Figure 1.--This photograph isunidentified. As it shows two black men and a boy in uniform, it presumably would have been taken in 1863 or later after the War Department authorized the recruitment of black soldiers. |
|
At the onset of the War, northern blacks attempted to volunteer for military service. They were turned away by the states forming military units. There was considerable resistance to arming black men. It was widely though that black soldiers would not be needed. It was to be a quick war and the rebellion would soon be supressed. Blacks at the time were not actual citizens, And the idea of blacks carry weapons was unsettling to many whites. Others had the idea that blacks would not be reliable soldiers. Despite the Northern antipathy to slavery, the idea of white racial superiority was still widespread. The terrible casualties and the need for man powerr began to change attitudes. The Emancipation Proclamation by changing Federal war aims also affected northern thinking. Some Federal commanders attempted to enlist black soldiers, but were prevented from doing so. The War Department did not begin to recruit blacks until 1863.
The Department authorized governors to begin recruiting black volunteers. Governor John Andrew in Massachusetts was the first to act. He helped organized the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth Regiment.
This was the first colored regiment. Other northern states quickly followed the Massachusetts example.
Frederick Douglass made recruiting appearances. Many northern blacks answered the call to the colors. It was a momentous point in American history. Douglas wrote, "Once you let the black man get upon his person the brass letters U.S., an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder…there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States." Recruitment in the North, however, had limitations. Most blacks lived in the South. The War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops (May 1863). The Bureau was responsible for organizing the recruitment of blacks in the border states and areas of the South occupied by the Federal forces. This was necessay because the recruitment of Federal soldiers was done by the states, but of course state officials in the border staytes were often unestusiastic and in the South part of the rebellion. The Bureau of Colored Troops assigned recruiters throughout the border states and occupied South.
At the onset of the War, northern blacks attempted to volunteer for military service. They were turned away by the states forming military units. This was interesting because Blacks had fought in both the Revolutuonary War ad the War of 1812. I am not sure about the Meican War, but do not believe Blacks servd in the Army. They did in the Navy.
There was considerable resistance to arming black men. This prevented the Confederacy from arming Blacks, but there were also considerable reluctance in the North. It was widely though that black soldiers would not be needed. Most people in the North and South believed it would be a quick war. Northerns believed that they could easily contain the rebellion and it would would soon be supressed. Blacks at the time were not actual citizens, And the idea of blacks carry weapons was unsettling to many whites. Others had the idea that blacks would not be reliable soldiers. Despite the Northern antipathy to slavery, the idea of white racial superiority was still widespread, even amog abolitionists.
Some Federal commanders at an early point attempted to enlist black soldiers, but were precented from doing so.
The terrible casualties and the need for man powerr began to change attitudes. The Emancipation Proclamation by changing Federal war aims also affected northern thinking.
The War Department did not begin to recruit blacks until 1863.
The Department authorized governors to begin recruiting black volunteers. Governor John Andrew in Massachusetts was the first to act. He helped organized the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.
This was the first colored regiment. Other northern states quickly followed the Massachusetts example.
Frederick Douglass made recruiting appearances. Many northern blacks answered the call to the colors. It was a momentous point in American history. Douglas wrote, "Once you let the black man get upon his person the brass letters U.S., an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder…there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States." Recruitment in the North, however, had limitations. Most blacks lived in the South.
The War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops (May 1863). The Bureau was responsible for organizing the recruitment of blacks in the border states and areas of the South occupied by the Federal forces. This was necessay because the recruitment of Federal soldiers was done by the states, but of course state officials in the border staytes were often unestusiastic and in the South part of the rebellion. The Bureau of Colored Troops assigned recruiters throughout the border states and occupied South.
Some 0.2 million Black Americans enlisd in the Federal army or navy. Given tht most Black Americans lived in the South and were unable to enliist, this was a remrkable commitment to the Federal cause. The men consisted offree mnen, contrabands (run-away slaves), and even slaves in the border states rekleased by their ownrs cimmitted to the Union cause. [Coddington]
Coddington, Ronakd S. frican American Faces of the Civil War: An Album (2012), 384p.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main Civil War black soldiers page]
[Return to Main Civil War soldiers page]
[Return to Main Civil War page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]