Civil War History - The South & Western TheatersCheck this forum for all South and Western Theater Questions. Included are the Western, Pacific, Trans-Mississippi, & Lower Seaboard and Gulf Approach Theaters.
I want very much to understand and comprehend the history of black negro slaves that served in both armies during the Civil War, but it must be an objective understanding, an understanding that presents the good and the bad points of the Confederacy's attempt to enlist slaves and free blacks into its military, the why, and the expectations and results of that service.
It should all be put up to be examined, not just the part we like. That goes for both the North and the South.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
An examination of the Provost Records, U.S. Army, shows that many African Americans were forced to enlist in the U. S. Army. In short, the 180,000 or so black men in blue were not all there as volunteers who seized their first chance to support the Union. General Alpheus Williams complained, on January 1, 1864, that "forced enlistments of Negro soldiers is ruining this army." At the time Gen. Williams was detached from the Army of the Potomac as part of the forces sent to releive the Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga. He was in winter quarters in Tennessee following the battles around Chattanooga.
These same records show that pro-Union slave owners received the enlistment bounty of their slaves if they enlisted their slaves in the U. S. Army. These same records also show that black people, male and female, were forced to do labor for the U. S. Army while being separated from their families and that these forced laborers received only housing and food while doing this duty. There are records of the period of forced labor lasting up to three years.
These records are not available "on line" but they are available at most state archives. They can also be seen at the National Archives.
Do you happen to have the number of black slaves pressed into service by the Confederate army?
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I believe there were in all four calls for slaves or free blacks to serve with the Confederate Army. The first was in February 1864 (may have been one prior to this date...will check)...the last being the one enlisting them for military service.
You misunderstand me. How many black slaves were forced into Confederate service, building defenses, fortifications, etc. In other words, how many were asked to do such work, vice those who were given no choice?
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
You misunderstand me. How many black slaves were forced into Confederate service, building defenses, fortifications, etc. In other words, how many were asked to do such work, vice those who were given no choice?
Unionblue
The answer to that question is somewhere in the National Archives...if you can find the records.
There is some info in the Official Records...though it's far from a complete account.
District of the Gulf............4 Feb 1865..........13 Mar 1865
Impressed..............................680........ ........889
"Forrest captured negroes"........806.................825
(so much for those propaganda stories of Forrest executing black prisoners)
Guys:
I think we are missing Unionblue's point, perhaps on purpose. Thousands of slaves assisted in the CSA's war effort, as slaves, not from a desire to protect the South from the Yankees, anymore they were working in a sugar cane field, or cotton field out of a deep personal interest in agriculture. The quotes from the mobile forts sound like the guy is looking for mostly laborers, not combat infantrymen.
Rebprof's quote about pressing blacks into military service might be true(in that blacks were conscripted), but it doesn't change the basic facts, the vast majority of Southern blacks were slaves, it wasn't in their short, middle or long range interest to fight to preserve a slave owning society, and, you know what? They didn't!
The CSA was pressing slaves into helping the war effort continually since the war began, because slaves represented nearly 40% of the population and were a integral part of society and the economy.
Folks with an agenda to push try to avoid the obvious: The CSA was a slaveholding country, and the rationale to owning slaves was based on race prejudice. Obviously blacks had a strong interest in seeing the CSA lose the war. It was the only way out of permanent oppression.
Sometimes I wish I could get my act together and cut to the chase as you have in your above post. Guess its old age and trying to be too subtle.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Folks with an agenda to push try to avoid the obvious: The CSA was a slaveholding country, and the rationale to owning slaves was based on race prejudice. Obviously blacks had a strong interest in seeing the CSA lose the war. It was the only way out of permanent oppression.
C'mon, Matthew. Leave a scrap of consolation on the table. Can we admit that there were enough black confederates under arms to leave a record? However slim?
I'll echo, Neil's post:
Quote:
Sometimes I wish I could get my act together and cut to the chase as you have in your above post. Guess its old age and trying to be too subtle.
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
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