An open letter to Secretary of War
Subject(s): African American soldiers, Grand Army of the Republic, Military discipline, Race relations, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 25th
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In this open letter to Secretary of War Taft, General Nettleton defends President Roosevelt’s actions in discharging the soldiers in Brownsville “without honor.” Nettleton, commenting from Brownsville, alleges that there has been well attested evidence for the guilt of the African American troops, and that their actions constitute a conspiracy against the town. He opines that even if not every solider participated in the action, their unwillingness to identify who did has made every soldier culpable. Dismissal from the army is not punishment enough for their actions.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-11-29
Creator(s)
Nettleton, A. B. (Alvred Bayard), 1838-1911
Recipient
Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
An open letter to Secretary of War. [November 29, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o54878. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Nettleton, A. B. (Alvred Bayard), 1838-1911. An open letter to Secretary of War. [29 Nov. 1906]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o54878.
APA:
Nettleton, A. B. (Alvred Bayard), 1838-1911., [1906, November 29]. An open letter to Secretary of War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o54878.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
