Skip to main content

About Sergeant Walker

November 2024
1min read

If Mr. Friedrich’s intention in “We Will Not Do Duty Any Longer for Seven Dollars per Month” (February issue) is to play to the black soldier and to the black race, if his intention is to cause additional black-white racial confrontations, if his intention is to color the truth for an ideology, then he has succeeded admirably.

But to use William Walker as an example of an outstanding black soldier who was deliberately persecuted is an absolute disgrace and a historical travesty. Walker was not a good soldier; he could not have been. From what Friedrich says, and the evidence he himself offers, Walker should have been shot for his actions on two other occasions.

Finally, to pull the incident out of its context and to put it into modern philosophic terms is ridiculous.

Enjoy our work? Help us keep going.

Now in its 75th year, American Heritage relies on contributions from readers like you to survive. You can support this magazine of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it by donating today.

Donate