The Casey Board
General Casey
In order to become an
officer in a Colored Regiment, one had to pass the test given by a divisional
board. The purpose of these boards was to weed out individuals who were
not fit to lead troops. However, they were not at all standardized, and
some were extremely lenient. One example of extreme leniency was the New
Orleans board; the Bureau of Colored Troops, which administered the whole
program, had to restrict successful candidates from the New Orleans board.
The Casey board, which served the Washington area, on the other hand was, along with the Saint Louis board, considered the strictest board. This isn't to say that either was exceptionally strict, as there is some discrepancy and bias in the accounts. However, generally speaking, the Casey board, led by the General Casey mentioned in Charley's letter, was one of the strictest. Charley would have taken his exam.
The Casey exam followed a structure that put a heavier emphasis on tactics than any other category. One person who took Casey's exam was asked forty-nine questions of tactical knowledge. The same person answered 21 questions on the broad topics of history, math, and geography and seven questions based on army regulations. It is likely that Charley would have been asked similar questions and a similar number of questions though there were bound to be discrepancies, some based on what position the person was testing for (captain, major, etc.). The broad range of questions asked is likely one reason why Charley wrote about the amount of studying he did. After a person took the test they were given a score, and, if they did well enough, a recommendation for the Colored Troops. Unfortunately, we will never know how Charley scored, but it is likely that he scored well since he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Source:
Glatthaar, Joseph T. Forged in Battle. The Free Press, 1990
The Casey board, which served the Washington area, on the other hand was, along with the Saint Louis board, considered the strictest board. This isn't to say that either was exceptionally strict, as there is some discrepancy and bias in the accounts. However, generally speaking, the Casey board, led by the General Casey mentioned in Charley's letter, was one of the strictest. Charley would have taken his exam.
The Casey exam followed a structure that put a heavier emphasis on tactics than any other category. One person who took Casey's exam was asked forty-nine questions of tactical knowledge. The same person answered 21 questions on the broad topics of history, math, and geography and seven questions based on army regulations. It is likely that Charley would have been asked similar questions and a similar number of questions though there were bound to be discrepancies, some based on what position the person was testing for (captain, major, etc.). The broad range of questions asked is likely one reason why Charley wrote about the amount of studying he did. After a person took the test they were given a score, and, if they did well enough, a recommendation for the Colored Troops. Unfortunately, we will never know how Charley scored, but it is likely that he scored well since he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Source:
Glatthaar, Joseph T. Forged in Battle. The Free Press, 1990