Latinos Served in the American Civil War: Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez

La igualdad Nos pertenece, es nuestro derecho y el destino que nos espera. Esta lucha llevada HOY por muchos buenos hombres y mujeres. Pero  sobre Todo por aquellos que abrieron brecha para futuras generaciones… Hoy quiero traer a Vuestra atención y conocimiento del primer soldado de origen Puertorriqueño en el ejército de la Unión que ayudó a preservar la Misma. La unión sera preservada y la igualdad NOS CORRESPONDE … Estadistas Movilízate el destino nos llama. Honremos y demos gracias al Señor por Un Puertorriqueño que abrió camino para nosotros los «Estadista»………..

Gracias, Teniente Rodríguez por su servicio. Rafael Cruz Miller

http://www.nps.gov/stri/historyculture/hisp.htm

Hispanics in the Civil War

Latinos Served in the American Civil War: Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez

This week marks the 150th anniversary of the start of American Civil War. In an effort to link up our contribution, albeit not often mentioned, during the civil war we decided to introduce you to the men that served and received decorations for their service and valor. Our first feature of this series is Puerto Rican born and Union Army Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez.

Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez was born in 1835 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rodríguez migrated to the United States and according to the 1860 census, was one of the only 10 Puerto Ricans living in New Haven, Connecticut.

In 1862, Rodríguez joined the 15th Connecticut Regiment, Connecticut’s volunteer infantry also known as the Lyon Regiment which was named after the first General officer killed in the civil war Nathaniel Lyon. Rodríguez’s Regiment was first assigned to serve as the defense of Washington D.C. until September 17, 1862.

In December 1862, Rodríguez’s Regiment marched to Virginia where, under the command of Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, they fought against General Robert E. Lee’s confederate army in the battle of Fredericksburg.

In March of 1865, Rodríguez along with his men, joined the battle of Wyse Fork under the command of Major General John M. Schofield and were victorious against the Confederate army.

Rodríguez was awarded the American Civil War Campaign medal and was discharged on July 12, 1865. Soon after Rodríguez became a firefighter for the city of New Haven, CT.

Pa’lante salutes this patriot and demonstrates that Latinos’ contributions to this nation is not recent. Back in 1865 Puerto Rico was a Spanish subject nation, not a U.S. commonwealth. Therefore, Rodriguez’s joining the Union Army was not related to being a U.S. citizen but an act of voluntary enrollment by a man that felt compelled to defend his newfound country.

www.latinamericanstudies.org

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TRAS INTENSA BÚSQUEDA Y ANTE LA INDIFERENCIA DE MILITARES Y POLÍTICOS, ENCUENTRAN FINALMENTE LOS RESTOS DEL PRIMER VETERANO PUERTORRIQUEÑO QUIEN FUERA TENIENTE DEL EJÉRCITO DE LA UNIÓN DE E.E.U.U.

El Teniente Augusto Rodríguez, nacido en San Juan, Puerto Rico en el 1841, emigró hacia Connecticut. en el 1860. Para esa época, surge la Guerra Civil Americana y muchos puertorriqueños se unieron al ejército siendo el Teniente Rodriguez el primer veterano puertorriqueño aceptado como Teniente del Ejército de la Unión.  Cabe destacar que el Teniente Rodriguez era considerado Español ya que Puerto Rico era una colonia española. Luego de pasar el cedazo de seis miembros de la Unión, fue reclutado como siendo asignado a la 15ta Unidad de Infanteros Voluntarios de Connecticut.

Tal vez el ser considerado ciudadano español se perdió su rastro como puertorriqueño. Gracias a gestiones del Sr. Rafael Cruz Miller y con la ayuda de la señora Deborah Couture del Cementerio Evergreen de New Haven, CT, este se dio a la tarea de encontrar los restos del Teniente Rodriguez. Grande fue su sorpresa al encontrar que este fue sepultado en el panteón de los bomberos bajo el nombre que se le conocía en el ejército, su seudónimo: “Gustave Rodrique”.

Para los interesados en rendirle honores el próximo lunes, Día del Veterano, sus restos están sepultados en la fosa #2 del Lote de los Bomberos en el mencionado cementerio de New Haven, Evergreen. Los puertorriqueños nos sentimos orgullosos de nuestros veteranos y especialmente del Teniente Augusto Rodríguez quien logró su gloria en la defensa de Washington, D.C. En las batallas de Fredericksburg y Wyse Fork.

Datos pueden ser corroborados en la Librería del Congreso, «The History of The Fifteenth Connecticut Volunteers in The War for the Defense of the Union (1861-1865 Páginas 154-173.

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By Efrain Nieves – reposted from Pa’lante Latino with the author’s permission –original link

Puerto Rican Korean War hero dies on March 2.Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena (July 21, 1921-March 2, 2010), was a soldier who served in the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all-Puerto Rican regiment also known as «The Borinqueneers», during World War II and the Korean War. He was the most decorated Puerto Rican soldier in history.Cartagena was raised in the mountains of Cayey, Puerto Rico to a poor family during the Great Depression. Cartagena enlisted in the U. S. Army in San Juan and was assigned to the 65th Infantry, which was also known as the Borinqueneers, because it was made up entirely of Puerto Rican enlisted men, a segregated unit. Read more.

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My dear friends,I would like to share with you what happened in my recent trip to Puerto Rico. As you all know, I have written many articles about the contributions which Hispanics have made to the United States, out of love and with the intention of educating the public in general. I do not seek nor have I ever asked for any type of recognition. That is why I was surprised when the Senate of Puerto Rico presented me with a Resolution last November and that the President of the Puerto Rican Senate, the Honorable Kenneth McClintock, invited me to attend the unveiling of the names of Puerto Rico’s fallen heroes in «El Monumento de la Recordacion» this Memorial Day with all expenses paid. Picture on the right, (L-R), Mrs. McClintock, myself, Senator McClintock and my wife, Milagros.I went to Puerto Rico with my family and to my pleasure, was surprised to see how my island had changed in the last 18 years, it was wonderful. This humble servant was expecting to attend the ceremonies on Memorial Day as a simple spectator, therefore, I was totally unprepared to what happened to me and I would like to share this with my closest friends.On Monday, May 26, 2008, I was publicly recognized by the Government of Puerto Rico as a Historian who has written the biographies of prominent Puerto Ricans who have served in the military. I was invited to the Puerto Rican Capitol Building and in the presence of my wife Milagros, members of the Puerto Rican Senate and the Camera, was presented with a gift by the President of the Puerto Rican Senate, the Honorable Kenneth McClintock. Also, present in my recognition was the former President of the United States Bill Clinton and his wife, New York State Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Brigadier General Hector Pagan, the Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School, presented me with a medal of excellence. I was also recognized in speech given by Mr. De La Luce, in representation of Luis G. Fortuño, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to the United States Congress, during the ceremonies held in front of the Capital Building in which the names of Puerto Rico’s fallen soldiers were unveiled. When McClintock made his speech and mentioned my name, he made me stand up and I received the applause of those present.As I have said before, I do not believe that I deserve such recognition’s, but what really made me feel good was when my granddaughter and children told me how proud they were of me. I am sending a couple of pictures to share with you.Tony Santiago a.k.a. Tony the Marine

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