African-American Life Between 1860-1877: The Black Soldiers - Essay Example

African-American life between 1860-1877: The Black Soldiers A revolution is any “sudden or momentous change in a situation”. The American Civil War o 1860-1877 was definitely a momentous occasion for Negroes in particular and Americans in general. This was a time when America underwent some radical changes. These changes were scary at the time but made America a stronger nation as a result. A new era was ushered in after Civil war heralded by a radical change in the treatment of African Americans as well the move to city. The Civil War killed more Americans than all the other United States conflicts together. From the American Revolution to Vietnam War, nothing claimed more lives than the civil war as it took more than 2 per cent, or 620,000 people, of the American population at the time. Many died from the awful wounds caused wounds garnered during combat. And sadly, many more soldiers succumbed to diseases, like measles and dysentery. Both Black and White soldiers suffered similar fates in the battlefield although same cannot be said of their families back home. For families of black soldiers, the horrors were of a much greater magnitude.1 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation On January 1, 1863. It stated that: “All persons held as slaves within any States…in rebellion against the United States,” it declared, “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” It also declared that “such persons [that is, African-American men] of suitable condition will be received into the armed service of the United States.” And so for the first time, black soldiers were allowed to fight for the U.S. Army. As the union soldiers entered the south, many thousands of black slaves fled from their masters to Union Camp. The union officers took full advantage of the situation and branded these slaves as “contraband of war”. These slaves became a large part of the war effort forming a large part of the workforce at Union Camp. Alfred R. Waud. Alfred photographed these contrabands and drew pictures of them to be published in the local newspaper. He also made written observations of the black slaves. According to Alfred, he was very touched by their nature. These contrabands came in to the Union Camps and gave up every trace of their previous lives just for the promise of freedom and equality. Alfred R. Waud states that, “There is something very touching in seeing these poor people coming into camp--giving up all the little ties that cluster about home, such as it is in slavery, and trustfully throwing themselves on the mercy of the Yankees, in the hope of getting permission to own themselves and keep their children from the auction-block. This party evidently comprises a whole family from some farm.”2 But despite their warm welcome at the Union Camps, the army was reluctant about using the contraband manpower in combat. This was not entirely due to racism. Many Union officers genuinely believed that black soldiers lacked the ability to become brave soldiers. This argument seemed completely logical to them as black soldiers were only intelligent enough to be recruited as cooks, scouts, carpenters and guards! African American soldiers patiently bided their time doing whatever work was thrown their way, till the Emancipation proclamation made it perfectly legal to use them as soldiers on the battlefield. It was a lot more dangerous to be black soldier than it was to be a white one. Then Confederate President Jefferson Davis publicly promised that black prisoners of war would be enslaved or murdered on the spot. Of course, the punishment would not be as strict for white ones3! The average African American soldier living during the age of Civil war was hopeful. There was change in the air and a promise that things just might get better for his future generation. Although in reality, equal rights were far from enforced. But at least on paper, the black man had earned the right to vote, pray in church, and live in families. In reality things weren’t much different from the days of slavery and there was still that was left to be desired. For example, even though the black soldier was spending just as much time, energy and blood in battle, he still got paid $10 a week. While the white soldiers got, on average, $3 more plus clothing allowances. In 1864 Congress passed a bill approving equal pay for black and white soldiers in 1864. The Civil War ended in 1877 and by then nearly 180,000 black men had served as soldiers. This number made up nearly 10% of the Unions fighting force. Nearly 40,000 African American soldiers gave their life for the cause of war, which was quit close to many of their hearts as well. The services rendered by Black only regiments are the stuff of legends. Many prominent movies have been made on the roles played by the 54th Massachusetts, the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, and the Tuskegee Airmen4. The Civil War Conservation Corps (CWCC) has uncovered a fascinating read of personal letter from black soldiers of the civil war era. For example a letter by Samual Cabble, a former slave and a private in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry (colored). He writes to his wife that he has have enlisted in the army. He writes very passionately about abolishing oppression and bringing freedom to her and others like her. He says, “great is the outpouring of the colored people that is now rallying with the hearts of lions against that very curse that has separated you and me yet we shall meet again and oh what a happy time that will be when this ungodly rebellion shall be put down and the curses of our land is trampled under our feet i am a soldier now and i shall use my utmost endeavor to strike at the rebellion and the heart of this system that so long has kept us in chains . .5”.But despite this idealistic viewpoint, black soldiers routinely had to face the harsher realities of everyday life when letters arrived from home, asking for money and informing of ill family members. Letty Barnes wrote to Joshua, her husband, of the Thirty-eighth USCI: “your poor old Mother is hear delving and working like a dog to try to keep soul and body together and here am I with two little children and myself to support and not one soul or one dollar to help us I do think if your officers could see us they would certainly let you come home and bring us a little money.6” Life was tough for a black soldier during the civil war, but he dreamt of better days ahead while fighting the war for freedom and a better life. Unfortunately, as the civil war ended most of these dreams were shattered, as a fate worse than slavery waited for those left alive with a taste of freedom still in their mouths. The battle for freedom was to rage on for another century before considerable progress was made in regards to black rights. Works Cited "African-American Soldiers in the Civil War."History.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jun 2012. . "Black Soldiers." Civil War. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jun 2012. . Civil War Preservation Trust, First. Civil War Sites: The Official Guide to the Civil War Discovery Trail. Globe Pequot, 2007. Web. . Klopfer, Susan, Klopfer Fred, and Klopfer Barry. Where Rebels Roost... Mississippi Civil Rights Revisited . lulu.com, 2005. . Weidman, Budge . "The Fight for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War." National Archives. N.p., 1997. Web. 17 Jun 2012. . Read More