Negros on Confederate Roll

Athens Daily Banner, Apr. 9, 1901 Page 1

"Columbia, South Carolina April 8th

Confederate Veterans are considerably exercised over the fact that there are several negros on the pension rolls. These men have been indorsed for pensions by the county boards, and unless the state board is shown that they are not entitled for pensions they cannot be stricken off. Some camps have passed resolutions of protest. In one instance the negro pensioner was a free negro; in another he was a slave, but lost his leg in following his master into battle."

What we see here sadly is first not all Confederates welcomed these soldiers as comrades. Perhaps they were concerned of getting flim flammed. This makes research more difficult as we want to honor the soldiers by name and they are not readily available. Here we see a soldier was a casulty in battle. The Black Confederate is trapped between the Liberals who wished they didnt exist, Some sodliers who want to deny them, and a government that will cling to thier pension.