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Company E, 9th Regiment Black Unit Token - Collender Balke (Louisiana)

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Exonumia - Tokens Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 500.00 USD
Company E, 9th Regiment Black Unit Token - Collender Balke (Louisiana)
SOLD
120.00USDto p********n+ buyer's premium (27.60)
This item SOLD at 2016 May 14 @ 13:19UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Fabulous Brunswick-Balke-Collender token of this historic Black regiment that spent time in Cuba. Dark, but still a strong strike. Hints of gold on lettering still visible.



This regiment was one that served from August 24, 1898 until April 25, 1899 in Santiago de Cuba, one of three black volunteer regiments that garrisoned the island. Nine companies of the 9th were recruited from New Orleans, Louisiana, one company from Donaldsonville, Louisiana, one company from Houston, Texas, and one company from Galveston, Texas. Company E was commended by Captain CE Beckham. By late July, the U.S. forces in Cuba were being ravaged by a series of tropical diseases. Certain U.S. regiments were thought to be made up of men who were immune to these diseases for a variety of reasons. For instance, many thought that African American men were more immune to these diseases than were Caucasian men (though there were also regiments of Caucasian "immunes" also). With the forces in Cuba rapidly losing men to disease, the government attempted to remove the men who were currently there and replace then with "immune" troops. It was soon found out the theory on immunity was incorrect, and the "immune" regiments suffered from the same diseases as did the other troops. During its term of service, the unit lost 3 officers to disease, 16 officers resigned or discharged, and one officer dismissed. The unit also lost 73 enlisted men to disease, one to an accident, and twelve discharged on disability. In addition, twelve men deserted. [Spanish American War Centennial site]

City: State: Louisiana Date: c1898 ID# 37581