Imagine walking shoulder-to-shoulder walking into an insane battlefield. With cannons firing and people dying all around you. Nothing you can do but signal the charge, sending more of your brothers to die. To die in a war that for a country that views you as property, barely even human. This was a 24-hour reality for African-Americans that served in the Civil War. The so-called people of liberty and freedom constantly dehumanized them and made they slaves. Battle-tactics of the 1800s and the advancements in weaponry made before and during the made a dangerous concoction for horrible battle experience. Medical science had surprisingly not made much advancement unlike weaponry, the injuries and suffering of the soldiers union and confederate alike was unfathomable to think in this age. Not to mention the conditions both side saw in their camps. Blood, limbs and disease killed more soldiers than enemy did in battle. Could you imagine thousands upon thousands of soldiers dead not because of the enemy’s bullets or bombs but by diseases that is completely preventable. In this essay you will see the horror for the African-American soldiers and their Union counter-parts.
Ever heard of the expression can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Well, the dogs of war in this case better learn fast, because the new weaponry developed during the Civil War were deadly and some-what effective enough to kill people. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, Tactics are defined
“Tactical thinking attempts to coordinate personnel with the existing weapons technology and apply both to the terrain and enemy forces in a way that uses the fighting force to best advantage. Deployment involves placing each type of weapon where it can do the most damage to the enemy or provide the most protection to one’s own force”
The musket rifles used by the soldiers were not as accurate as today’s guns but they when your in a line you pretty easy to hit. Old battle tactics used by both sides were old and useless in this new era of weapons. Back in the 1700s, soldiers stood in line shoulder to shoulder this formation was called line abreast formation. This formation is from the previous era of war, from when muskets weren’t accurate or of good quality. According to Britannica Encyclopedia Muskets are
“Early muskets were often handled by two persons and fired from a portable rest. Such a weapon was typically 5.5 feet (1.7 m) long and weighed about 20 pounds (9 kg). It fired a 2-ounce (57-gram) ball about 175 yards (160 m) with little accuracy. Later types were smaller, lighter, and accurate enough to hit a human-sized target at 80–100 yards (75–90 m). These weapons had calibres ranging from 0.69 to more than 0.75 inch (1.75 to more than 1.90 cm)”
The Civil war Era version of muskets were much more accurate than the early models. These were Musket Rifles,
Colored-soldiers, they were commonly called, were sent into battle either ahead or behind the regular Army units. They were very committed, almost more than all of the units in the Union army. The usually tactics for a field commander at that time was to line up your regiments or companies and move them towards the enemy position. While shelling the enemy’s position, mean while the enemy is using the same playbook and doing the same. Moving his forces towards yours, and shelling you. The only real advantage armies could use is terrain location was everything. Hills, tall grass, trees, and even sand played a role, it depended upon the commander to make either decision that outsmarted and caught his enemy off guard or a decision that made the enemy’s day.
In Fact the first or experimental battle for 54th Massachusetts Regiment, which was all African-Americans, and more surprising, is that they were all volunteers! This was the battle of Fort Wagner, 1863. This battle was a great battle and this battle proved that the 54th could fight. This was also the battle that got the First African-American awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. William Carney actions that day proved much about the spirit of the 54th and its colored brothers. But despite the moment of glory the battle went to the Confederates. As explained in the following passage.
“as assault force led by the 54th. Massachusetts, an experimental black regiment of free men from the North went in with fixed bayonets to storm the fort. The bombardment had failed to destroy the sandbagged gun emplacements of the Fort and the assault column marched into a heavy artillary barrage and massed musketry. Much of the Fort's garrisson consisted of troops from the Charleston area, including the Charleston Battallion. The 1st. S.C. Artillary was positioned on the right flank of the fort, in the sand dunes so as to sweep the front wall of the Fort with Cannister. Fighting was fierce. The Federals were able to occupy a small portion of the fort and the 54th. planted its colors atop the parapet. After lengthy hand to hand fighting, the Federal troops were ordered to withdraw, leaving Wagner in Confederate hands. Losses were heavy.” From AWOD.com
The 54th’s Commander, Col. Robert Gould Shaw was killed during the fighting and was honorably buried with his men at battery Wagner. After this loss, the 54th was engaged in battle again at Olustee pond. This time there was 2 other colored regiments sent into the fray with them, the 34th and 8th were along side them. Also the battle was equal in strength 5,000 against 5,000.
But it was the same end result, Confederate victory, it was due to the Colored troops not having the same or equal training as the white soldiers. This prejudices acts were costing the Union the war.
Its one thing to not pay the African-American Soldiers the same amount of pay as White soldiers. But now the Colored Soldiers aren’t that well trained. The soldiers were not given the same type of advancement in training as the white soldiers. As the following passage explains.
“Once enlisted, black soldiers received basic, sometimes inadequate preparation for field service. Inferior firearms and equipment poor camp conditions and hospital facilities, and a shortage of doctors were not uncommon. Only eight black surgeons served in the Union Army, one of whom was Lt. Col. Alexander T. Augusta, a physician trained in Canada. After the war, Dr. Augusta settled in Washington, D.C. and served on the Howard University Medical School faculty. Black chaplains, 14 in all, provided spiritual guidance and educational instruction to black soldiers.” from africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
This was costing the Union the war, because if the men to fight and they don’t know how to, how does this help the war effort? Despite this, the Colored units fought with honor and distinction. The Confederates even started taking notice to this, General Blunt, a Confederate, said this after the battle of Honey Hill, 1863.
"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." http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/history/aa_history.htm
To make the primary people, who said you couldn’t fight or even know how to, to said that you make better soldiers than he has every commanded it major! Moreover, the fact that ever Colored Unit fought like this, its down right disturbing for people in the North not to consider you a citizen Especially when you are fighting for them and yourself.
"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship." Fredrick Douglass,
African-Americans still fought on and far out done their white counter-parts.
Can we imagine how it feels to fight an enemy that will treat you differently from your “friendly” soldiers. Black soldiers were, needless to say, treated horribly. The average U.S.C.T (United States Colored Troop) soldier, back then had to deal with a lot and ontop of everything, had to worry about not being captured. For if he was, he was either returning to slavery or being “convicted” of Slave insurrection and executed. This played through every Colored solder’s mind, as he fought for liberty and against oppression. The worse example is the battle of fort Pillow, April 1864. Black soldiers were slaughter, even after they surrender, they were silenced bymusket balls. After the battle, other U.S.C.T units would honor the fallen of Fort Pillow by using it as a battle cry.
“Some black units responded with the avenging battle cry, "Remember Fort Pillow" in subsequent retaliations.”www.africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
The confederate Congress saw blacks with weapons or in uniform as a direct violation to “slave law”.
“The atrocities committed at Fort Pillow and several other sites reflected an action of Confederate Congress in May, 1863, which declared that black men bearing arms and white officers "inciting servile insurrection" would be turned over to state authorities - which meant punishment by death.”
Lincoln didn’t like this and called a end to this, he threaten the South with the same treatment. This was only to deter the inhumane practice.
“The complicated prisoner of war situation lingered, but the Lincoln administration did approve strong measures to deter inhumane practices which denied basic rights to black troops and their white officers if captured. The Union government also notified Confederate officials that equally harsh treatment of rebel captives would occur if threats of murdering or enslaving black soldiers did not cease. Black troops and white officers were well aware of their common fate which sometimes served to affirm their mutual goals.”www.africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
Nonetheless, Colored Soldiers pressed on and fought on. Blacks and whites were now at this moment shared a common fate and common goal to end the Civil War.
For the next Campaigns of 1864, U.S.C.T. unit were being used primarily and this was the finest hour or moment for those brave souls. The battle of Nashville, 8 colored units were used primarily to defeat the Confederate army of the Cumberland. They were key in the Union’s victory over the Confederate Army.
“U.S. Colored troops were used extensively in several 1864 campaigns. Of particular note in the West was the Battle of Nashville, fought on December 15-16, in which eight black regiments played a key role in the Federal defeat of the Confederate Army of Tennessee by the Army of the Cumberland. The greatest number of U.S.C.T., however, served in the Virginia theatre as part of Gen. Grant's operations against Petersburg and Richmond in the last two years of the war. Black units were especially active in the fighting around Petersburg during the summer of 1864. Referring to several combat missions which occurred near this city, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton asserted, "The hardest fighting was done by the black troops. The forts they stormed were the worst of all."www.africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
After the Civil War ended 1865, Colored soldiers still served. They served as occupation troops and Defense forces for Washington D.C. .
And so ends the horrible Civil War experience, through this paper the story of the African-Americans has been shown. The trials, the hurt, the destruction, the inhumane, and the proud. The story of the African-American Soldiers that fought for a nation that never intended for them to be equals. They showed them that they deserved so more than what was being given. They cried, they screamed, they bled, they died, they Fought, and they lived for Liberty. Even if they hadn’t seen it yet. So, honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War, for the continued peace freedom o our liberty we know today. Honor them for the sacrifices they displayed during battle for you and me and all Americans. America stood on the edge of divide and asked them are you with me, and they replied…..YES SIR, FOR LIBERTY!!!
“as assault force led by the 54th. Massachusetts, an experimental black regiment of free men from the North went in with fixed bayonets to storm the fort. The bombardment had failed to destroy the sandbagged gun emplacements of the Fort and the assault column marched into a heavy artillary barrage and massed musketry. Much of the Fort's garrisson consisted of troops from the Charleston area, including the Charleston Battallion. The 1st. S.C. Artillary was positioned on the right flank of the fort, in the sand dunes so as to sweep the front wall of the Fort with Cannister. Fighting was fierce. The Federals were able to occupy a small portion of the fort and the 54th. planted its colors atop the parapet. After lengthy hand to hand fighting, the Federal troops were ordered to withdraw, leaving Wagner in Confederate hands. Losses were heavy.” From AWOD.com
The 54th’s Commander, Col. Robert Gould Shaw was killed during the fighting and was honorably buried with his men at battery Wagner. After this loss, the 54th was engaged in battle again at Olustee pond. This time there was 2 other colored regiments sent into the fray with them, the 34th and 8th were along side them. Also the battle was equal in strength 5,000 against 5,000.
But it was the same end result, Confederate victory, it was due to the Colored troops not having the same or equal training as the white soldiers. This prejudices acts were costing the Union the war.
Its one thing to not pay the African-American Soldiers the same amount of pay as White soldiers. But now the Colored Soldiers aren’t that well trained. The soldiers were not given the same type of advancement in training as the white soldiers. As the following passage explains.
“Once enlisted, black soldiers received basic, sometimes inadequate preparation for field service. Inferior firearms and equipment poor camp conditions and hospital facilities, and a shortage of doctors were not uncommon. Only eight black surgeons served in the Union Army, one of whom was Lt. Col. Alexander T. Augusta, a physician trained in Canada. After the war, Dr. Augusta settled in Washington, D.C. and served on the Howard University Medical School faculty. Black chaplains, 14 in all, provided spiritual guidance and educational instruction to black soldiers.” from africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
This was costing the Union the war, because if the men to fight and they don’t know how to, how does this help the war effort? Despite this, the Colored units fought with honor and distinction. The Confederates even started taking notice to this, General Blunt, a Confederate, said this after the battle of Honey Hill, 1863.
"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." http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/history/aa_history.htm
To make the primary people, who said you couldn’t fight or even know how to, to said that you make better soldiers than he has every commanded it major! Moreover, the fact that ever Colored Unit fought like this, its down right disturbing for people in the North not to consider you a citizen Especially when you are fighting for them and yourself.
"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship." Fredrick Douglass,
African-Americans still fought on and far out done their white counter-parts.
Can we imagine how it feels to fight an enemy that will treat you differently from your “friendly” soldiers. Black soldiers were, needless to say, treated horribly. The average U.S.C.T (United States Colored Troop) soldier, back then had to deal with a lot and ontop of everything, had to worry about not being captured. For if he was, he was either returning to slavery or being “convicted” of Slave insurrection and executed. This played through every Colored solder’s mind, as he fought for liberty and against oppression. The worse example is the battle of fort Pillow, April 1864. Black soldiers were slaughter, even after they surrender, they were silenced bymusket balls. After the battle, other U.S.C.T units would honor the fallen of Fort Pillow by using it as a battle cry.
“Some black units responded with the avenging battle cry, "Remember Fort Pillow" in subsequent retaliations.”www.africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
The confederate Congress saw blacks with weapons or in uniform as a direct violation to “slave law”.
“The atrocities committed at Fort Pillow and several other sites reflected an action of Confederate Congress in May, 1863, which declared that black men bearing arms and white officers "inciting servile insurrection" would be turned over to state authorities - which meant punishment by death.”
Lincoln didn’t like this and called a end to this, he threaten the South with the same treatment. This was only to deter the inhumane practice.
“The complicated prisoner of war situation lingered, but the Lincoln administration did approve strong measures to deter inhumane practices which denied basic rights to black troops and their white officers if captured. The Union government also notified Confederate officials that equally harsh treatment of rebel captives would occur if threats of murdering or enslaving black soldiers did not cease. Black troops and white officers were well aware of their common fate which sometimes served to affirm their mutual goals.”www.africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
Nonetheless, Colored Soldiers pressed on and fought on. Blacks and whites were now at this moment shared a common fate and common goal to end the Civil War.
For the next Campaigns of 1864, U.S.C.T. unit were being used primarily and this was the finest hour or moment for those brave souls. The battle of Nashville, 8 colored units were used primarily to defeat the Confederate army of the Cumberland. They were key in the Union’s victory over the Confederate Army.
“U.S. Colored troops were used extensively in several 1864 campaigns. Of particular note in the West was the Battle of Nashville, fought on December 15-16, in which eight black regiments played a key role in the Federal defeat of the Confederate Army of Tennessee by the Army of the Cumberland. The greatest number of U.S.C.T., however, served in the Virginia theatre as part of Gen. Grant's operations against Petersburg and Richmond in the last two years of the war. Black units were especially active in the fighting around Petersburg during the summer of 1864. Referring to several combat missions which occurred near this city, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton asserted, "The hardest fighting was done by the black troops. The forts they stormed were the worst of all."www.africanamericans.com/BlackUnionSoldiersCivilWar
After the Civil War ended 1865, Colored soldiers still served. They served as occupation troops and Defense forces for Washington D.C. .
And so ends the horrible Civil War experience, through this paper the story of the African-Americans has been shown. The trials, the hurt, the destruction, the inhumane, and the proud. The story of the African-American Soldiers that fought for a nation that never intended for them to be equals. They showed them that they deserved so more than what was being given. They cried, they screamed, they bled, they died, they Fought, and they lived for Liberty. Even if they hadn’t seen it yet. So, honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War, for the continued peace freedom o our liberty we know today. Honor them for the sacrifices they displayed during battle for you and me and all Americans. America stood on the edge of divide and asked them are you with me, and they replied…..YES SIR, FOR LIBERTY!!!
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