Trivia 7-10-17 Fight Together

[Trivia Master]

What Civil War battle was the first to have African-American and White troops fight side by side?

credit: @amweiner

 

[TinCan]

Cabin Creek, Indian Territory.

 

[William G Hendry]

https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/african-american-civil-war-soldiers/15122


The First Kansas Colored was assigned to escort Union supply trains south to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). When a large force of Texans attacked their supply train at{ Cabin Creek,} the unit successfully protected the train. This marked the first time that black and white troops fought together. Fifteen days later the First Kansas Colored held the Union line against Confederate advances at Honey Springs, Indian Territory. The battle also was significant because for the first time American Indian, African American, and white troops fought together. The First Kansas Colored captured the flags of the Texas regiment after only 20 minutes.

The regiment's greatest test came at the battle of Poison Spring in April 1864. When the Confederates ambushed the Union supply train, the African American troops took the brunt of the attack and suffered great losses. Many of the black soldiers who were captured or wounded during the battle were executed. The sacrifice of the First Kansas Colored served as inspiration for other black troops, who used the battle cry, "Remember Poison Spring!"

 

[Reb]

Grimball's Landing? This battle was the first engagement of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. July 16, 1863. James Island, South Carolina.

www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-war-black-soldiers

 

[Jimklag]

What Civil War battle was the first to have African-American and White troops fight side by side?

credit: @amweiner

Milliken's Bend

 

[Irishtom29]

Milliken's Bend.

 

[DBF]

The Siege of Port Hudson - under General Nathaniel Banks - and as the article states: General Banks raised the "Corps d'Afrique", black soldiers from Louisiana, and their attacks on Port Hudson marked the 1st use of black soldiers in a major battle during the war May 21, 1863 - July 9, 1863.
http://www.historynet.com/general-nathaniel-banks
http://pth.thehardyparty.com

 

[MC44]

The Battle Of Island Mound in Missouri?

 

[truthckr]

The Skirmish at Island Mound was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring on October 29, 1862, in Bates County, Missouri. The Union victory is notable as the first known event in which an African-American regiment engaged in combat against Confederate forces during the war.

 

[General Casey]

The First Battle of Cabin Creek, July 1-2, 1863 in present day Oklahoma.

Source: https://www.civilwar.org/learn/civil-war/battles/cabin-creek

 

[kholland]

Island Mound, Missouri

 

[Brenal]

I'll go for the Battle of Millikens Bend, June 7th 1863. A brigade of 4 regiments of African descent, 9th, 11th, and 13th Louisiana and the 1st Mississippi, were reinforced by 120 men of the all white 23rd Iowa in repulsing Walkers Texas division ( with the help of a couple of gunboats)
www.historynet.com/millikens-bend-a-forgotten-civil-war-battle.htm

 

[Wallyfish]

Looks like there can be several answers on this question. But I am going with the Battle of Island Mound based on the date of the battle.

The first engagement by African-American soldiers against Confederate forces during the Civil War was at the Battle of Island Mound in Bates County, Missouri on October 28–29, 1862. African Americans, mostly escaped slaves, had been recruited into the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers. They accompanied white troops to Missouri to break up Confederate guerrilla activities based at Hog Island near Butler, Missouri.

 

[JOHN42768]

Township Landing, Jan. 1863. At the end of January they went on a two-week marauding expedition along the Georgia-Florida line and won a small but sharp skirmish over mounted Confederates at a place called Township Landing. Higginson was leading them through thick piney woods at midnight when they heard charging hooves. The men held steady — and emptied 13 rebel saddles with their first fusillade. The victory made national news, as did the fact that they came home with significant stores of captured iron and wood and seven rebel prisoners. "Braver men never lived," Higginson wrote. "It was their demeanor under arms that shamed the nation into recognizing them as men."
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/life...47e45e6f8ef_story.html?utm_term=.124a77509f47

 

[MaryDee]

Per http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/black-civil-war-soldiers, the first colored troops formed (all before officially authorized by the US Army) were: 1st. 2nd, 3rd Louisiana Native Guard (which fought at Port Hudson, May-June 1863); 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry (which fought at Island Mound, Oct. 1862); 1st South Carolina, African Descent ( first expedition Nov. 1862). Per http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0d5n99qh/entire_text/, the 1st SC did not participate in any actual battles, although they were part of the occupation of Jacksonville, FL, March 10, 1863.

Per Wikipedia article, "Skirmish at Island Mound," and https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/first-kansas-colored-infantry/12052, the first Civil War battle in which African-American troops fought was at Island Mound, Missouri, October 29, 1862). Units involved were the First Kansas Volunteer Infantry (Colored) and scouts from the 5th Kansas Cavalry. While the latter contained (per above Wikipedia article) some Cherokee and colored troops, it appears to have been a mostly white regiment. The 1st Kansas Infantry had white officers https://law.wustl.edu/staff/taylor/preserv/v4n1/battle.htm. However, I can't find a reference that mentions black and white troops fighting side-by-side. Also, most sources call Island Mound a skirmish rather than a battle.

I then looked at Port Hudson, but per this source http://www.historynet.com/americas-civil-war-louisiana-native-guards.htm, it appears that the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guard were (due to poorly executed battle plans) fighting pretty much on their own.

Since I can't find proof that black and white troops fought side by side at either Island Mound or Port Hudson, although personally I suspect they did to some degree, I have to go with the First Battle of Cabin Creek, July 1-2, 1863. Per Wikipedia article, "Battle of Cabin Creek," and the Oklahoma Historical Society article, http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=ca001: "At this engagement the men of the First Kansas Colored Infantry held the distinction of being the first African American soldiers to fight alongside white troops." [quote from the OK Historical Society, but stated in almost identical words by the wikipedia article.]

 

[FarawayFriend]

That was surprisingly difficult for me!

Still not quite sure, but my answer is Honey Springs, Indian Territory, July 17th, 1863, according to this source:
Fifteen days later the First Kansas Colored held the Union line against Confederate advances at Honey Springs, Indian Territory. The battle also was significant because for the first time American Indian, African American, and white troops fought together
https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/african-american-civil-war-soldiers/15122

 

[Wallyfish]

Here I go changing my answer again. After a few more hours, I have found additional possible answers.

I am now going with the Battle of Cabin Creek. I have found multiple sources that claim this is the first battle where black and white soldiers fought side be side.

The First Kansas Colored was assigned to escort Union supply trains south to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). When a large force of Texans attacked their supply train at Cabin Creek, the unit successfully protected the train. This marked the first time that black and white troops fought together. (from the link below)

What makes this difficult is the question side by side component. I assume that means that black and white troops were fighting for the same side versus against the "other" side. Clearly the Battle of Cabin Creek involved multiple Union regiments where most were white but the 1st Kansas Colored were black. There were many battles that had small numbers of blacks fighting but I am sure that was not what the intent of the question.

My first answer of the Battle of Island Mound predated the Battle of Cabin Creek and it has a predominately black regiment (however some its officers were white). So one could argue that both blacks and whites fought side by side at Cabin Creek. No pun intended but this question is not "Black and White" in its intent.

https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/african-american-civil-war-soldiers/15122

 

[mofederal]

Honey Springs, Indian Terr.

 

[Stony]

First Battle of Cabin Creek. July 1 and 2, 1863. Mayes County, Oklahoma. Source. Wiki.

 

[Jackson'sArm]

First Battle of Cabin Creek, Oklahoma on July 1-2, 1863