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Likewise in the USCT were cooks, teamsters, musicians, hospital stewards, and many others in non-combat roles and they are counted as soldiers.
They are included in that oft quoted number- 180,000.
Actually, no, the 180,000 African American combat troop figure is correct, which by the way included both USCT and state volunteers. Another 120,000 were employed in logistics support. See Forged in Battle:The Civil War Alliances of Black Soldiers and White Officers by Joseph T. Glatthaar
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"Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
Thanks, Freddy, for the clarification and a resource. I usually figure who was paid?
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Actually, no, the 180,000 African American combat troop figure is correct, which by the way included both USCT and state volunteers. Another 120,000 were employed in logistics support. See Forged in Battle:The Civil War Alliances of Black Soldiers and White Officers by Joseph T. Glatthaar
Enlisted men in non-combat roles are always included in the totals.
Just a few examples:
Bernard, Edward....Teamster....73rd USCT
Brooks, Samuel....Cook....89th USCT
Berkins, William....Musician....95th USCT
(All of these are included in the African American Civil War Memorial)
"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
New York Times, 27 September 1861
Last edited by Battalion : 02-08-2008 at 09:12 AM.
I think it depends on what he means by 120,000 for logistic support. I would agree that musicians, teamsters, etc. would be included in the 180,000 total. But what of those who were used but not mustered into service? "Contraband" picked up and used for digging entrenchments, etc. Would these be "mustered in" and thus counted? I honestly do not know. Although how you would ever know how many of these there were is beyond me.
I think it depends on what he means by 120,000 for logistic support. I would agree that musicians, teamsters, etc. would be included in the 180,000 total. But what of those who were used but not mustered into service? "Contraband" picked up and used for digging entrenchments, etc. Would these be "mustered in" and thus counted? I honestly do not know. Although how you would ever know how many of these there were is beyond me.
Teamsters could be hired contrabands (civilians) but there were others who were actually enlisted in the army...official designation Wagoner-
Ex.: Bibb, Emit 17th USCT Infantry Enlisted as Wagoner 30 November 1863.
Other non-combat roles were also enlisted-
Ex.: Atkinson, William 14th USCT Infantry Enlisted as Musician 15 October 1863.
Jones, Henry C. 14th USCT Infantry Enlisted as Under-Cook 15 January 1864.
Ancestry.com
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"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
Note the word, "enlisted." And now we're talking USCT. What I'd like to see is the word, "enlisted," in the roll of black confederates.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Note the word, "enlisted." And now we're talking USCT. What I'd like to see is the word, "enlisted," in the roll of black confederates.
ole
So you believe blacks in the Confederate army would have to be enlisted like the USCT to be considered soldiers?
A servant would not qualify?
__________________ POWER & MONEY
"Your New-York bankers and merchants are shrewd people, but I never gave them credit for so much sagacity as when they took the Government Loan. It was not merely patriotism, it was a high stroke of policy. It has saved the Government, and what they will regard as equally important, saved them from a great financial disaster."
From Forged in Battle:... the troops enlisted mainly in state regiments and all but four; 5th MA, 54th MA, 55th MA, and 29th CT, kept their state designations, while the rest took on the USCT moniker.
About 20% of the 180,000 troops were Northern blacks.
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"Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
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