Black Confederates

phxnews ^ | January 8, 2004 | Charles Goodson

[WhiskeyPapa]

More Dr. Steiner:

"Sunday, September 14th.—Major-General Banks' corps d'armee, commanded by Brigadier-General A. S. Williams passed through town this morning on its way to the front. The men were in the best possible spirits, all eager for the fray. They are fighting now for and among people who appreciate their labors, and who welcome them as brothers. Brigadier-General Gordon said that "the reception of the troops by the citizens of this place was equal to a victory in its effects upon the men of his command."

The veteran troops were all in vigorous health, and the new levies made up of strong, athletic men, whose intelligent faces beamed with strong desire to press rapidly upon the retreating foe. We had never greater reason to be proud of our army. During the afternoon of the day, the memorable engagement at the South Mountain Pass took place, in which our new levies vied with the veterans in pressing the Confederates up the side of the mountain, and then over into the valley beyond. Our military commanders will bear testimony, in proper form, to the heroic courage shown by our army in this well-fought action. The rebels had tried to make a stand at several points on the road prior to this engagement, but were gallantly driven forwards by our troops. On Wednesday the great battle of Antietam was fought, with such a display of strategy and power on the part of our General, and of heroism and daring from our men, that the enemy was glad to resign all hopes of entering Pennsylvania, and to withdraw his forces across the Potomac. A great victory had been gained; the enemy had been driven from loyal soil, and McClellan had shown himself worthy of the love, (amounting almost to adoration,) which his troops expressed on all sides."

Walt

[SCDogPapa]

A BUMP for our Black Soldiers!

Thanks Stainless!

[RebelBanker]

stainlessbanner: National Park Service historian, Ed Bearrs, stated, "I don't want to call it a conspiracy to ignore the role of Blacks both above and below the Mason-Dixon line, but it was definitely a tendency that began around 1910" (original article)

WhiskeyPapa: Adds Edwin Bearss, historian emeritus at the National Park Service: 'It's b.s., wishful thinking.' (post #36)

It seems that Ed Bearss has contradicted himself here.

Also, many Southerners tend to reject him as well as McPhearson as Yankee propagandists. As to Dr. Steiner, let us attempt to separate his statements into fact and opinion, much of which appears to be propaganda for his own (Union) side.

[4CJ]

I choose to honour all those black men that fought for their country, that served the Confederacy, that supported the cause in every possible way. May their effort always be remembered.

[SCDogPapa]

I choose to honour all those black men that fought for their country, that served the Confederacy, that supported the cause in every possible way. May their effort always be remembered.

I'm with you on that 4CJ!!

I just think it was too bad that the CSA could not get them involved much sooner and in greater numbers. Things might have been a little different. :)

[SCDogPapa]

Very interesting post. Thanks

[SCDogPapa]

Mornin' Sam! Great art works! Thanks for the posts.

[AnAmericanMother]

You beat me to it, Cap. I thought Don Troiani was the only Civil War artist who could draw a horse correctly.

Graham draws 'em better standing than moving, and he has a little trouble with the lower foreleg perspective in a front view moving, viz:

But I'm quibbling. I especially like this one:

He catches exactly the neck and head of a grade horse (and those critters have their uses, uncomfortable as they are), and the way a tired horse will brace his forelegs to support his rider's weight.

[stainlessbanner]

Thanks to each of you for posting interesting stories, research, and anecdotes.

In keeping with tradition, we shall honor all those who served.

[hosepipe]

I love the smell of an un-politically correct thread in the morning...... it smells like VICTORY!....

[AnAmericanMother]

And FWIW, though purely anecdotal, I can offer our family's own experience - my gg grandfather's body servant, Bas, fought alongside him, off and on, for 3 years. He also acted as a courier between the war and home, carrying messages, goods and money back and forth. He was also a blacksmith and kept 10 percent of his earnings. He wasn't apparently a regular soldier - he doesn't appear on any of the muster rolls for Grandpa Long's company - but there he was, doing his part. He could have run at any time and headed off for the Union lines with the horses, money and property entrusted to him, but he never did. We have loads of contemporary letters from Grandpa Long to his wife at home, telling his wife that he was sending Bas to her with something or other, or instructing Bas to go to Montgomery with gold coins to try to buy salt or iron rods, etc.

He and his wife must have been happy with Grandpa Long, because after the war they never left. By the time Grandpa Long and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Bas was dead, but his widow Ellen was a guest of honor and featured in the newspaper articles reporting the event.

I don't think you can say that everybody on one side was evil and the other side pure as snow - some Confederates were decent folks who treated their slaves decently within the system they found in place when they were born. And it stands to reason that those who treated their people well would receive respect and loyalty in return.

[snippy_about_it]

In keeping with tradition, we shall honor all those who served.

Well said sb.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks AAM, very interesting information on your grandfather for stainlessbanner's post here.

[SCDogPapa]

Thanks to you AAM, for your posts #48 & #51.

[carton253]

bump

[SCDogPapa]

Mornin' Snippy! Good to see ya,, in "our" neck of the woods! ;-)

[Dante3]

Interesting.

[AnAmericanMother]

Grandpa Long was a scout and from all I can tell about his outfit they were pretty wild and wooly and operated independently most of the time. Whatever headquarters was doing officially with regard to blacks serving in front line units, if Grandpa Long wanted Bas on a scouting party then that was what happened - like that old Mauldin cartoon, "Drink it all. That guy who put out the orders about shavin' ain't comin' up here to check."

There's a lot in his letters about liberating this and that from Yankees he ran across -- in one letter he tells his wife, "I did not let the colonel see the horse this time." We still have a Model 1840 "Old Wristbreaker" cavalry saber he got off a Yankee at Chickamauga.

[stainlessbanner]

Thanks for sharing. I enjoy all your posts, AmericanMother.

[snippy_about_it]

Y'all called yesterday and I came right over. Good morning and good to see you too!