History of African-Americans in the Civil War


"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States."
Frederick Douglass
 

History of African-Americans in the Civil War

These words spoken by Frederick Douglass moved many African-Americans to enlist in the Union Army and fight for their freedom. With President Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, the Civil War became a war to save the union and to abolish slavery.

Approximately 180,000 African-Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and many more African-Americans served in the Union Navy. Both free Africans-Americans and runaway slaves joined the fight.

On July 17, 1862, Congress passed two acts allowing the enlistment of African-Americans, but official enrollment occurred only after the September, 1862 issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. In general, white soldiers and officers believed that black men lacked the courage to fight and fight well. In October, 1862, African-American soldiers of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers silenced their critics by repulsing attacking Confederates at the battle of Island Mound, Missouri. By August, 1863, 14 Negro Regiments were in the field and ready for service. At the battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana, May 27, 1863, the African-American soldiers bravely advanced over open ground in the face of deadly artillery fire. Although the attack failed, the black solders proved their capability to withstand the heat of battle.

On July 17, 1863, at Honey Springs, Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, the 1st Kansas Colored fought with courage again. Union troops under General James Blunt ran into a strong Confederate force under General Douglas Cooper. After a two-hour bloody engagement, Cooper's soldiers retreated. The 1st Kansas, which had held the center of the Union line, advanced to within fifty paces of the Confederate line and exchanged fire for some twenty minutes until the Confederates broke and ran. General Blunt wrote after the battle, "I never saw such fighting as was done by the Negro regiment....The question that negroes will fight is settled; besides they make better solders in every respect than any troops I have ever had under my command."

The most widely known battle fought by African-Americans was the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, by the 54th Massachusetts on July 18, 1863. The 54th volunteered to lead the assault on the strongly-fortified Confederate positions. The soldiers of the 54th scaled the fort's parapet, and were only driven back after brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Although black soldiers proved themselves as reputable soldiers, discrimination in pay and other areas remained widespread. According to the Militia Act of 1862, soldiers of African descent were to receive $10.00 a month, plus a clothing allowance of $3.50. Many regiments struggled for equal pay, some refusing any money until June 15, 1864, when Congress granted equal pay for all black soldiers.

African-American soldiers participated in every major campaign of 1864-1865 except Sherman's invasion of Georgia. The year 1864 was especially eventful for African-American troops. On April 12, 1864, at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest led his 2,500 men against the Union-held fortification, occupied by 292 black and 285 white soldiers. After driving in the Union pickets and giving the garrison an opportunity to surrender, Forrest's men swarmed into the fort with little difficulty and drove the Federals down the river's bluff into a deadly crossfire. Casualties were high and only sixty-two of the U.S. Colored Troops survived the fight. Many accused the Confederates of perpetuating a massacre of black troops, and the controversy continues today. The battle cry for the Negro soldier east of the Mississippi River became "Remember Fort Pillow!"

The Battle of New Market Heights, Virginia (Chaffin's Farm) became one of the most heroic engagements involving African-Americans. On September 29, 1864, the African-American division of the Eighteenth Corps, after being pinned down by Confederate artillery fire for about 30 minutes, charged the earthworks and rushed up the slopes of the heights. During the hour-long engagement the division suffered tremendous casualties. Of the sixteen African-Americans who were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, fourteen received the honor as a result of their actions at New Market Heights.

In January, 1864, General Patrick Cleburne and several other Confederate officers in the Army of the Tennessee proposed using slaves as soldiers since the Union was using black troops. Cleburne recommended offering slaves their freedom if they fought and survived. Confederate President Jefferson Davis refused to consider Cleburne's proposal and forbade further discussion of the idea. The concept, however, did not die. By the fall of 1864, the South was losing more and more ground, and some believed that only by arming the slaves could defeat be averted. On March 13, the Confederate Congress passed General Order 14, and President Davis signed the order into law. The order was issued March 23, 1865, but only a few African-American companies were raised, and the war ended before they could be used in battle.

In actual numbers, African-American soldiers comprised 10% of the entire Union Army. Losses among African-Americans were high, and from all reported casualties, approximately one-third of all African-Americans enrolled in the military lost their lives during the Civil War.


African-American Medal of Honor Winners


 

POWHATAN BEATY

First Sergeant, Co. G, 5th U.S. Colored Troops. Powhatan Beaty was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1839. He entered the service June 7 1863. He saw action at Chaffin's Farm (Fort Harrison), VA on September 29 1864. His citation reads that Beaty "took command of his company, all the officers having been killed or wounded, and gallantly led it." The Medal of Honor was presented on April 6 1865. Powhatan Beaty was a 24-year-old farmer when he enlisted. He stood 5' 7" tall. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on June 9th 1863 at Camp Delaware, Ohio, two days after enlisting. 

ALEXANDER KELLY

First Sergeant, Co. F, 6th U.S. Colored Troop. Born in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania on April 7, 1840 Alexander Kelly entered service in Allegheny City, PA on April 7, 1863. He saw action on Chaffin's Farm (Fort Harrison), VA on September 29, 1864. His citation read that Kelly "gallantly seized the colors, which had fallen near the enemy's lines of abatis, raised them and rallied the men at a time of confusion and in a place of the greatest danger.&quo t; His Medal of Honor was presented on April 6, 1865. He was a 23-year-old coal miner who stood 5 feet 3 and one-half inches in height. On September 3rd, 1863, he was appointed First Sergeant of his unit, at that time stationed at Camp William Penn, Chilton Hills, PA. Kelly was mustered out of the U.S. Army at Wilmington, NC, on September 20, 1865. 

CHRISTIAN A. FLEETWOOD

Sergeant Major, 4th U.S. Colored Troops. Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1840, Fleetwood entered service in Baltimore on August 11, 1863. He saw action on September 29, 1864 at Chaffin's Farm Fort Harrison, VA. His citation stated that he "seized the colors, after two color bearers had been shot down, and bore them nobly through the fight." Christian Fleetwood was a 23-year-old clerk when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He stood 5'4 and « inches tall. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major on August 19, 1863. Fleetwood described the act which won him the Medal of Honor as follows: "Saved the regimental colors after eleven of the twelve color guards had been shot down around it." The rank of Sergeant Major was at the time the highest rank a black soldier could attain in the U.S. Army. 
 
 

JAMES GARDINER

Private, Co. I, 36th U.S. Colored Troops. Born in Gloucester Virginia in 1843 or 1844, James Gardiner entered service in Yorktown VA on September 15 1863. He saw action on September 29, 1864 at Chaffin's Farm Fort Harrison VA, he was cited as one who "rushed in advance of his brigade, shot a rebel officer who was on the parapet rallying his men, and then ran him through with his bayonet. The Medal of Honor was presented on April 6, 1865. Gardiner was a 19-year-old oysterman from Gloucester, VA when he signed on for three years service in the U.S. Army. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on September 30, 1864, as a result of his gallantry the day before. Sergeant Gardiner was mustered out of service at Brazos de Santiago, Texas on September 20, 1866. 
 
 

THOMAS R. HAWKINS

Sergeant Major, 6th U.S. Colored Troops. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Thomas R. Hawkins entered service in Philadelphia, PA. He saw action at Chaffin's Farm in Fort Harrison, VA on September 29, 1864. His citation read the that he rescued the regimental colors. The Medal of Honor was presented on February 8, 1870. 

Top of Page | NPS ParkNet Home | Back |