Brownsville matter – discharge of negro soldiers
List of three letters related to the discharge of African American soldiers at Brownsville, Texas.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-11-26
Your TR Source
Military discipline
The President and Gen. Miles
Article argues that President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Elihu Root were right to censure General Nelson Appleton Miles. They do not need to issue a further statement even in the face of “popular dissatisfaction.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902
Miles’ humiliation
General Miles was reprimanded for speaking publicly regarding the Schley case and Maclay was dismissed for publishing a “diatribe” against Admiral Schley.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nelson W. Aldrich
A notable lawyer’s interpretation of the current version of the Brownsville Affair bill compounds the dissatisfaction with the bill’s wording that President Roosevelt has already articulated to Senator Aldrich. Roosevelt worries that the bill will compel the reenlistment of any man found innocent by the board of officers, a measure that he strongly opposes.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-02-02
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry
President Roosevelt informs Secretary of the Navy Newberry that he has received his report with the endorsement of Chief Constructor W. L. Capps regarding remarks that Capps made in his annual report. Far from agreeing with Capps’s defense of his report, Roosevelt regards his actions as “gravely reprehensible,” and orders that the order conferring the duties of Chief Engineer on Capps be revoked, with possible further action to follow.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-01-02
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Herbert Livingston Satterlee
President Roosevelt confirms receipt of the memorandum in the case of First Lieutenant John Newton. He does not believe that the United States Government can afford to be lenient in this case in view of the facts, and asks for Acting Secretary of the Navy Herbert Livingston Satterlee’s recommendation of how to proceed.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-12-26
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Wolcott Wadsworth
President Roosevelt thanks James Wolcott Wadsworth for the letter and agrees that McNair sounds like he would do good work in the Navy. He asks Wadsworth to send him a letter with more details about McNair and what denomination he represents, as Roosevelt tries to maintain equality between different denominations when appointing chaplains. Roosevelt sympathizes with Miller’s case, but says that he has no power in the matter and does not interfere with those sorts of cases.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-07-11
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lyman Abbott
President Roosevelt protests a recent editorial in The Outlook, and tells Lyman Abbott that it condoned mutinous and insubordinate conduct in the Navy by defending Admiral Willard H. Brownson. He quotes a letter he received from General Grenville M. Dodge on the topic of Brownson’s resignation. Dodge opines that Roosevelt should have insisted Brownson obey the order and if he refused to then court-martial him instead of just accepting his resignation. Roosevelt explains why he did not follow this course, but says that this may have set a precedent for rampant insubordination in the armed forces, which The Outlook has not helped.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-01-17
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge
President Roosevelt informs Senator Lodge that the Department of the Army officially notified Colonel M. B. Stewart of the bill’s approval, yet Stewart hypocritically attacks the bill. Captain Johnson Hagood has charge of the bill’s data and is speaking for the Department. Roosevelt encloses a report on Stewart by Chief of Staff, Major General James Franklin Bell, and requests that Lodge return it.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-11-10
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Raines
President Roosevelt informs Congressman Raines that he reviewed Clements’ case with Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf. They agree that Clements’ punishment was excessive, and while he should be punished, his infraction did not merit his discharge.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-04-19
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte
President Roosevelt wants to bring the case of Navy Assistant Paymaster George M. Lukesh to Congress to pass a special law to remove him from the navy. He also wishes for heavier reprimands on those who have been court-martialed and have it appear on their records.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-11-30
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Curtis Guild
President Roosevelt says the order to investigate will not be changed under any circumstances even though the soldiers guilty of misconduct are African American and not white. He says those trying to appeal to him are ignorant of the charges against the soldiers. Roosevelt feels indifferent about any political attacks the soldiers may be trying to make against him. He asserts that the race of the soldiers does not impact his decision to investigate the matter at all.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-11-07
Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Fred C. Ainsworth
President Roosevelt approves of Acting Secretary of War Ainsworth’s proposed actions. He directs that the battalion immediately transport and turn over the accused men to military authorities in San Antonio before proceeding to Fort Reno.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-08-24
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft
President Roosevelt returns the papers related to the case of Captain George W. Kirkman, and voices his agreement with Secretary of War Taft that Kirkman “should pay the full penalty of the law,” as well as his regret that the sentence cannot be even more severe.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-07-07
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte that Midshipmen Charles M. James and William T. Boyd will be pardoned, on the condition that they join the class below their present one at the Naval Academy. Bonaparte should have some memoranda showing which of the other midshipmen dismissed in the course of the hazing suit should be reinstated.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-04-30
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leonard Wood
President Roosevelt was glad to receive several letters from Leonard Wood. He does not believe that the United States will send an expedition to China, but wished to be prepared in case it became necessary. He agrees with Wood’s assessment of the number of troops that would be necessary for such an operation, as well as his opinion regarding the desirability of using some Filipino troops. Roosevelt thanks Wood for the information about Horatio C. Pollock, and advises imprisoning him if possible.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-04-02
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte
President Roosevelt asks Charles J. Bonaparte to communicate with Puerto Rico’s Commissioner to the United States Congress, Tulio Larrinaga, about some matter. Responding to inquiries from Bonaparte, Roosevelt indicates that Bonaparte and himself should be the “judges in connection with the reappointment of midshipmen.” He recommends Sampson and Capron be dropped “one class and no farther.” Roosevelt also makes several recommendations for naval appointments.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-03-08
That “lamentable naval episode”
Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte has objected to earlier characterizations of the punishment given to an officer of the Pay Corps of the Navy as lenient, as neither he nor President Roosevelt could legally dismiss the officer. Bonaparte also objects to the statements that ‘it is difficult to believe that some law could not be found which on a liberal construction, if necessary, would suffice’ to allow Bonaparte to dismiss the officer, and that ‘with the indorsement and possibly at the instigation of President Roosevelt, (the Secretary) has performed many official acts during his brief career in the Cabinet which have caused astonishment.’ This blame, however, is misplaced.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-08
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee
President Roosevelt is pleased with the treaty between the United States and Great Britain but decides to hold back his response until he can see Arthur Hamilton Lee next year.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1901-12-31
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Wilson Patterson
President Roosevelt hopes Robert Wilson Patterson can discuss the matter in person as it is of such high importance. He believes Patterson will agree that General Miles’s actions should be severely reprimanded. Roosevelt will give the matter concerning Admiral Schley his utmost attention, but emphasizes the case will be decided only on its merits. Popular opinion will not be taken into consideration.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1901-12-21