Interactions With Slaves

[rbortega]

Did anybody who had an ancestor who served in the Union Army during the Civil War leave behind any first hand accounts of interacting with slaves during their service? If so, what were those encounters like and did they have any effect on your ancestors views on slavery?

 

[lupaglupa]

I have seen a number of references to letters and diaries that touch on this topic. No one in my family (and most of my guys were fighting for the Confederacy anyway).

 

[LSBusch]

My Union ancestor, who kept a diary in camp at Fort Halleck, Kentucky, in 1863, did not describe any interaction with any individual although Blacks worked in the camp and contrabands were conscripted there. He also attended a local Black church service with the regimental chaplain. He described all of those with negative stereotypes. I did not see any evidence he had volunteered in order to end slavery. I do not agree with his views; I just transcribed them as he wrote them (see my signature).