African-American History

Truth~

History does little to validate the heroic contributions of African-American   soldiers in the Civil War. In fact, during that time, despite earlier   participation by Blacks in the American Revolution and the War of 1812,  and   their eagerness to face combat, willing Black volunteers were told that their services were not needed.

Still, some groups disregarded the Federal law--in place since 1792--which barred Negroes from bearing arms in the U.S. military. In Cleveland, Ohio, a Black military corps organized saying that they were ready to fight "as in the times of 1776 and the days of 1812." Black military clubs were also formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in New York. Racism though, and an insistence by whites that "this [was] a white man's war," eventually forced these early groups to disband.

It was only after both the Union and the Confederacy had suffered heavy casualties that President Lincoln modified the policy and permitted African-Americans to serve in the military. Also contributing to Lincoln's decision was a decrease in white volunteers combined with the increasing numbers of "contraband" fugitive slaves that could perform labor tasks.

Duty~

On September 27, 1862, the 1st Regiment of the Louisiana Native Guards became the first Black soldiers to be officially sworn into service for the Union Army, with the 2nd and 3rd Regiments organized in October and November respectively. The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Regiment--later redesignated the 79th United States Colored Infantry--was mustered into federal service January 13, 1863. This company was the first unit to actually engage against the Confederates (prior to their muster)--on October 27 & 28, 1862, at Island Mound, Missouri. Their muster was followed in January 1863, by the reorganized 1st South Carolina Colored Volunteers (also called Company A of the First South Carolina).

African-American volunteers from Tennessee, South Carolina, and Massachusetts filled the first authorized Black regiments, and recruitment increased as African-American leaders like Frederick Douglass urged Blacks to enlist in order to help permanently secure their freedom and ensure full citizenship for themselves. On May 22, 1863, the Government established the Bureau of Colored Troops to manage the recruitment of Black soldiers.

Conditions for United States Colored Troops (USCT) were precarious, to say the least. Their efforts on behalf of the Union were often met with overt disdain even within Union borders. They were often denied essentials such as uniforms and shoes, and were given pay unequal to that of white soldiers. A refusal in June 1864, by Private Sylvester Ray of the 2nd U.S. Colored Calvary, finally pushed Congress to grant equal pay for USCT, and the action was deservedly made retroactive.

Glory~

Immortalized in the 1989 film Glory, the celebrated 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was sworn into federal service May 13, 1863. Under the command of Colonel Robert Shaw of Massachusetts (the son of a white abolitionist), the "54th" bravely volunteered to lead the assault on strongly fortified Confederate troops at Fort Wagner, South Carolina on July 18, 1863. Charging under heavy fire and engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat, the 54th was only driven back after suffering heavycasualties. Of the 600 enlisted Black Union soldiers who charged Fort Wagner, 116 were killed in action, along with their commanding officer. Despite their defeat at Fort Wager, the courageous efforts of the 54th, discharged any further doubts within the Union Army about the fighting ability of Black soldiers, and immortalized the valor of this regiment.

"The Fifty-fourth did well and nobly...They moved up as gallantly as any troops could, and with their enthusiasm they deserved a better fate "Edward L. Pierce, correspondent for the New York Tribune, to Governor John A. Andrew, July 22, 1863.

A memorial (pictured above) stands today on the Boston Common in Massachusetts honoring the incredible courage and noble sacrifices of Shaw and the men of the 54th.

Honorable Numbers~

Various historical sources cite 100,000 to 200,000 civilians as also participating in the war effort with the USCT, in various capacities such as nurses, cooks, and spies--the most famous being Harriet Tubman, who served as a spy with the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers. Under the command of Colonel James Montgomery, Tubman, formerly a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and described as "the head of the intelligence service in the Department of the South," is credited for leading a raid with freed more than 800 slaves and confiscated thousands of dollars worth of property.

Throughout the was, USCT totaled more than 200,000 on the Union side in 166 Regiments, with free Blacks from the North as well as ex-slaves from the South comprising their ranks. They participated in 449 engagements, thirty-nine of which were major battles. By the end of the Civil War, 13 members of the distinguished U.S. Colored Troops had been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Spirit~

The Spirit of Freedom sculpture, stands in Washington, DC, as a commemorative to the valiant contributions of the USCT. Unveiled on July 18, 1998, the memorial is surrounded on three sides by the Wall of Honor--155 burnished stainless steel plaques which lists, by regiment, the names of 209,145 USCT of the Civil War, as well as those of their white commanding officers. Adjacent to the memorial and Wall, is the African-American Civil War Museum, which opened in January 1999, as the Nation's first and only memorial to Colored Troops who served in the four-year struggle to end slavery.

Interested in visiting the African-American Civil War Museum? Visit: http://www.afroamcivilwar.org/