popularly known as the "Buffaloes," broke all records for alacrity as they scurried about, arranging the effects they were to take to the City that evening, scouring their canvas leggings and shining their boots. Everyone was ready and anxious when the march to the trains started. ARRIVING IN GOTHAM Three hours later the regiment left the trains at the Pennsylvania Station in New York, and was soon at its quarters in the Sixty-ninth Regiment Armory, at Lexington Avenue and Twenty-fifth Street. There many of their relatives and friends were on hand to welcome them. Those who had homes in the City v^rere permitted to stay there. Those who did not were well looked after at the Armory. Even persons who were strangers to the men were attracted to the Armory, too, for the reputation the regiment had established at Camp Upton had preceded it to the City. Its proficiency in drill, the splendid be- havior of the men about camp, their general happy nature, and the big task of the command in erecting at a cost of $40,000, the largest cantonment structure in the country, — its "Buffalo Auditorium," — with a seating capacity of 5,000, had made the 367th a most popular unit. THE PARADE The "Buffaloes" ! It took but an afternoon to introduce the 367th In- fantry, Camp Upton's now famous colored regiment, to New York, and New York bade Colonel Moss's men a vociferous "Howdy do," and added a tumultuous "We're very glad to see you!" The Metropolitan appearance of the entire Buffalo command was undoubtedly one of the biggest things that has ever been done for the Negro race. Hun- dreds of thousands of people, from those who saw the procession from their motor cars or the windows of their mansions in Fifth Avenue, to the humblest of Negroes who were glad of a point of vantage on a Harlem sidewalk or tenement roof, gasped with amaze- ment and delight when they beheld a triumphal proces- sion of what four months ago were civilians who had never even opened a drill manual. A snappy, disci- plined, war-ready, full-strength regiment in four months ! But the unending lines of spectators soon found their surprise giving away unconsciously to violent hand-clapping and hearty shouts of encouragement and approval. The martial appearance of the men and the precise, rythmic way in which they swept along, stun- ned the great crowds momentarily and then caused a din of cheering that almost drowned the music of the regimental band. The clamorous welcome along the line of march grew into practically an uproar when Harlem was reached. The first intention of the regimental com- mander was that the regiment should be taken to the City so that its own people, — the 150,000 Negroes of Greater New York, — might see what Uncle Sam had done for them, what an efficient fighting man the col- ored soldier could make, but later it was decided that if the parade was also held along Fifth Avenue the whole of New York would then see what the National Army had done for the Negro. On top of this, the Union League Club, which had dined two hundred "Buffaloes" at its clubhouse on Thanksgiving Day and had contributed $3,000 to the Buffalo Auditorium fund, announced that it would present the regiment with a stand of colors. Governor Charles S. Whitman accepted Colonel Moss's invitation to review the parade from the grand- stand in front of the clubhouse, and many civic and military dignitaries attended the ceremony. THE MARCH BEGINS At two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, March 23, the procession started up Fifth Avenue from Twenty- fifth Street. At the Union League clubhouse, at Thirty-ninth Street, the reviewing party had just fin- ished a luncheon, at which they were the guests of the Club, and were taking their places on a specially constructed grandstand. The Fifth Avenue front of the clubhouse was almost entirely concealed with a huge American flag, said to be one of the largest in the country. In the reviewing party, besides Governor Whitman, were Senator William M. Calder, Police Commissioner Richard E. Enright, former Dock Commissioner R. A. C. Smith, F. Cunliffe-Owen, Charles W. Anderson, former Collector of Internal Revenue; Major August Belmont, Dr. William Jay Schieffelin, Emmett J. Scott, special assistant to the Secretary of War; Fred R. Moore, Brigadier-General William H. Hay, Com- mander of the 184th Infantry Brigade, of which the 367th Infantry is a unit; Brigadier-General Evan M. Johnson, Commander of the Seventy-seventh Division at Camp Upton; Major-General William A. Mann, Commander of the Department of the East ; Adjutant- General Charles H. Sherrill; Major-General Daniel Appleton, N. G., N. Y.; Major Schuyler Colfax, and many prominent members of the Union League Club. THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS When the head of the parade reached the Union League Club the regiment was halted and Colonel Moss and his field and staff officers took their places within a massed guard of honor drawn up as a three- sided square. The command stood at attention as Governor Whit- man left the reviewing stand and entered the square, facing Colonel Moss. George T. Wilson, a member of the Club, called for three cheers for the regiment and the shouts of the vast assembly echoed against the high walls of the surrounding buildings. The presentation of the colors by Governor Whit- man was a ceremony that was notably impressive. It was witnessed, in addition to those on the grand- stand, by an enormous throng of highly-interested spectators, while many hundreds were unable to get anywhere near the clubhouse. As Colonel Moss received the regimental and national colors from Governor Whitman and turned them over to the color bearers, the regimental buglers sounded "To the colors." Until the last note of the bugles died away the command stood at "Present arms." .'HITMAN HANDING THE OLOR TO COLONEL MOSS. r ndcnvood A- Undcni'ood Studios. N. Y. GOVERNOR V/HITMAN PRESENTS THE COLORS In presenting the colors Governor Whitman said ; "Colonel Moss, officers and men of the 367th In- fantry of the National Army; gentlemen of the Un- ion League Club, and my other fellow-Americans: — "Four times have colors been presented by this famed Club to colored soldiers upon the very ground virhere you soldiers stand today. Four times have those colors come back to this historic spot, some- times tattered and torn, it may be, but always hon- ored and glorified. "On behalf of the Union League Club I commit to your keeping the most sacred trust ever commit- ted to man, — the flag of the United States of America. I charge you by all that is sacred to defend this banner with all the strength and power that God has given you, but in doing so I feel and know already that you will never permit it to be dishonored, to shame yourselves or shame those who have given it to you today. Your Country will trust you to be true to yourselves true to the land of your birth, true to the record of those other soldiers of your race whose valorous deeds have brought glory to these Stars and Stripes. "Go forth and fight for the cause of humanity as those other colored patriots have done, but when you return from the forts, the trenches, the camps, the march, the battle -line, bring this flag back with- out one stripe dishonored, one star obscured. "Bring it back victorious," cried the Governor. "They'll do it. Hurrah for the Buffaloes!" was shouted from the crowd. "May God bless you and keep you," the Governor added, "wherever your duty may call you. and bring you back to us to share with all your fellow-soldiers, white or black, who fight under this same old flag of freedom, the abundant measure of praise and pride which your Country will then feel for you." GOVERNOR V.HITMAN HANDING THE NATIONAL COLOR TO (OLONEL MOSS. ( ii,lcnco„,l d- I'udcrii'ood Studios. N. Y. COLONEL MOSS ACCEPTS Colonel Moss advanced toward Governor Whitman, and said: "Governor Whitman, members of the Union League Club, and other f ellow- Americans : "In accepting for the 367th Infantry from the Union League Club this stand of colors, I wish to say on behalf of my officers and my men that not only do we prize these beautiful flags because of their intrinsic value, but we prize even more the generous, patriotic impulse that prompted their do- nation. Not only is the presentation of these colors to the 367th Infantry another expression of the pa- triotism of the Club, but it also exempUfies once more the historic friendship of the Union League Club for the colored man, — -a friendship based on the spirit of the "square deal" for all men. That the col- ored men of this command, true to the record of their race in all our wars, will protect and defend with honor and heroism the flag of our Country which you are today placing in our keeping, goes without saying, and after this war is over, when the 367th Infantry returns from France, there will be another presentation of colors, — the regiment will bring back and present to the Union League Club the very stand of colors we are today receiving from you, and as an officer who has served eighteen years with colored troops, including two campaigns, let me say that the flags, adorning the walls of your Club, will in silent eloquence tell a story to which the members of the Union League Club, to which the American people, including our twelve million colored citizens, will be able to point with pride and pleasure. "Now, as Colonel of the 367th Regiment of In- fantry of the Army of the United States, with my own hands I will take and place in the hands of our color bearers the regimental color and the National Color, 'The Star Spangled Banner,' which we are going to take 'Over There,' and with which we are going to 'See It Through.'" Accompanied by the regimental band, a picked chorus of seven hundred that had been formed provi- sionally into the platoons that were massed in front International Film Service, Inc., N. Y. COLONEL MOSS HANDING THE REGIMENTAL COLOR TO ONE OF THE COLOR BEARERS SOON AFTER HAVING PLACED THE NATIONAL COLOR IN THE HANDS OF THE OTHER BEARER. of the reviewing stand, then sang the "Star Spangled Banner," following it with "Over There," the words, "The Yanks Are Coming" being changed to "The Buffaloes Are Coming," and closing with the regi- mental song, "See It Through," thus typifying in song the last few words of Colonel Moss's speech of accep- tance, — "The 'Star Spangled Banner,' which we are going to take 'Over There,' and with which we are going to 'See It Through.'" THE MARCH IS RESUMED "Forward, march," was then given, and the regiment resumed its march up Fifth Avenue. The aristocratic thoroughfare, which so many times of late had been crowded by admirers of the white comrade-in-arms, was no less lavish with its plaudits than were Lenox and Seventh Avenues, the main thoroughfares of New York's colored district, as the regiment swung along in perfect alignment. Every man in line looked like a soldier and wore a distinguishable expression of pride. Had the regiment entered Harlem on its return from battle and laden with trophies, its reception could not have been more tumultuous. Harlem has never seen such crowds as those that turned out to welcome the "Buffaloes." What it thought it would see and what it did really behold have made some very important history for the colored race. Harlem went mad, — went clean out of its mind, — with delight and amazement at the show- ing made by the "Buffaloes,"— THEIR OWN ! It was a big thing for the Negro, and a very im- portant happening, indeed. Nowhere on that seven- mile line of march could there be found, or even sus- pected, any such thing as race prejudice or ridicule. If there were any persons who went to the parade just for curiosity, or possibly to offer cheap humor at the expense of the regiment, they were lost in the general storm of applause, or more likely converted so suddenly that they joined in the welcome. A SECOND REVIEW At One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Street and Seventh Avenue Governor Whitman again observed the passing of the regiment from a special grandstand. On the stand there were also Mayor Hylan, Mrs. How- ard Gould and Miss Jessie Ackerman, of Pekin, China. THE PARADE ENDS The procession passed through One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street, down Seventh Avenue to One Hun- dred and Twenty-fifth Street, and then across to Lenox Avenue, where ranks were broken. A CONCERT THE FOLLOWING DAY The following day, Sunday, the Buffalo Chorus of 1,000 picked voices and several regimental enter- tainers gave afternoon and evening porformances at the Manhattan Opera House for the benefit of the regimental fund. A high camp official declared after the evening performance that the entertainment had outclassed every other regimental affair of the kind that had been given in New York. The regiment returned to camp on Sunday night following the close of the show. WHAT THE NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS SAID OF THE PARADE The Times — "A feature of the exercises was the singing of 'The Star Spangled Banner' and 'Over There' by the Negro soldiers with a rythm and ring that will never be forgotten by those who heard it. "They proceeded snappily and in perfect formation up Fifth Avenue." The Sun — "New York saw something different than just a soldier parade, and in its heart maybe it did a little revising of codes. "It was no Harlem parade ... it was New York and National. The bright-gowned women stepped from their motors to applaud and astute gentlemen in spats held back nothing in admiration. "The crowd that jammed Fifth Avenue as full as the traffic cops would permit refused to stretch its neck to catch a glimpse of an aviator as he soared 1,500 feet above the avenue." The Tribune — "There was a swing, a vim, a victori- ous note to their rendition of the National Anthem that stifled cheers and put a lump in the most brazen throat. . . . Some 3,600 Negro fighters for world democracy stepped out like one man." The Herald — "Colonel Moss's regiment from Camp Upton presented a most warlike appearance. . . . The aristocratic thoroughfare, which has echoed to the cheers evoked so often of late by their white comrade- in-arms, was not less lavish in its plaudits than Sev- enth Avenue, Lenox Avenue and One Hundred and Tenth Street when the swarthy Infantrymen swung past in perfect alignment." The American — "The parade became a triumphal procession. . . . The appearance of the men was a revelation to the town. In the dense crowd that bor- dered Ffth Avenue were many soldiers of other na- tions whose admiration was outspoken. The colored soldiers marched like seasoned Regulars. It was a serious, stolid, soldierly regiment to the last man." The Evening Sun — "The regiment marched along Vk^ith a unity of motion that won the admiration of the thousands of persons on the sidewalks. . . . Pride and soldierly appearance distinguished every man who took part in the parade." The Evening World — "New York showed by its ap- plause that it was proud of its 'Buffaloes.' " The Evening Telegram — "They marched to the ac- companiment of cheers of thousands who lined the sidewalks." The Evening Journal — "The colored soldiers looked worthy of the highest praise. No one could doubt that they would give a good account of themselves on the field of battle and maintain the traditions made by the men of their race as members of the United States armed forces. The troops swept forward like veterans on parade." The Globe — "The troops marched along with snap and ginger, looking fit for active duty." The Mail — "None of their white comrades had ever given New York a finer exhibition. Military men commented on their appearance and civilians clapped hands and roared appreciation." The World — "They were as spic-and-span a vision as has burst upon the appreciative gaze of flag-adorned Fifth Avenue in a long while." WHAT THE NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS SAID OF THE CONCERT The Herald— ''li Moss's 'Buffaloes' can fight as well as they frolicked last night the performance of the gallant Negro regiments of the Spanish American War will be paralleled on the Western front. . . . The chorus of 1,000 soldiers gave one of the most effective and well-conducted renditions of Negro songs ever heard in this city." The Sun — "It was an entertainment that added rep- utation to Colonel Moss's command. The chorus sang with great effect." The World — "Two big audiences gave in completely to the entertainers. . . . The big chorus was most impressive." The Tribune — "They sang with the rythm in which they are unsurpassed. They sang with that softest and sweetest of all English dialects." HISTORICAL SKETCH OF REGIMENT The 367th Infantry, which forms a part of the 92d Division, was organized at Camp Upton, Long Island, N. Y., November 3, 1917, pursuant to Orders No. 105, War Department, 1917, and Special Orders No. 72, Headquarters 77th Division, 1917. The field officers, regimental adjutant, regimental supply officer, regimental surgeon and the command- ing officer 'of the Headquarters Company (total, 9) are white, while all the company officers, except the com- mander of the Headquarters Company (87), the medi- cal officers except the regimental surgeon (6), the dental surgeons (3) and the chaplain (total, 97) are colored. The colored officers, with the exception of the chap- lain, are all graduates of the Fort Des Moines (Iowa) Officers' Training Camp — what might be called "The Colored Plattsburgh." The enlisted men (3,699) were drafted from various parts of the country, quotas having come from Camp Devens, Mass.; Camp Custer, Mich.; Camp Lewis, Wash,; Camp Lee, Va. ; Camp Pike, Ark.; Camp Travis, Texas, and about 1,500 from New York and Brooklyn. An enlisted training cadre of 19 men was assigned to the regiment from the 25th U. S. Infantry. '61 ■19 I_. PARSONS & CO rORTY.FIVE CIOSE STC«eer c. PRI NTEB P:^"' o'°% ^-^^^ /"-^o "'^^.^- y"''\ ^1 4. » i C,tP - -^ A* • ■^^^<' ■^^v ►,♦ J^%.'^'^^m' .-^^ \-<^