In 1863 the Union Army began to actively recruit African American men for the United States Colored Troops (USCT). While enlisted men in these regiments were Black, the officers were white. Although some of the officers were excellent, and included many abolitionists, other men applied for appointments to Black regiments because it meant a promotion and higher pay. In Tennessee the officer organizing new Black regiments issued this circular telling racists to stay away! He wanted officers who understood that a Black soldier with good training was the equal of a white soldier. This was a revolutionary point of view at the time.
Liberator
Friday, Mar 04, 1864
Boston, MA
Vol: XXXIV
Issue: 10
Page: 39
With sensational sources as this, let’s hear it for the best CW/WBTS page on the internet, folks!!!!
Thanks!
I’ve been looking for this!
Legend!
Such evidences as above, the speech of George H. Pendleton in the US Congress on 31 January 1863 AGAINST the Emancipation Proclamation and supplemental federal legislation to bolster it, etc, show the theme that has been identified by Gary Gallagher and/or Brooks D. Simpson (I believe these two are the originators, but I may well be wrong), that when the North showed a willingness to accept Black Americans into the armed forces, there was a realisation that this necessarily would mean significant changes to racial social culture, that is, a willingness to significantly question, re-consider and challenge the racism of White American society.
A superb work above!!!!
It’s just like this-
Library of Congress, Washington DC, Manuscript Division, Richard S. Ewell papers, Microfilm Reel 19/764-1N-1P, Orders of Robert E. Lee – Richard Ewell re. organisation of national Black Confederate troops, March 27 and March 30, 1865.
(27 March 1865 order)
“…When a negro is willing, and his master objects, there would be less objection to compulsion, if the state has the authority. It is however of primary importance that the negroes should know that the service is voluntary on their part. As to the name of the troops, the general thinks you cannot do better than consult the men themselves. His only objection to calling them colored troops was that the enemy had selected that designation for theirs. But this has no weight against the choice of the troops and he recommends that they be called colored or if they prefer, they can be called simply Confederate troops or volunteers. Everything should be done to impress them with the responsibility and character of their position, and while of course due respect and subordination should be exacted, they should be so treated as to feel that their obligations are those of any other soldier and their rights and privileges dependent in law & order as obligations upon others as upon theirselves. Harshness and contemptuous or offensive language or conduct to them must be forbidden and they should be made to forget as soon as possible that they were regarded as menials. You will readily understand however how to conciliate their good will & elevate the tone and character of the men…”
However many Black Americans would have served in the Confederate armed forces at this or any other time is a wholly separate matter and I leave putting any argument about Black Confederates entirely over to others if they choose to make such.
What this proves is yet more to the point I made above, and this: ‘The door swings both ways.’
This evidence, the identified historical theme and his willingness to personally train, command and lead national Black Confederate troops into battle, as he told the Confederate government and Congress he was, prove Robert E. Lee had undergone significant change in his views of Black Americans.
The content of these orders render that beyond debate.
Other documents prove he had selected recruiting officers of such like disposition to attempt to raise Black American recruits.
North and South, individual or organisation-wise, under any genuine circumstances as may be discerned, hail heroism where you find it.