Controversial Monument: Gen. John B. Castleman, ex-Confederate Tells Soldiers it is Their Duty to Salute Black Officers

The New York Times
November 12, 1917

SALUTE NEGROES IN SOUTH.

Gen. Castleman, ex-Confederate, Tells Soldiers it is Their Duty.

LOUISVILLE, Ky, Nov. 11- Louisville, in which much of the spirit of the old South still lives, putting aside racial feeling and personal prejudice, has settled for itself, patriotically and unreservedly, the question of the propriety of white soldiers saluting negro officers. This question, which came to the fore recently, was on the first thought answered to reconcile inherent convictions with military regulations.

The solution was that an officer should not be regarded as a personality toward whom the salute homage to the country's uniform and to the things it typifies should be accepted.

An exposition of this viewpoint was voiced by General John B. Castleman, a Major of the Army of the Confederacy, later Colonel of a Kentucky National Guard regiment and a Brigadier General of Volunteers who saw active service in Porto Rico during the Spanish-American War. He said:

"The discipline of the army must be maintained, and non-commissioned officers understand little of the spirit of the army when they refuse to salute a negro officer. I have held several commissions in the military service, and I unhesitatingly say that I would or will, at any time salute an officer, superior or inferior, who salutes me without regard to the color of his skin. The regulations, the laws, and the fundamentals of courtesy and discipline upon which these regulations and laws are based prescribe this. It is no time to stand against them. I want to urge every soldier to be a soldier in the full sense of the term. We are at war, and soldiers are under the rules of the American Army. We are all one under the flag. We salute the rank, not the individual."

The incident which brought forth General Castleman's statement occurred here recently when two white soldiers refused to salute Captain Glass, a colored officer.

Controversial Statue: John B Castleman on Slavery, Lincoln, and the Union

"In Louisville today the remains of General John Breckinridge Castleman lie in state. General Castleman's story is not without significance in these troubled times. As a youth of nineteen he rushed into Confederate service at the outbreak of the war. He was opposed to the institution of slavery but he was a hot-headed advocate of the principle of state's rights and to him every state was a republic unto itself. He was the dashing kind of soldier who would naturally be drawn to the audacious trooper, Morgan." 

"At the entrance of Cherokee park which is the product of his generosity and constant care and watchfulness stands a modest little frame cottage in a spacious park-like yard where arching trees abound. That little house for nearly half a century has been General Castleman's home. In the large central window of this home, facing the thorofare, there has always hung an American flag.The flag was General Castleman's passion. In the days of his youth on his return from exile he, like General Gordon of Georgia, became a great reconstructionist. He went among the people of the south, telling them what the flag meant, how wrong their war was, how the lost cause was a wrong cause, how they should rejoice in their defeat tho never losing their love and enthusiasm for their hero dead who gave their valor for that which they thought to be right but which they now found, to their sorrow and to their gladness, was wrong. He was the sympathetic southerner who love the South so much that he could love North and South more."

When the Lincoln Memorial at Hodgenville was dedicated a few years ago General Castleman with President Taft was an honor guest of Kentucky. When all the services and exercises were over, and the 17,000 spectators on the grounds had dissipated, gone on their way and the Presidential train was standing on its siding with impatient engine three mile distant from the isolated shrine, General Castleman expressed the wish to return to the Memorial that he could see it in the silence of its setting, with the multitude away.

When, with a few friends present, he paid this second visit to that shrine that day he said, "“ I cannot describe my feelings. Here from a home of lower birth than that which I knew, the humblest hut of a cabin, came a man who lived to have the power to save my life. Had Lincoln lived, I always knew that I would have returned from exile not two years after but at the close of the war In giving me my life this man gave me the light to see the wrong cause I had championed, the right cause that he battled for. I have given my ...

"...life in a humble effort to carry on his work, to bring his divided people once more,” then pointing to the inscription on the pediment of the building, he read “ into union, peace and brotherhood among these United States.” A few years ago in front of his own home at the entrance of the park which was the result of his own generosity and handiwork, Louisville unveiled in his presence, Kentucky ’s great man on a horse, GENERAL CASTLEMAN.

General Castleman lived the repentance of a mistake against a just cause and a flag that was borne into battle for liberty and for a government that stood for both freedom and fellowship. No one ever worked more faithfully to correct a wrong against his country's flag. No one ever learned to love his country's flag more than did Kentucky s great horseman. He was one of the rebuilders of the South, and as a rebuilder he became one of the builders of the nation.

General Castleman is dead. His mortal remains lie in state in Louisville today. Kentucky honors in this hour the memory of one who was more than her son; he became a great, soldier son of America. This was his pride. The flag that always made brilliant the big window of his home he loved better than life itself. The spirit of General Castleman is one that cannot be laid at rest. In the words ; of Webster it will march on and on in the cause of “ union, one and inseparable now and forever-”THE WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1918.

Gathering of Big Men Assures Statue to
"Dear Old General."
Enthusiasm is Shown.
Equestrian Piece Planned to be a Credit to the Whole City.

Charles F. Grainger
Mayor of Louisville, KY

If there ever was any question as to just how much sincerity and tenderness, and real affection and admiration and loyalty could be crowded into four little words, it was settled today after hearing a group of Louisville's representative citizens refer to General John B. Castleman as "the dear old General." The four words were voiced in many keys by men of varied interests— professional men, millionaires, soldiers — in fact, the very flower of Louisville's citizenry — but in each instance they carried absolute conviction of the profound admiration and affection which each man holds for General Castleman. The occasion of the meeting, which was held in the leather room at the Seelbach at twelve o'clock, was the formulation of plans and the effecting of an organization to carry out the work necessary to have made and placed in one of Louisville's parks an equestrian statue in bronze of General John B. Castleman. Charles F. Grainger acted as temporary chairman, but for some time before the meeting was formally called to order the men discussed the plan informally, and each man had some new incident to relate, giving additional reasons why he personally "just wanted to see that statue put up right away." Rare good fellow ship prevailed and there was a deal of kindly jesting among the men, and it was authoritatively stated four new stories were told, but were not ordered spread upon the minutes.

THOUGHT HE KNEW. 

When Mr. Grainger called the meeting to order he said: "I thought I knew a number of General Castleman's fine characteristics, I thought I could say as many kind things, and appreciative things about the dear general as any man in Louisville, but I pledge you my word that since this project was first broached about six or eight weeks ago, and I have since discussed it with some of my friends and have told some people that they might contribute, I have learned that I could not begin to express the kindly things that have been said about General Castleman. Each man to whom I have spoken about the plan of placing a statue of General Castleman in one of the parks has fairly jumped at the opportunity to contribute, and in doing so has given such a variety of reasons for admiring the general that I realize my own limitation in expressing what I feel for him. The matter was first discussed by a few of us at the bridge club about six or eight weeks ago. John Vreeland and I talked it over, and then all the men present said: 'Sure, go ahead." A list was made out of seventy men, and I want to say that I believe this was the most representative list of Louisville's citizens ever gotten together — "

WANTED To KNOW.

Just here the query was put to Mr. Grainger by several of the men present — "were we on that list, Charlie?" Upon being assured by Mr. Grainger that most emphatically "he had 'em on the list," he was allowed to proceed. "Out of that list of seventy," continued Mr. Grainger, "there were only four refusals — and these were from reasons that were adequate. I want to read you just a few brief extracts from some letters I have received — each letter, by the way containing a subscription. Here is one from Hardin H. Littell in Buffalo. Mr. Littell says: 'I gladly inclose my subscription toward erecting an equestrian statue to dear old General Castleman, the man who so long kept life in and held together the State Guard (Louisville Legion); who did so much for Louisville's beautiful park system, the Saddle Horse Breeders' Association, Horse Show As sociation, and many other things of benefit to dear old Louisville.' 

"I was with General Castleman for nine years in the 'Louisville Legion" days'" said Mr. Grainger, "and I want to say right now that if General Castleman had the money which he spent personally for the good of the Legion, I believe it would amount to $25,000. And no man ever came to Louisville with a letter of introduction to General Castleman that the general did not give his personal courtesy and kindly thought to the stranger."

Mr. Grainger then read other letters received from prominent Louisville men. "Here is a letter from Naples-on-the-Gulf," said Mr. Grainger. "It says: 'You have certainly secured a representative list of our best citizens as subscribers to the Castleman memorial. The general is entitled to this expression from his fellow-citizens, and it is most fitting that it should come while he is still with us. The general is justly deserving a full measure of praise for the good work already done by him. A notable characteristic of the dear general is that whatever he does is always done well. Mr. Watterson and my brother, when I mentioned your request most willingly joined with me in authorizing you to place their names on. the list of $100 subscribers.' This letter is from Colonel W. B. Haldeman."

TRIBUTE TO LIVING FRIEND. 

Referring to the question of the propriety of erecting the statue while General Castleman is living, Mr. Grainger said : "I'd rather have five kind words while I am alive than a ton of flowers after I'm dead," and the men present with a most thorough unanimity concurred in this viewpoint. Marion Taylor was then elected permanent chairman, Oscar Fenley, treasurer and Daniel E. O'Sullivan, secretary, although Mr. O'Sullivan protested that he wanted to make a speech, in fact, would rather make a speech than be secretary. However, upon being assured that he might do both, he entered upon his duties. Mr. Grainger had announced that $6,200 was already pledged, and John W. Barr then spoke briefly, and suggested that the testimonial be one from the entire public, and also that provision be made that any amount of money needed 'should be raised. "The general has always been accustomed to riding good horses," said Mr. Barr, smilingly, "and we want this bronze horse to be the very best, one that the general will approve of, and we want the statue of General Castleman to be one that we will all*enjoy looking at."

THE RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. Grainger offered the following resolutions: 

RESOLVED, That a committee consisting of eleven remembers selected from the subscribers to this testimonial be appointed and empowered to receive subscriptions, employ a sculptor, select a design and take such other steps as it may deem necessary to carry out the object of this meeting. 

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the chairman of this meeting' be authorized to select and appoint said committee, and that he be an ex-officio member. 

Which was unanimously adopted, and the following committee appointed by the chair: Marion E. Taylor, John B. McFerran, J. M. Atherton, Lawrence Jones, Oscar Fenley, W. I. Mapother, Allen R. Hite, Charles F. Grainger, C. C. Mengel, B. Bernheim, Bruce Haldeman and Dan E. O'Sullivan. The only unfortunate thing about the meeting was that no one man was allowed to finish his own special tribute to the general, because' "the other fello" was so anxious to voice his heartfelt admiration.