Yet at the beginning of America's participation in the war, it was plain that the old feeling of intolerance; the disposition to treat the Negro unfairly, was yet abroad in the land.
He was willing; anxious to volunteer and offered himself in large numbers at every recruiting station, without avail.

True, he was accepted in numerous instances, but the condition precedent, that of filling up and rounding out the few Negro Regular and National Guard organizations below war strength, was chafing and humiliating.

Had the response to the call for volunteers been as ardent among all classes of our people; especially the foreign born, as it was from the American Negro, it is fair to say that the selective draft would not necessarily have been so extensive.
It was not until the selective draft was authorized and the organization of the National Army began, that the Negro was given his full opportunity.

His willingness and eagerness to serve were again demonstrated.

Some figures dealing with the matter, taken from the official report of the Provost Marshall General (General E.H.