Ft Thomas Soldiers
Cincinnati Enquirer, Tuesday, 16 November 1897, page 2
NEWPORT
Seventy-five colored troops left last evening under command of Lieutenant Burbank, for Texas.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Tuesday. 30 August 1898, page 7
TWO COMPANIES-The camp of the Eighth Regiment at Ft Thomas is to
be augmented in point of numbers this afternoon by two companies of colored
troops from Indiana.
Lieutenant Bee, the Quartermaster at the post, yesterday received orders from Washington directing him to lay water pipes to the camp of the Eighth Regiment sufficient to supply two more companies. The companies cannot become part of the Eighth Regiment as that already has its full quota. They are said to be independent companies, which were organized with a view of going into one of the immune regiments, but have not succeeded in being mustered into such a regiment yet.
The two companied will likely remain at Ft Thomas until the Eighth Regiment is ordered away and will probably accompany it.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Saturday, 8 October 1898, page 8
It was 5 o'clock when the train bearing the troops arrived in Newport, where the entire colored female population of the three cities was assembled to receive it. When the train arrived the scene which ensued between the dusky soldiers and their sweethearts beggared description. It took the entire Newport police under Chief of Police Bennett and the force of the C and O Railway to keep colored blood from being spilled by the Fast Flying Virginian which came through at 5 o'clock. As soon as the transfer of the troops was effected, they were given their coffee, consuming 100 gallons. The three sections each containing 17 cars, then pulled out for Chickamauga.
It is quite certain that the regiment will be part of the army of occupation sent to Cuba, and it is thought that its stay at Chickamauga will be very brief. It has come to be known as the best of the immune regiments and has attracted the attention of both the President and Secretary of War. During the time that the regiment was stationed at Ft Thomas, the officers formed many friendships and a number of prominent people were on hand yesterday morning to say good by to men whom they have learned to like, and to bid them god speed. there are officers in the Eighth to whom the crack of rifles will be no novelty and those who have watched it carefully feel sure that if the regiment gets an opportunity it will cover itself with glory. One thing can be depended upon: if any trouble occurs the Eighth will be found on the firing line.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, 20 September 1899, page 3
ENLISTING OF THE COLORED RECRUITS
Nine colored recruits were received from the country branches of the Fourth-street office yesterday for the Forty-eight Volunteers. Twenty-three negroes were accepted by Lieutenant Moore, who is stationed at Winchester, Ky.
Over twice as many recruits for the new Forty-eight Volunteer Regiment reported at Ft. Thomas yesterday as in the previous week. Thirty-two colored soldiers in embryo were received from various parts of the country and were assigned ti quarters in the barracks.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, Friday, 6 October 1899, page 12
CANTEEN FOR THE COLORED TROOPS
Arrangements have been completed with agents of a Newport brewery company for the establishment of a canteen at the camp of the Forty-eighth Volunteer Regiment. Work was begun upon the erection of the building yesterday and the canteen will be in full running order by tomorrow.
The following officers reported yesterday; Captain J S Buck, First Lieutenant McCowan and Lieutenant C C Caldwell. The latter reported with two colored recruits, which were enlisted at Columbus Ohio.
It is the opinion of a number of officers stationed at the post that the Forty-eighth Colored Regiment will not remain very long at the fort after it has received its full complement of men. A large number of the recruits are from the South and are ill prepared to endure the rigors of a Northern climate. The regiment will be either transferred to some Southern post or ordered to the Philippines.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 7 October 1899, page 6
The thousand mark in the organization of the Forty-eighth Regiment (colored) at Ft Thomas, was reached Saturday by the arrival of 67 recruits. Colonel Duvall reported to the War Department the total strength of the regiment at 1031, including 16 officers.
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Kentucky Post, 19 October 1899, page 5
The Third Battalion of the Forty-eighth Regiment, colored, marched to the rifle range for target practice Thursday morning, to remain 10 days.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 19 December 1899, page 6
SAN FRANCISCO-The Forty-eight Infantry, colored, was this morning ordered to embark on the Grant for Manila. This will probably be the last full regiment to be sent from this port to the Philippines during the present campaign. The Forty-eight Regiment was recruited at Ft Thomas and was the last regiment to leave this post for the Philippines.