In Spring 1917, the US War Department ordered two US Army military installations to be built in Harris County, Texas. These were Camp Logan and Ellington Field. The bases were initially to house and train soldiers from the Illinois National Guard and were very close to Houston.
On July 27, 1917 the all-Negro 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment traveled by train to Houston from Camp Columbus, New Mexico accompanied by 7 White officers. The 24th had previously been stationed in the Philippines. There was extreme racial segregation in Texas and the wearing of an US Army uniform meant absolutely nothing different in being treated as a Negro. One Negro soldier was shot and killed for just wearing that army uniform. Both military and civilian coloureds were referred to as "niggers".
About noontime on August 23, 1917, in Houston's Fourth Ward, the Houston Police while searching for someone else were required to further take into custody an uncooperative Negress in the home. This woman was intoxicated and physically resisted the police until finally the arrest had to be made outside on the street.
A Negro soldier from the 24th interfered and was immediately beaten to the ground, arrested and jailed.
That afternoon of August 23rd, a Negro military police corporal, Charles Baltimore, went to the Houston Police Station to investigate the incident of earlier that day but to also to try to release another soldier who was in jail for an entirely separate charge. Soon heated arguments turned to violence resulting in Corporal Baltimore being beaten and arrested himself. However, Baltimore was soon released.
In the dark, rainy evening of August 23rd, 156 Negro soldiers disobeyed officers' orders, stole weapons from the camp depot and marched on the city of Houston. It appears that the main instigator was a Negro sergeant, Vida Henry, of I Company. These rioters were met outside of Houston by the Houston Police and a large force of armed civilians. A virtual race riot ensued in which 4 Negro soldiers, 4 Houston Police and 12 citizens were killed. Also killed was a Captain Joseph Mattes of the Illinois National Guard. The instigator, Sgt Henry, shot and killed himself.
On August 24, 1917 order was restored around Houston, all Negro soldiers disarmed and the 3rd Battalion sent by rail back to New Mexico
The deaths of so many civilians and the long held fear of arming Negro military resulted in not one but three court martials to finally satisfy the US military.
Present at the first court martial were 3 Brigadier Generals, 7 full Colonels, 3 Lt Colonels. Of the officers eight were graduates of West Point. On December 6, 1917, 13 Negro soldiers including Corporal Baltimore were sentenced to be hanged for murder, 41 Negros were given life sentences.
On December 11 1917, on over-night built gallows, the 13 accused murderers were hanged simultaneously at 07:17 AM. Only Army and county personnel were allowed to witness the executions.
The second court martial (known as the Washington case) took place 6 days later in which 15 Negroes of the lower A Division were tried. Five given the death sentence.
At the third court martial (known as the Tillman case) on March 26 1918, 40 more Negro soldiers were charged; 11 sentenced to death; the others to life imprisonment.
On May 2 1918, General John Ruckman formally approved and sanctioned all sentences.
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