Houston Riot Essay

Houston Riot

Of

1917

By

Ashley Sloan In the beginning of World War, I as the United States declared war with Germany, African American soldiers were ordered to Camp Logan and Ellington in Harris county to prepare for the war. “On July 27, 1917, the Army ordered the Third Battalion of the Twenty-Fourth United States Infantry Regiment to Houston to guard the Camp Logan construction site. The regiment traveled to Houston by train from their camp at Columbus, New Mexico, accompanied by seven commissioned officers.” (Wikipedia) Upon arriving many soldiers did not get the greeting they were hoping because despite the fact that they were used to segregation, many thought that they would be treated with more respect and even saw as equals due

A soldier that was on lookout reported back to the mob letting them know that a mob of Caucasian officers was assembled outside the military grounds. The soldiers of the third battalion African American army wasted no time opening fire on the officers and expressing their outrage for the treatment they had endured and were still enduring at this time. “Sergeant Henry led over 100 armed soldiers toward downtown Houston by way of Brunner Avenue and San Felipe Street and into the Fourth Ward.” (by Texas State Historical Association). The riot ended when it was discovered that the African American battalion had killed one of their own Captain John Mattes of the Illinois National Guard. However, after the final count it was discovered that on that day they had also killed 4 other soldiers that were their own. The riot resulted in the injury of twelve Caucasian officers and the death of fifteen others. Realizing that they had no sense of direction in the matter and that they had no leadership they began to dismantle. The death proved to be too much for Sergeant Henry who was initially the leader for the whole riot, as he shot and killed himself shortly after telling the rest of the soldiers to slip back into the base at night so that they would go undetected and be able to maintain their innocence. In an attempt to hurry and get the soldiers out of town the third battalion was relocated to Columbus, New Mexico where it would all seemingly come to an end. After arrival seven soldiers initially stood trial but agree to testify against the others in an attempt to gain a lesser sentence of clemency. “November 1, 1917, and March 26, 1918, the army held three separate courts-martial in the chapel at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. The military tribunals indicted 118 enlisted men of I Company