- Joined
- Dec 30, 2019
From time to time visitors on one of my tours will ask this question. Until recently my answer was "No, although blacks did serve in the Army of the Potomac as teamsters." However, I recently came across a diary entry that has me now saying "Maybe". Isaac Taylor of the 1st MN, who was killed in the attack by that regiment against Wilcox Brigade on July 2, left an interesting diary. His entry for Tuesday, June 23 states that a portion of Gen. Stahl’s Cavalry Div. passed near Gainsville, coming from the direction of New Baltimore. Isaac says: “In the 18th. Pa. I observed several colored troopers fully armed & equiped (sic).” Note that Isaac says that they were "armed and fully equipped". So, they were soldiers, not support personnel.
As the Army was not integrated, blacks could not have officially served in the ranks of white units. But could they have served incognito? We are certainly aware today that many women managed to do so. In my mind, it is altogether plausible, perhaps even probable, that a few blacks served with some Union units, and the issue of their race was simply not recorded on the roster.
The 18th Pa. Cavalry does not get too much attention, and their monument is a bit hard to find on Bushman Hill. It's back in the woods several rods and not visible from the road, at least not in summer with all the leaves. (see Photos) According to Major Wm. Darlington's O.R. report dated August 9, 1863, the regiment was engaged in the cavalry fight at Hanover on June 30; a skirmish at Hunterstown on the evening of July 2; the charge in the late afternoon of July 3; the capture of some Confederate wagons on July 4; skirmishing at Smithville on July 5, an engagement at Hagerstown on July 6; a fight with Stuart's cavalry on July 8; and some additional skirmishing on July 12. The report says that they were at Falling Waters on July 14, but not engaged.
As the Army was not integrated, blacks could not have officially served in the ranks of white units. But could they have served incognito? We are certainly aware today that many women managed to do so. In my mind, it is altogether plausible, perhaps even probable, that a few blacks served with some Union units, and the issue of their race was simply not recorded on the roster.
The 18th Pa. Cavalry does not get too much attention, and their monument is a bit hard to find on Bushman Hill. It's back in the woods several rods and not visible from the road, at least not in summer with all the leaves. (see Photos) According to Major Wm. Darlington's O.R. report dated August 9, 1863, the regiment was engaged in the cavalry fight at Hanover on June 30; a skirmish at Hunterstown on the evening of July 2; the charge in the late afternoon of July 3; the capture of some Confederate wagons on July 4; skirmishing at Smithville on July 5, an engagement at Hagerstown on July 6; a fight with Stuart's cavalry on July 8; and some additional skirmishing on July 12. The report says that they were at Falling Waters on July 14, but not engaged.