African-Americans in the Union
By Adam Winteler
From the beginning of the Civil War, the issue of emancipated slaves joining the military was extremely prevalent. A law passed in 1792 banned them from enlisting, but there were requests to change the law. A major worry of the Union and Lincoln was if they allow black soldiers, the border states may secede. When Generals John C. Fremont and David Hunter tried to let them in, their actions were strictly revoked. However, the number of free slaves were increasing and the number of white volunteers was decreasing. This pushed the government to reconsider the ban.
After Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation, black soldiers were actively pursued. South Carolina, Tennessee, and Massachusetts were the first states to have black regiments. Enlistment was slow at first until influential leaders like Frederick Douglass encouraged it. Another major reason was the promise of full citizenship after the war. Enlistment exploded and the government created the Bureau of Colored Troops to manage all the new soldiers. The first time a black regiment saw combat was on July 18, 1863 when they stormed Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Unfortunately, they were outgunned and outmanned. Almost half of them were killed.
There were many worries about black soldiers in the Union after they were allowed. Many white people in the North were still racist and believed that they could not fight as well as them and are better off as cooks or guards. Also, if one of them was captured by the South they would be executed or enslaved on the spot. White commanders would also be severely punished. Because of this, black soldiers were usually kept from the front lines.
By the end of the war, African-Americans made up about 10% of the Union army. They had several roles other than ones in combat, such as cooks, guards, steamboat pilots, nurses, spies, and surgeons. Black women, who could not formally join the military, would also find ways to serve. Usually, they would be nurses, spies, or scouts. At the end of the war, 16 black soldiers were given the Medal of Honor.
Citations
"Black Soldiers in the Civil War." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017.
History.com Staff. "Black Civil War Soldiers." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 03 Jan. 2017.
History.com Staff. "Black Civil War Soldiers." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 03 Jan. 2017.