DID YOU KNOW ? # 11

Did you know they say and I believe, history is written by the victors for their own purposes. You do not always get the full and accurate picture just reading one source. For almost a century the full role of blacks in American history was sorely neglected. Then with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s blacks began to discover the hidden truth. They began to discover their people had played an active role in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Indian Wars and even two World Wars. They began to have pride in their own role in American history. They discovered new role models and new heroes.

Now for the rest of the story.

In the American Civil War more than twenty Filipinos served and fought bravely to end slavery and preserve the American union. Felix Baldberry served with the 11 th Michigan Volunteers and was wounded. Prince Romerson was a sergeant with the U.S. Cavalry. Joseph Castor served on Old Ironsides, a sister ship to the USS Monitor. Manuel Santos was a seaman on the USS Monitor.
When the Confederate ship Merrimac attempted to sink the USS Minnesota. The Monitor bravely sailed between the two ships. What followed was a heavy pitched battle at point blank range. The brave seamen of the Monitor, including Santos, inflicted so much damage on the iron clad Merrimac that she withdrew and was never again a major threat.