Pre War Back Milita Units

[major bill]

I am looking for information on pre-Civil War black militia companies for an article on Michigan Civil War militia companies. The Liberty Guards formed in Detroit in 1860 and I would like to say this is one of the few black militia companies in the Northern States. However, I am not real sure of this information. Any help with information on Back militia companies ca. 1860-1861 would be appreciated. It would seem like this information would be easy to find but I have found this is not the case. Did other Northern States have black militia companies?

Major Bill

 

[leftyhunter]

Good question if there were any black owned newspapers of that time period or abolition papers then they might mention such units or local papers of that era. On the other hand there may have been informal units that time has forgot. Off hand I would think if there were there were not a whole lot. It costs money of course to buy guns and uniforms and time to march around which of course is a good way of attracting the eyes of young maidens which I suspect is why many men joined the various unpaid militia units. Since on the whole most freed blacks may not of had a lot of money or time they may not of joined militia units in large numbers.
Leftyhunter

 

[Barrycdog]

http://books.google.com/books?id=jj...erty Guards formed in Detroit in 1860&f=false

The history of Michigan law

edited by Paul Finkelman, Martin J. Hershock, Clifford W. Taylor

In May 1860, However Detroit Blacks formed an independent military organization called the Detroit Liberty Guards a 35 member unit.


I could not search the Michigan Newspapers because they are all pay sites.

 

[NedBaldwin]

In 1860 Massachusetts tried to change its law so that blacks could serve in the state militia. The Republican dominated legislature supported the idea and passed the necessary legislation. But the Governor, even though he was also a Republican, vetoed it as unconstitutional. Cost him some support from his own party but he was right.

The US Constitution says that Congress has the power "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia" [Article 1, Section 8]. In 1792 Congress passed "An ACT more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States" in which it was specified that the militia would consist of white males.

 

[major bill]

In 1806 there were enough escaped Canadian slaves living in Detroit to form a militia company. General Hull formed them into a company. Hull allowed them to elect their own officers. This displeased some of the locals and after a short time they were able to get this unit disband. When the Liberty Guard formed the enrolled militia was to include only white males. However the laws that that governed the Michigan Uniformed Militia, a type of elite militia that received State arm and state militia moneys, were not clear when it came to race. Michigan Militia officials offered the newly formed Liberty Guards State owned arms so it would appear that the white male clause only applied to the enrolled militia. Another interesting point is by law, Michigan allowed Native Americans to form armed militia companies. I found it difficult to believe that this would be allowed within 25 years after the War of 1812 where the local Indians fought very well.

Major Bill

 

[James N.]

I am looking for information on pre-Civil War black militia companies for an article on Michigan Civil War militia companies. The Liberty Guards formed in Detroit in 1860 and I would like to say this is one of the few black militia companies in the Northern States... Any help with information on Back militia companies ca. 1860-1861 would be appreciated. It would seem like this information would be easy to find but I have found this is not the case. Did other Northern States have black militia companies?

I realize you're concentrating on NORTHERN, particularly Michigan militia companies, but want especially to plug the Louisiana Battalions of Free Men of Color. These organizations date, like the Detroit ones mentioned above, to at least before the War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans, in which they fought in the motley army of Andrew Jackson. Consisting of the wealthy Creole mixed-bloods of New Orleans and the Delta, they had no trouble in uniforming and arming themselves, and when the Civil War erupted they offered their services to the State and Confederate governments. ( Natural, since probably most were slave owners themselves! ) Unfortunately for posterity, their offer was either refused or ignored altogether. Supposedly following the fall of New Orleans, they again offered their services to the Federal authorities, and were this time accepted, becoming a neucelus for Ben Butler's Corps d'Afrique.

 

[NedBaldwin]

.... Unfortunately for posterity, their offer was either refused or ignored altogether. ...

Why is it unfortunate for posterity? I dont understand your use of the phrase.

 

[James N.]

Why is it unfortunate for posterity? I dont understand your use of the phrase.

Though hardly relevant to the topic at hand: Unfortunate, because if the manpower-strapped South had tapped this resource sooner, at least when urged to do so by Patrick Cleburne rather than later when recommended by Lee a year later, they *might* have realized their goal, and at a lesser loss of life. Even better to have done so by accepting this offer in the opening stages in '61! Then we would've been spared not only many thousands of needless deaths, but also the racial recriminations of the past century-and-a-half.

 

[Tin cup]

Though hardly relevant to the topic at hand: Unfortunate, because if the manpower-strapped South had tapped this resource sooner, at least when urged to do so by Patrick Cleburne rather than later when recommended by Lee a year later, they *might* have realized their goal, and at a lesser loss of life. Even better to have done so by accepting this offer in the opening stages in '61! Then we would've been spared not only many thousands of needless deaths, but also the racial recriminations of the past century-and-a-half.

I think most of those blacks who chose arms over slavery voted with their feet...to those who would arm them..The union! There is no proof the slave owners were ever going to let their slaves go to the Confederate Military en mass...ever! Besides, Cleburne's proposal had a small but powerful proviso...
"It is said slaves will not work after they are freed. We think necessity and a wise legislation will compel them to labor for a living."
What would have changed, anyway?

Kevin Dally

 

[James N.]

What would have changed, anyway?

Given the attitudes of hatred and recrimination that resulted in Jim Crow and other repressive Acts and measures, what DID IN FACT change? And Southern slave owners certainly "let their slaves go to the Confederate Military en mass" when compelled to provide labor battalions for fortification work around Atlanta and elsewhere.

 

[Tin cup]

Given the attitudes of hatred and recrimination that resulted in Jim Crow and other repressive Acts and measures, what DID IN FACT change? And Southern slave owners certainly "let their slaves go to the Confederate Military en mass" when compelled to provide labor battalions for fortification work around Atlanta and elsewhere.

But NOT sanctioned as armed soldiers.

Kevin Dally

 

[major bill]

Before I forget to do so, I would like to thank everyone who has replied. The entire subject is interesting and I certainly do not what to disrespect any other states. The reason I am concentrating on Michigan is that I am writing an article of the uniforms and perhaps arms of the Michigan Civil War militia. I am having a little trouble with the independent companies that existed outside of the normal uniformed companies. In 1860 several German and Irish companies returned their State owned arms and quit the State militia to become independent companies. I am not sure how to present these independent 'ethic' companies and the Liberty Guards in my article. I am thinking of deleting them from the article and concentrate on the uniforms and arms of the Michigan Uniformed Militia Companies. The article's length is becoming an issue and my other option is to drop the arms material.

Major Bill
Company of Military Historians

 

[leftyhunter]

In 1806 there were enough escaped Canadian slaves living in Detroit to form a militia company. General Hull formed them into a company. Hull allowed them to elect their own officers. This displeased some of the locals and after a short time they were able to get this unit disband. When the Liberty Guard formed the enrolled militia was to include only white males. However the laws that that governed the Michigan Uniformed Militia, a type of elite militia that received State arm and state militia moneys, were not clear when it came to race. Michigan Militia officials offered the newly formed Liberty Guards State owned arms so it would appear that the white male clause only applied to the enrolled militia. Another interesting point is by law, Michigan allowed Native Americans to form armed militia companies. I found it difficult to believe that this would be allowed within 25 years after the War of 1812 where the local Indians fought very well.

Major Bill

Hi Major Bill,
I am not clear on the point about escaped Canadian slaves. The British freed their slaves in 1837 and if a slave escaped into Canada I would imagine that he would not recross the border at least until 1863 to join the USCT. Good info about the State guards. I would think the number of blacks who joined was low but I could be wrong.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

Before I forget to do so, I would like to thank everyone who has replied. The entire subject is interesting and I certainly do not what to disrespect any other states. The reason I am concentrating on Michigan is that I am writing an article of the uniforms and perhaps arms of the Michigan Civil War militia. I am having a little trouble with the independent companies that existed outside of the normal uniformed companies. In 1860 several German and Irish companies returned their State owned arms and quit the State militia to become independent companies. I am not sure how to present these independent 'ethic' companies and the Liberty Guards in my article. I am thinking of deleting them from the article and concentrate on the uniforms and arms of the Michigan Uniformed Militia Companies. The article's length is becoming an issue and my other option is to drop the arms material.

Major Bill
Company of Military Historians

Hi Major Bill,
What became of these ethnic companies? I would think that they would form the cadre of a Michigan USV unit. If I am not mistaken that is what became of the pre war ethnic German militia in Mo that were not alway sponsered by the state.
Leftyhunter

 

[major bill]

The escaped escaped British slaves were an 1806 company. I am try to see if the 1860n company was formed from descendents of the 1806. The black population of Detroit was still fairly small in 1860.

Most Michigan per war ethnic independent German and Irish companies either joined regiments as companies or disbanded as their members joined other companies that had been accepted for war. for example the Detroit Irish company named the Jackson Guards joined the Douglas Brigade in Chicago. The 1861 Michigan Uniformed Militia still had several ethic companies. There was a sort of Irish regiment here in Michiang, but only partly Irish. The State Militia officials did not much support separate ethic regiments in this State.

Major Bill

 

[unionblue]

Though hardly relevant to the topic at hand: Unfortunate, because if the manpower-strapped South had tapped this resource sooner, at least when urged to do so by Patrick Cleburne rather than later when recommended by Lee a year later, they *might* have realized their goal, and at a lesser loss of life. Even better to have done so by accepting this offer in the opening stages in '61! Then we would've been spared not only many thousands of needless deaths, but also the racial recriminations of the past century-and-a-half.

James N.,

I took the liberty of highlighting the last sentence of your post above to take issue with that part of it.

While I agree it would have been to the Confederacy's advantage to have listened to Patrick Cleburne's suggestion to employ slaves as soldiers for the Confederacy and give them incentive by freeing them for such service, we both know his idea was shot down by his fellow generals and suppressed by Jefferson Davis as simply too radical.

But even at the last hour, when a feeble attempt was made to enlist and employ slaves as soldiers, there were plans being made to ensure that slavery would not go away and that any slaves freed because they served as soldiers, their freedom would have been severely restricted and regulated.

I suggest reading the book, Confederate Emancipation, by Bruce Levine, which documents the plans to do such to any freed, former black Confederate soldiers. Far from sparing the racial recriminations of the past century-and-a-half, they simply would have taken on another form.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Dave Wilma]

I am looking for information on pre-Civil War black militia companies for an article on Michigan Civil War militia companies.

Do you have access there to Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers? It's a Library of Congress service available through public libraries, maybe even to anyone.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

There is also the Historic New York Times which is a library subscription.

You an do a search of keywords and bring up mentions in these selected papers.