The Spanish-American War Volunteer: Ninth United States Volunteer Infantry Roster and Muster, Biographies, Cuban Sketches

"The compiler of the statistics of the Roster and Muster of the Ninth United States Volunteer Infantry acknowledges the incompleteness of his effort, but he is conscious that the statements made will be found accurate and reliable, so far as given, as to the formation of the several companies, and the record of the dates and places of enlistment of the men, and their initial illness.  These are of primary importance to the enlisted men, and will be found to be of increasing value to them.  As the time of their service becomes more and more remote, the essentials will become less clear in their memories, and it will become proportionately difficult for them to establish their identity with the organization.  Disease, which is ever faithfully engaged in the work of removing members of the family organization, will prove as active and diligent in taking from our regimental organization our companions, who, with us, severally suffered the fevers of possible death on San Juan Hill, at Palma, at Cristo, and Songo, and in the hospital at Santiago." 

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR VOLUNTEER: Ninth United States Volunteer Infantry Roster and Muster, Biographies, Cuban Sketches.  W. Hilary Coston, B.D., Chaplain Ninth United States Volunteer Infantry. Camp Meade - Middletown, Pa.: Self Published, [Mount Pleasant Printery, J. Horace McFarland Company, Harrisburg, Pa.], 1899. First Edition. VG.

8vo. 139 pages, frontispiece, charts and rosters, illustrated from photographs, facsimiles, portraits. Final ten pages (129-139): Points of Information: HOW A VOLUNTEER CAN SECURE A PENSION. 

Includes an informative account of Cuba and its people for benefit of the soldiers, including: "In large, if not predominating numbers, the Cubans are African-Spanish. They differ from the African-American only in the quality of their courage. They would never submit to the abuses with which the African-American is so familiar...The relatively small population of Cuba affords an opportunity to Afro-Americans for emigration which will assist materially in solving the American race question." 

Scarce unit history of this African American regiment in the Spanish-American War, most soldiers enlisted from Louisiana and Texas, many of whom were infected with Yellow Fever and succumbed to its effects.

Original pictorial cloth exhibiting edgewear, soiling, rubbing, corners bumped.

Slight spotting, couple random smudges at upper endleaves. Binding tight, couple pages with minor creasing, otherwise textblock clear and unmarked. 

"The most distinctive and determined element in American social growth is the African-American's longing for a place in all that is American. The character of this sentiment is defined by its advancing and halting. It has been timorous, but it has explored well every inch of the territory before entrenchment.

The African-American has not been blind. He has observed with accurate vision. He has seen the ending at the beginning of every American war, and has succeeded in placing his contribution prominently among the victorious achievements of the nation.

Accused of cowardice, he has proved most courageous and reliable in battle...He has been repelled, but he has lingered at the threshold of American thought, and has finally been admitted to a place in American consciousness.

His presence in art and war has received respectful recognition, and in these he is assured of an increasing mental acreage for intellectual and industrial expansion, and for moral and religious development. The pessimism of despair will not deter him. He is optimistic, and will not be palsied by doubt."