NAACP to Protest Secession Ball

Members of South Carolina’s NAACP will march in protest of a “secession ball” in Charleston later this month which will commemorate the 150th anniversary of South Carolina’s secession from the Union.

State NAACP leaders held two press conferences Friday, spreading the word they will protest the ball and any other sesquicentennial events that they deem disrespectful.

“We are not opposed to observances,” said Lonnie Randolph, state president of the NAACP. “We are opposed to disrespect.”

NAACP members and supporters plan to hold a peaceful march in downtown Charleston the day of the ball, on Dec. 20, followed by a meeting and question-and-answer session focusing on slavery. Participants will watch segments of “Birth of a Nation,” a 1915 silent film that portrayed Ku Klux Klan members as heroes.

Nearby at Charleston’s Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, ball attendees, who will pay $100 a ticket, will don formal, period dress, eat and dance the Virginia Reel as a band plays “Dixie.” The evening’s highlight will be a play reenacting the signing of South Carolina’s Ordinance of Secession 150 years ago, which severed the state’s ties with the Union and paved the way for the Civil War.

“This is nothing more than a celebration of slavery,” Randolph said of the event.

Members of the S.C. Sons of Confederate Veterans, a co-sponsor of the ball, say slavery was one of several issues that caused – but it was not the cause – of the Civil War.

The ball is a way to honor the brave S.C. men who stood up to an over-domineering federal government, high tariffs and Northern states that wanted to take the country in an economic direction that was not best for the South, said Mark Simpson, the S.C. division commander for the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

#1. The "Richmond Howitzers" were partially manned by Black militamen . They saw action at 1st Manassas [or 1st Battle of Bull Run] where they operated battery no.2 . In addition two Black "regiments" , one free and one slave , participated in the battle on behalf of the South . "Many colored people were killed in the action" , recorderd John Parker , a former slave .

#2. At least one Black Confederate was a non-commissioned officer . James Washington , Co. D 34th Texas Cavalry , "Terrells Texas Cavalry" became its 3ed Sergeant . In comparison , the highest ranking Black Union soldier during the war was a Sergeant Major .

#3. Free Black musicians , cooks , soldiers and teamsters earned the same pay as White Confederate Privates . This was not the case in the Union army where Blacks did not receive equal pay . At the Confederate Buffalo Forge in Rockbridge County , Virginia , skilled Black workers "earned on average three times the wage of White Confederate soldiers and more than most Confederate Army officers [$350-$600 a year .]

#4 Dr. Lewis Steiner , Chief Inspector of the United States Sanitary Commission while observing Gen. "Stonewall" Jacksons occupation of Frederick , Maryland , in 1862 : "Over 3,000 Negros must include this number [Confederate troops .] These were clad in all kinds of uniforms , not only in cast-off or captured United States uniforms , but in coats with Southern buttons , State buttons , ect. These shabby , but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by White men in the rebel ranks . Most of the Negros had arms , rifles , muskets , sabers , bowie-knives , dirks , ect... and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederate Army ."

#5. Frederick Douglas reported , "There are at present moment many Colored men in the Confederate Army doing duty not only as cooks , servants and laborers , but real soldiers , having musket on their shoulders , and bullets in their pockets , ready to shoot down any loyal troops and do all that soldiers may do to destroy the Federal government and build up that of the ...rebels ."

#6. Black and White militiamen returned heavy fire on Union troops at the Battle of Griswoldsville [near Macon , Ga.] Approximately 600 boys and elderly men were killed in the skirmish .

#7. In 1864 , President Jefferson Davis approved a plan that proposed the emancipation of slaves , in return for the official recognition of the Confederacy by Britain and France . France showed interest but Britain refused .

#8. The Jackson Battalion included two companies of Black soldiers . They saw combat at Petersburg under Col. Shipp . "My men acted with utmost promptness and goodwill... Allow me to state sir that they behaved in an extraordinary acceptable manner ."

#9. Recently the National Park Service , with a recent discovery , recognized that Black were asked to help the city of Petersburg , Virginia and were offered freedom if they did so . Regardless of their official classification , Black Americans performed support functions that in today’s Army many would be classified as official military service . The successes of White Confederate troops in battle , could only have been achieved with the support these loyal Black Southerners .

#10. Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon [Army of Northern Virginia] reported that all of his troops were in favor of Colored troops and that its adoption would have "greatly encouraged the Army ." Gen. Lee was anxious to receive regiments of Black soldiers . The Richmond Sentinel reported on 24 Mar. 1864 , "None... will deny that our servants are more worthy of respect than the motley hordes which come against us ." "Bad faith [to Black Confederates] must be avoided as an indelible dishonor ."

#11. In March 1865 , Judah P. Benjamin , Confederate Secretary of State , promised freedom for Blacks who served from the State of Virginia . Authority for this was finally received from the State of Virginia and on April 1st 1865 , $100 bounties were offered to Black soldiers . Benjamin exclaimed , "Let us say to every Negro who wants to go into the ranks , go fight , and you are free... Fight for your masters and you shall have your freedom ." Confederate officers were ordered to treat them humanely and protect them from "injustice and oppression ."

#12. A quota was set for 300,000 Black soldiers for the Confederate States Colored Troops . 83% of Richmonds male slave population volunteered for duty . A special ball was held in Richmond to raise money for uniforms drilled in the streets . Due to the war ending , it is believed only companies or squads of these troops ever saw any action . Many more Black soldiers fought for the North , but that difference was simply a difference because the North instituted this progressive policy more sooner than the more conservative South . Black soldiers from both sides received discrimination from Whites who opposed the concept .

#13. Union Gen. U.S. Grant in Feb. 1865 , ordered the capture of "all the Negro men... before the enemy can put them in their ranks ." Frederick Douglas warned Lincoln that unless slaves were guaranteed freedom [those in Union controlled areas were still slaves] and land bounties , "they would take up arms for the rebels ."

#14. On April 4, 1865 [Amelia Co. Va.] a Confederate supply train was exclusively manned and guarded by Black Infantry . When attacked by Federal Cavalry , they stood their ground and fought off the charge , but on the second charge they were overwhelmed . These soldiers are believed to be from "Major Turners" Confederate command .

#15. A Black Confederate named George_____, when captured by Federals was bribed to desert to the other side . He defiantly spoke , "Sir , you want me to desert , and I aint no deserter . Down South , deserters disgrace their families and I am never going to do that ."

#16. Former slave , Horace King , accumulated great wealth as a contractor to the Confederate Navy . He was also an expert engineer and became known as the "Bridge builder of the Confederacy ." One of his bridges was burned in a Yankee raid . His home was pillaged by Union troops , as his wife pleaded for mercy .

#17 . As of Feb. 1865 1,150 Black Seamen served in the Confederate Navy . One of these was among the last Confederates to surrender , aboard the CSS Shenandoah , six months after the war ended . This surrender took place in England .

#18. Nearly 180,000 Black Southerners , from Virginia alone , provided logistical support for the Confederate military . Many were highly skilled workers . These included a wide range of jobs ; nurses , military engineers , teamsters , ordnance department workers , breakmen , firemen , harness makers , blacksmiths , wagonmakers , boatmen , mechanics , wheelwrights , ect.. In the 1920s Confederate pensions were finally allowed to some of those workers that were still living . Many thousands more served in other Confederate States .

#19. During the early 1900s , many members of the United Confederate Veterans [UCV] advocated awarding former slaves rural acreage and a home . There was hope that justice could be given those slaves that were promised "forty acers and a mule" but never received any . In the 1913 Confederate Veteran magazine published by the UCV , it was printed that the plan "If not Democratic , it is [the] Confederate" thing to do . There was much gratitude toward former slaves , which "thousands were loyal , to the last degree" , now living with total poverty of the big cities . Unfortunately , their proposal fell on deaf ears on Capitol Hill .

#20. During the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1913 , arrangements were made for a joint reunion of Union and Confederate Veterans . The commission in charge of the event made sure they had enough accommodations for the Black Union Veterans , but were completely surprised when unexpected Black Confederates arrived . The White Confederates immediately welcomed their old comrades , gave them one of their tents , and "saw to their every need ." Nearly every Confederate reunion including those Blacks that served with them , wearing the gray .

#21. The first military monument in the US Capitol that honors an African American soldier is the Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery . The monument was designed 1914 by Moses Ezekiel , a Jewish Confederate . Who wanted to correctly portray the "racial makeup" in the Confederate Army . A Black Confederate soldier is depicted marching in step with White Confederate soldiers . Also shown is one "White soldier giving his child to a Black woman for protection ." -source:Edwars Smith , African American professor at the American University , Washington DC.

#22. Black Confederate heritage is beginning to receive the attention it deserves . For instance , Terri Williams , a Black journalist for the Suffolk "Virginia Pilot" newspaper , writes : "I have had to re-examine my feelings toward the [Confederate] flag... It started when I read a newspaper article about an elderly Black man whose ancestor worked with Confederate forces . The man spoke with pride about his family members contribution to the cause , was photographed with the [Confederate] flag draped over his lap... thats why I now have no definite stand on just what the flag symbolizes , because it no longer is their history , or my history , but our history ."