Black Confederate Warriors of Dixie

Attack on Our Soldiers by Armed Negroes

2011-12-26T14:57:00.003-05:00

A member of the Indiana Twentieth Regiment, now encamped near Fortress Monroe, writes to the Indianapolis Journal on the 23rd.

Yesterday morning General Mansfield with Drake de Kay, Aide-de-Camp in command of seven companies of the 20th New York, German Riffles, left Newport News on a reconnaissance. Just after passing Newmarket Bridge, seven miles from camp, they detached one company as an advance, and soon after their advance was attacked by 600 of the enemy's cavalry.

The company formed to receive cavalry, but the CAVALRY ADVANCING deployed to the right and left when within musket range and unmasked a body of SEVEN HUNDRED negro infantry, all armed with muskets, who opened fire on our men, wounding two lieutenants and two privates, and rushing forward surrounded the company of Germans who cut their way through killing six of the negroes and wounding several more. The main body, hearing the firing, advanced at a double-quick in time to recover their wounded, and drive the enemy back, but did not succeed in taking any prisoners. The wounded men TESTIFY POSITIVELY that they were shot by Negroes, and that not less than seven hundred were present, armed with muskets.

This is, indeed, a new feature in the war. We have heard of a regiment of Negroes at Manassas, and another at Memphis, and still another at New Orleans but did not believe it till it came so near home, and attacked our men. THERE IS NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. The 20th German were actually attacked and fired on and wounded by Negroes.

It is time that this thing was understood, and if they fight us with Negroes, why should not we fight them with Negroes too? We have disbelieved these reports too long, and now let us fight the devil with fire. The feeling is intense among the men. They want to know if they came here to fight Negroes, and if they did, they would like to know it. The wounded men swear they will kill any Negro they see, so excited are they at the dastardly act. It remains to be seen how long the Government will now hesitate, when they learn these facts. One of the Lieutenants was shot in the back part of the neck, and is not expected to live.

Sandusky Ohio Register
December 31, 1861
Above From:
Indianapolis Journal December 23, 1861

The True South Through My Eyes, HK Edgerton

2011-12-11T00:50:00.002-05:00

HK Edgerton, a black Confederate advocate, tells of his fondness for the South, the Confederacy, the distinction between the original Klan and another formed forty years later for totally different purposes, and the rarely told truth about Nathan Bedford Forrest.

A Few of Our SCV Brothers of Colour

2011-11-01T09:10:00.016-04:00

Nelson Winbush at SCV Meeting

Mr.and Mrs. Nelson Winbush SCV Member

Nelson Winbush showing his Confederate pride in church

Left to Right: Cmdr. Ed Kennedy of Camp 1857 of Kansas City, Kansas; Roger Mills Cmdr. Camp 615 of Conway, AR, Compatriot Tyrone Williams, descent of Thompson who lives in Kansas City, Kansas, a member of Camp 1857; and Col. Marc Williams. The gentleman second from the right is the descendant of Private Thompson, and is a member of the SCV.

Proud new SCV member

7 minute Documentary featuring Nelson W. Winbush, a black son of confederate black soldier Luis Napoleon Nelson who fought under Nathan Bedford Forest, founder of the KKK. A series of interviews, documentation, stock footage, and reenactments all collaberate to help defend the Confederacy and it's soldiers against it's notorious reputation in regards to black slavery and what the confederate flag actually stood for.

The truth is out there, all you have to do is look!

If y'all have pictures of more proud Black SCV Members send to:

PoP

'Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men in Gray'

2011-10-31T17:41:00.002-04:00

Part 1 'Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men in Gray'

Part 2 'Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men in Gray'

Part 3 'Black Confederates: The Forgotten Men in Gray'

William Armistead of Company H

2011-10-24T18:03:00.003-04:00

Notwithstanding such losses the 22nd pushed onward against the retreating Yankees. Negro cook William Armistead of Company H, a mulatto barber prior to the war, got so caught up in the excitement that he picked up an abandoned rifle and joined in the fight.

Page 60
22nd Virginia Infantry by Terry Lowry

SWR's eddieinman

The Valor of Black Confederates

2011-10-18T15:30:00.001-04:00

By: Vernon R. Padgett, Ph.D.

Of the many accounts of heroic black Confederates, here are some that especially stand out:

George Washington Yancey was captured with the Georgia militia, escaped, makes his way through the lines, and returns to his Tennessee infantry unit. Captured again at Missionary Ridge. He escaped a second time from the Federals, and rejoined his unit at Atlanta. He was captured again at Macon and imprisoned. “I was loyal to the Confederate states,” he asserted, and escaped again, spending the rest of the war foraging for the Confederate troops (TCMP No. 206).

"The efforts of Jack, servant of an officer of the Thirteenth Arkansas Regiment, stands out as an act of heroism. Jack fought beside his master during the heat of battle. He fell seriously wounded but refused to be evacuated and continued to fire at the enemy. He later died in a hospital of his wounds sustained in the ranks of the Confederate army" (Memphis Avalanche quoted in December 31, 1861).

Black Confederate Levi Miller, born in Rockbridge County Virginia, was one of thousands of slaves who accompanied their owners to the war as a body servant. After nursing his master back to death from a near-fatal wounding in the Wilderness campaign, Miller was voted by the regiment to be a full-fledged soldier (Jordan, 1995). He served during the remainder of the war, exhibiting bravery in battles in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. His former commander spoke highly of Miller's combat record, giving a riveting account of his performance at Spotsylvania Courthouse. "About 4 p.m., the enemy made a rushing charge," wrote Captain J. E. Anderson. "Levi Miller stood by my side-- and man never fought harder and better than he did-- and when the enemy tried to cross our little breastworks and we clubbed and bayoneted them off, no one used his bayonet with more skill, and effect, than Levi Miller” (Jordan, 1995).

After the war, Levi Miller received a full pension from Virginia as a Confederate veteran. According to the Winchester Evening Star, "The pension was granted without trouble, and he had the distinction of drawing one of the largest amounts of any person in the state." Upon his death in 1921, the Evening Star published a front-page obituary under the headline Levi Miller, Colored War Veteran (Jordan, 1995).

Levin Graham, a free colored man, was employed as a fifer, and attendant to Captain J. Welby Armstrong (2nd Tennessee). He refused to stay in camp when the regiment moved, an obtaining a musket and cartridges, went across the river with us. He fought manfully, and it is known that he killed four of the Yankees, from one of whom he took a Colt's revolver. He fought through the whole battle, and not a single man in our whole army fought better" (New Orleans Daily Crescent, 6 December 1861, cited in Rollins, 1994).

One federal cavalry officer related how he was held under guard by a shotgun-wielding black who kept the weapon trained on the Yankee's head with unwavering concentration. "Here I had come South and was fighting to free this man," the disgusted major wrote in his diary. "If I had made one false move on my horse, he would have shot my head off" (Barrow et al., 2001, p. 43).

Researcher Ervin Jordan (1995) cites a diary that tells of an Afro-Confederate [who] became a local hero after being thrown into jail with nothing but bread and water for three days because of his support of the South and his refusal to work for the Union side ... The old man was made to chop wood with iron ball and chains attached to his arms and legs, but the curses of his jailers were unavailing: He stubbornly vowed to support the South until death.

References

Barrow, C. K., Segars, J. H., & R.B. Rosenburg, R.B. (Eds.) (2001). Black Confederates, Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna.

Jordan, Jr., Ervin. (1995). Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia. University Press of Virginia, 447 pages.

Rollins, Richard, Ed. (1994). Black Southerners in Gray: Essays on Afro-Americans in Confederate Armies. Rank and File Publications, Redondo Beach, California, 172 pages.

Tennessee Colored Man’s Pensions. Nashville Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Originally published at http://www.rebelgray.com/BlackValor.htm

Yankee Treatment of negroes at Fortress Monroe.

2011-10-04T17:38:00.000-04:00

The Norfolk Day Book says:

A citizen of Hampton, a captain in the Confederate army, and at present stationed on York river, has brought us information that a few days ago 16 negroes escaped from the Yankees at Fort Monroe, and gladly returned to our lines.

They report that the negroes there are very badly treated by the Yankees, and that Gen. Wool has issued orders to his troops to shoot all negroes attempting to escape from his lines, and not to approach them.

The Daily Dispatch: February 3, 1862. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. February 3, 1862. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

Colored Cooks Enlisted George W Stiles Commanding 18th Georgia Battalion

2011-09-19T03:54:00.003-04:00

George W Stiles Commanding 18th Georgia Battalion

Colored Cooks
James Polk, Company B
Scipio Africanus ,Company B
William Read, Company C
John Lery, Company A

Colored Musicians Enlisted for the War
Joe Parkman, Company A
Henry Williams, Company B
George Waddell, Company A
Louis Gardeen, Company C

Southern Historical Society Papers Volume XV
Page 226

Mike Guyton Laurens County Georgia

2011-08-14T04:06:00.001-04:00

A dispatch from Raleigh, North Carolina, says that at a meeting of the L, O'Branch camp of Confederate Veterans of that city a resolution was passed petitioning the incoming Legislature of North Carolina to pension worthy Negro servants who followed the fortunes of the Confederacy and rendered valuable service. This action on the part of the North Carolina veterans recalls the fact that some years ago an effort was made in the Georgia Legislature to pass a bill pensioning these Negroes who had lost a limb or had become otherwise disabled while faithfully serving their Georgia masters in the Civil War, The measure failed on the ground of unconstitutionality. There is an old negro man named Mike Guyton living in Laurens County, who accompanied the late Col. C. S. Guyton of Laurens to the war as a body servant and during one of the severe winters was so unfortunate as to have his feet so badly frostbitten the had to be amputated. From that time until now Mike has always walked on his knees, and continued to reside on the Guyton Plantation, in a house that was given to him by Colonel Guyton/ The knowledge of Mikes worthy case prompted a legislator to try and get a pension for him, and other faithful Negros who like him had become disabled in the war. Mike is now quite aged and a pension would be a great blessing in his declining years. Mike has not been idle by reason of his maimed condition, but has been very industrious. Although forced to walk on his knees he has been an excellent farm hand and can yet chop an acre of cotton a day and pick one hundred pounds of the fleecy staple daily.

THE TWICE-A WEEK TELEGRAPH Friday January 11th 1907 Macon Telegraph

Atlanta Constitution Nov 4, 1900

2011-08-14T03:36:00.001-04:00

WHAT THE NEGRO IS DOING:

Matters of Interest among thee Colored People,

Butler, H.R. Atlanta Constitution Nov 4, 1900 Lower part of article

I am glad to see an effort on the part of some of the confederate veterans to pension Amos Rucker, one of their grand heroes in black. This is a grand and noble effort on the part of those having the matter in charge. There are many others like Amos Rucker scattered throughout the south who would welcome a pension though small it might be.

I am personally acquainted with one of these black confederates though now living in Philadelphia in old age, who followed a Colonel Mallett, his young master to war. He was with him in the thickest of the fight, and it would break his stoutest heart in grief to hear him tell how in a desperate battle they were separated and how he searched the field over to see if his master were among the dead, and how his soul wept when he found him barely alive. This faithful servant took his blanket, wrapped Colonel Mallett in it and carried him to the rear. The colonel soon died. This servant took that body from the bloody fields of Virginia to a weeping mother and relatives in north Carolina. The sight of his mistress beating on the big gate and the sound of her voice as her son and his bodyguard rode away to war. saying "Philip, if the colonel gets wounded or killed bring him home to me.", was ever before him. He kept his word.

I say there are many of these men still living to whom a pension would be a blessing about this stage in old age. But how about the old ex-slave that fed confederate soldiers, that helped make his clothes, his shoes and his bedding; the ex-slave that guarded his home and when his old master was bowed down in grief for the loss of a son would cheer her heart with those old plantation melodies.

While these men and women were not on the field of battle, yet they were heroes and heroines just the same, for they did honorable duty at home while the soldier did duty on the battlefield. Many of these black heroes and heroines in this and other states of the south are hobbling about in their old age half fed, half clothed and with no friends. This class of ex-slaves ought to be pensioned. for it was largely through their "selflessness"(illegible word) and fidelity that the confederates held out as long as they did. The statesman who will take up the honest cause of these black mothers and fathers that stood by the southern cause throughout the entire struggle and see to it that they are pensioned will recieve the thanks humanity and the blessings of God.

H. R. BUTLER

Weekly Banner August 6, 1920 page 1

2011-08-14T03:01:00.002-04:00

NEGRO WHO COOKED FOR GEN. LEE TALKS TO GEORGIA HOUSE

Was Heard Ten Minutes When Escorted In By Confederate Vets.

(Special to The Banner)

Atlanta, Ga. August 5 - it was a touching little scene which was enacted in the House of Representatives when William Mac Lee, of Norfolk, Va was escorted into the hall by a number of old Confederate veterans and by unanimous consent granted 10 minutes of the time of the assembly.

William Mac Lee, who is a preacher, was the war time cook for General Robert E. Lee and went through the entire war with the Confederate hero general. He is a negro of the old school, typically antebellum and , besides preaching in Virginia prides himself on the fact that he has stuck to the politics as well as the religion of his old master - he always votes the Democratic ticket.

Probably the proudest attaché of the House was to see the old cook was "Ten Cent Bill" Yopp, the Georgia negro who so attracted attention by his regular Christmas pilgrimages to the Old Soldiers' Home that the Georgia Legislature finally took up and perpetuated the work of love which "Ten Cents Bill" had inaugurated, that of a yuletide token to the veterans of the Home.

Wary Clyburn, served with honour

2011-08-07T22:37:00.008-04:00

Mattie Clyburn Rice is the second black "Real Daughter" to be recognized by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Mattie Clyburn Rice, 88, spent years searching through archives to prove her father was a black Confederate. As she leafs through a notebook filled with official-looking papers, Rice stops to read a faded photocopy with details of her father's military service.

"At Hilton Head while under fire of the enemy, he carried his master out of the field of fire on his shoulder, that he performed personal service for Robert E. Lee. That was his pension record," Rice says.

Story HERE

The Lt. F. C. Frazier has been blessed recently with the discovery of a REAL DAUGHTER of a Confederate Veteran living in our town. Mrs. Mattie Clyburn Rice's father, Wary Clyburn, served with honor in Co. E, 12th Regt. South Carolina Volunteers.

This picture shows Mrs. Rice receiving her Real Daughter's certificate from Commander Herman White.

Mrs. Rice entertained Commander White with stories of researching her father's service during her off hours while working at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC.
The Lt. F. C. Frazier Camp is proud to have a living child of a Confederate Hero in its midst.

Robert Atkinson

2011-07-30T06:02:00.001-04:00

Macon Telegraph Feb 2, 1895

The Old Man Remembered

The Governor Rewards a Faithful Old Negro Servant

Atlanta Feb 1st (special) Governor Atkinson today made an appointment in which there is a nice story of sentiment. The appointment was that Robert Atkinson, a negro servant in the Atkinson family before the war, to be a janitor at the capitol. When the governors oldest brother John P. Atkinson, went into Confederate Service, the negro Robert accompanied him to the front, and when he received a gunshot wound that gave him his death, it was Robert who carried him off the battlefield, and later brought him to his father’s hearthstone to die.

When Governor Atkinson was elected he promised the faithful negro a place if he should want it. A few days ago the request for his promised place came, and true to his promise, the governor at once made a place for him.

The Wealthiest Colored Man in Georgia Henry Todd

2011-07-30T00:45:00.004-04:00

Georgia Weekly Telegraph Journal and Messenger August 5, 1881 Page 8

The Wealthiest Colored Man in Georgia

Atlanta Dispatch to the Cincinnati Inquirer

His name is Henry Todd, and he lives in Darien, in this State. When a youth his master died and left him his freedom as a reward for his faithful attention during the slaveholder's last sickness. Young Todd was so esteemed by his family that hey insisted on his remaining in their employ and paid him a handsome salary. He was sort of an assistant overseer on the plantation. By the kindly aid of his white friends he soon became a landowner, and a prosperous farmer. In a few years his affairs showed the results of industry and natural business talent in a snug little fortune. his quiet manner and strict uprightedness guarded him from the bitter prejudice which in those days both races felt for the average "free nigger." Henry Todd soon had enough money to hold money to hold slaves himself, and he purchased several as a matter of economy. When the Confederacy fell he lost twenty Negroes and some money in Confederate Bonds. This severe blow was in a measure counteracted by his good fortune, having on hand a crop of cotton, which then demanded fifty cents a pound. After the war he continued his farming operations, but also engaged in the lumber business. his remarkable success continued, and today he owns two large lumber mills and exports very extensively. he is 65 years old and has a good education. he is worth $100,000 in good investments. He lives in a neat country home, surrounded by a family of five children, who enjoy the luxuries of life. Every summer then leave for the coast and spend the hot months at a house which they own in one of the cool mountain nooks of North Georgia. Henry Todd has carefully kept from active participation in politics though he has frequently been solicited as a candidate. He has constantly voted the Democratic ticket and has warned colored friends against the carpet baggers who has deceived and swindled them in Georgia since the war. His example is in every way healthy for the Negroes of Georgia. he is public spirited and generous, giving freely to charitable objects. He has educated his children well and will leave them rich.

Mr. Todd did not serve as a soldier but became a slaveholder and bought Confederate bonds. Mark Anthony Cooper, the Eatonton businessman, said this of the War between the States that it was "the capital of one nation seeking to control the capital of another." Land to be considered as capital had to add the factor of human labor. Did slaves represent capital to the South? What were slaves to Mr. Todd? Someone to oppress perhaps or maybe just maybe part of a business strategy. You can judge.

William Rose "Uncle Billy"

2011-07-30T00:28:00.002-04:00

Athens Daily Banner May 28, 1901 Page 1

Negro Veteran Dies In Columbia

"UNCLE BILLY" ROSE DEAD

A South Carolina Negro Veteran Of Three Wars.

COLUMBIA, S. C., May 27 - William Rose, a well known Negro of this city is dead, aged 89 years.

"Uncle Billy" was born a slave. He went as a drummer to the Seminole war in 1836; to the Mexican war, and to the civil war. He volunteered to go to Cuba. He has held the office of messenger since 1876 to the governor, withstanding all political changes and upheavals on account of his fidelity to the white mans party before 1876. He was a courier on the staff of Governor McSweeney and an honorary sergeant in a local white military company. He brought back General Pierce Butlers body from Mexico and General Bragg's back from Fredricksburg. he witnessed the running of the first train in South Carolina; was here when Lafayette made his triumphant tour of America in 1825 and beat the muffed drum at Calhoun's funeral.

He was buried today with military honors.

The fortifications at Centerville From The National Republican

2011-07-30T00:03:00.002-04:00

The fortifications at Centerville (distinguished by the letters of the alaphabet), have the number of embrasures, and wooden guns pointing terrifically through them, as stated below:
Batteries Embrasures Wooden Guns
A 7 7
B 7 6
C 3 1
D 7 3
E 5 -
F 9 9
G 6 7
H 5 5
I 4
Number of embrasures 54
Number of wooden guns 31

The guns were pine logs, charred black with muzzles delineated with chalk, and properly protruded from the embrasures. No real guns had ever been mounted. This was the representation made by the Negroes, and the appearance inside of the work proves this representation to be correct. A Negro, who had been kept at work for months by the Confederates, reports them as having said that these pine logs would answer just as well to "skeer the enemy."

Here black confederates did not fire a shot in battle because they didn't have to.

Leveling the playing field Confederate Women

2011-07-25T01:55:00.004-04:00

Apparently this blog is drawing some attention which I enjoy. One idea is that somehow nurses don't count as soldiers. You have to look at the larger picture. In our modern military it take 7 or more individuals to support on soldier. It takes a cook, an accountant or paymaster, a logistics person/supply, definitely medical, communications, transportation and clerks. A nurse is indeed a hero tending to those who were injured in battle. The Confederacy relied on the entire South for its support from men, women and children from all races, creeds, colors and walks of life. Some people want the War Between The States to be defined as within their own narrow scope.

For example never mind what the CRITTENDEN-JOHNSON RESOLUTION On July 22,1861, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring the Civil War was being waged to preserve the Union. According to our present day historians the war was exclusively about slavery and their was no possible way blacks could have served in the Confederacy.

It was HEGEL who said "History teaches us man learns nothing from History" When you start making theories about history suddenly the truth jumps out and slaps you. People are eager to label and tar brush the South in all things.

I did mention a Wikipedia Source for some of my data below. I also included the footnote from the Wikipedia source in the article. I will not credit Wikipedia as a great source but I must give credit where it is due.

Lastly there is an argument about the term colored as this can indicate a person is possibly Indian or dark skinned and may not be Black. This may be true and further investigation is needed.

My purpose is to document fully all I can to share the genealogy, burials, obituary and service of the Confederate listed. We want to know the whole story. This is how we honor their memory.

And without further adieu lets honor some more Confederate Women
Co. B, 63d Regiment Ga. Inf., December 1862 .
MUSTER ROLL OF *COMPANY D, 63rd REGIMENT
GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
C. S. A.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNTIES
Burroughs, Lydia (Colored)-Enlisted as a cook May 6, 1863 .

USTER ROLL OF COMPANY *K, 63rd REGIMENT
GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
C. S. A.
CHATHAM AND OTHER COUNTIES
Dawson, Catharine (Colored)-Cook April 1, 1863 .
Dawson, Hannah (Colored)-Cook April 1, 1863 .

Note that the Dawson's were mentioned in another blog. They were also mentioned with the term (Private) so they may have came with a soldier form Company K. But they were attached to the 63rd. Many of the Chatham County Resources are limited but a Benjamin Burroughs is listed as passing down slaves to Peggy and then Mary daughters but Lydia is not listed.

blackconfederatesoldiers.com

2011-07-24T00:22:00.002-04:00

http://www.blackconfederatesoldiers.com/

Well there ya go!!!! The info I was searching for is sitting here all along. Georgia pension records are not listed but I am sure it will be there soon. Here is an online source for Georgia records too.

http://cdm.sos.state.ga.us/cdm4/TestApps.php

The online community amazes me each day.

Confederate Women

2011-07-23T23:26:00.003-04:00

Of course many forget or deny the incredible service of women to the Confederacy and we don't know if they saw or experienced battle but as a nurse they would have seen the effects of war with soldiers losing limbs and all sorts of medical trauma only true heroes and heroines could care for these troops.

ROSTER OF *FIELD, STAFF AND BAND OF THE
63rd REGIMENT GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
C. S. A.
This company was organized as (1st) Co. A, 12th Battn. Ga. Light Artillery in April 1862 , and was composed of a good many men who had previously served in the 1st (Ramsey's) Regiment Ga. Vol. Inf. which was disbanded at the end of its one year enlistment in March 1862 . It was transferred to the 13th Battn. Ga. Inf. about November or December 1862 . This battn. was increased to regimental size in December 1862 , and became known as Gordon's Regiment Later the designation was changed to the 63rd Regiment Ga. Vol. Inf.

Fox, Joe (Colored)-Nurse. Enlisted April 1, 1863 , by consent of owner.
Jones, Nelson (Colored)-Enlisted as a nurse February 1, 1864 , for a period of one month by consent of owner.
Morgan, Eliza (Colored)-Nurse. Enlisted as a nurse and laundress April 1, 1863 .
Morris, Ellen (Colored)-Nurse. Enlisted as a nurse April 1,1863 .
Dawson, Hannah (Colored)-Cook. -- See private Co. H.
Dawson, Catharine (Colored)-Cook. -- See private Co. H.

How Many Soldiers ? 93,000, 65,000 ???

2011-07-23T23:00:00.006-04:00

This website by Scott K. Williams estimates 65,000 with 13,000 soldiers actually involved in combat.

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/blackcs.htm

Another site states "He also cited professor Edward Smith, director of American studies at American University, who has calculated that between 60,000 and 93,000 blacks served the Confederacy."

The 93,000 estimate could be looked at this way.

"210,000 (9.5%) African American. Half were freedmen who lived in the North, and half were ex-slaves from the South. They served under white officers in more than 160 "colored" regiments and in Federal regiments organized as the United States Colored Troops (USCT).[6] Joseph T. Glatthaar, Forged in Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers"

Another newspaper article I found from the Athens Herald had a statistician who estimated the number to be 186,000 so to say 210,000 is probably correct. the 186,000 divided in half would be 93,000 and 105,000 would be half of the other estimate. The real goal then is to collect as many pensions as possible, newspaper articles etc and document from these sources. The Lillian Henderson Roster listed some and documented solders who were to help recruit and form Negro units. With some luck we can compile names, mark graves and document these soldiers for everyone to see.

A cover-up Elisha Buchanan

2011-07-23T22:48:00.003-04:00

Historian, Erwin L. Jordan, Jr., calls it a cover-up which started back in 1865. He writes, “During my research, I came across instances where Black men stated they were soldiers, but you can plainly see where ‘soldier’ is crossed out and ‘body servant’ inserted, or ‘teamster’ on pension applications.”

I wrote to the South Carolina Archives to collect some info on pensions. First I want to say the South Carolina Archives are very professional and sent me prompt information and by no means are part of a cover up as stated in the topic here. The archivist stated there was no info in the archives accept possibly at the county level if the individual counties kept such records. Thus begins the search at the county level.

My basis for Contacting the South Carolina Archives was due to this article Athens Daily Banner April 27, 1901 where Elisha Buchanan was denied a pension.

James Clarke Company K, Twenty-eighth Georgia regiment (Captain Wilcox)

2011-07-17T20:32:00.000-04:00

Weekly Banner Sept 21, 1904 page 5

Negro fought for the South

And is now a Regularly Enlisted Pensioner of Uncle Sam's

Swainsboro, Georgia, August 30

A peculiar pension application has just been made to Ordinary John E. Youmans. It is that of James Clarke, a free Negro, who enlisted in Company K, Twenty-eighth Georgia regiment (Captain Wilcox), as a fifer and went through the civil war. Clark is now 104 years old and unable to work hence his friends are trying to have him placed upon pension rolls. Judge Youmans will send to Commissioner Lindsey today.

This is the first case of a free Negro applying for a pension in the state. There are many negros drawing pensions on the union side but none in this section for serving in the confederate army. On account of the Negro’s age and infirmities, his friends hope that his application will be favorable passed upon. Commissioner Lindsay's decision will be awaited with interest.

No Pensions for Negroes

2011-07-15T10:29:00.000-04:00

Athens Daily Banner April 27, 1901 Page 1
No Pensions for Negros

Carolina Board decides against all colored applicants Columbia South Carolina April 26 The state pension board rejected all applications from Negroes on the grounds that their names did not appear on the rolls of the respective companies to which they were credited on file in the adjutant generals office and that they had no authority to issue pensions to other than enlisted soldiers. These applications had the hearty approval of the county boards and some of them have been on previous pension lists.

One of the rejected negros, Elisha Buchanan, was conscripted and put the work on confederate coast defenses, and while at work on Fort Sumter his leg was mangled by a shell from the enemy's guns and had to be amputated.

Note: Here is one of the problems we have when recognizing black confederates who served. It may be possible to find the county pension requests and enumerate the soldiers names from there but what of those that did not apply for a pension

Slave Monuments

2011-07-15T09:06:00.002-04:00

Athens Banner January 17, 1911 Page 4

A movement looking to the erection of monuments dedicated to the slaves of the Southern Confederacy in the capital of every Southern state was instituted at the annual meeting of the Chicago chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy, in the auditorium hotel yesterday afternoon. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions from members of the Chicago chapters of the society and all former Southern Citizens.

The idea of such monuments are to commemorate the fidelity of negro slaves who during the Civil war protected the homes and women and children of Confederate soldiers, originated with Mrs. James Longstreet at the unveiling of the Confederacy monument at Carnesville, Georgia last October, and this week the Chicago chapter was asked to assist in the movement.

The officers elected and installed for 1911 were:
President Mrs. Agnes Grant Manson: vice-presidents, Mrs. Pauling Fitzgerald and Mrs. B.A. Johnson: Treasurer Mrs. Virginia F. Wilson: corresponding secretary Mrs. Mary Ashmore Carter: recording secretary Mary Lee Beban: registrar. Miss Rutherford: custodian Mrs. H. C. Myers Historian. Mrs. Josephine Keys: recorder of crosses Lethe McClain

An Ex Slaves Generosity

2011-07-10T18:38:00.001-04:00

Weekly Banner, Feb. 1, 1901 -- page 5

An Ex Slaves Generosity
Memphis Jan 29

The Finance Committee of the Confederate Veterans Reunion has recieved a check for $1,000 from Robert R. Church, the wealthiest negro citizen of Memphis who was born a slave, and served as such in his youth. This is the second largest individual contribution yet recieved by the committee.

His generosity Remembered...

Camp Morton Prison

2011-07-10T18:36:00.001-04:00

Confederates of Color
Camp Morton Prison

Confederate Soldiers and Sailors who died at Indianapolis, Ind. while prisoners of war

Alabama
Adam Cagle 8/16/64
William Birdsong 8/1864
Joseph Light 6/14/64
John Willis 7/16/64

Arkansas
R.M. Evans 2/2/65

Georgia
James E. Baldwin 2/17/65

Kentucky
J. Christian Morgan’s 2nd Cav. 11/22/63
J.W. Vance CSA Mail Carrier 3/14/64

Mississippi
Samuel Johnson 12/14/65
B.F. Keelin 2/14/65
Solomon Littleton 3/3/62
C.L. Matthews 6/18/64
Robert Vance 1/27/64
James Williams 1/20/65

Virginia
Benjamin Brown 4/2/65
Jacob Groves 2/1/65
Henry Mayo 3/23/62
John S. Kyger 1/28/65
A. Lee 3/14/65

Unknown CSA States
Alexander Blanton 1/12/64
George Frazier 1863
G.W. Hardy 2/6/65
J.C. Mitchell 1/24/64
John Woolsey 10/7/63

Source

Jack Turner, Wounded at Antietam

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Banner-Watchman Athens, Mar. 10, 1885 -- page 1
Jack Turner one of the most reliable negroes in Columbus died Friday night. jack Served as a soldier in the Confederate service and recieved a wound toward the close of the war.

Columbus Sunday Enquirer Sunday Morning March 1st,1885

Death of Jack Turner
For the past eight years Jack Turner, colored, had been porter for Mr. I. L. Pollard, and was universally respected for his politeness and the promptness with which he performed his work. About three weeks ago he was stricken with paralysis, which resulted fatally yesterday morning at 2 o'clock. He was one of the most prominent colored citizens of the city and had friends among the white people who will regret to hear his is no more.

At the outbreak of war he accompanied his young master, Mr. Rube Shorter, who was a member of the Columbus Guards, to the front. He never shirked a duty or failed to be present at the most critical times. At the battle of Antietam, when our forces were outnumbered two to one and the fortunes of the day were nearly lost, volunteers were sought, and Jack, with his musket joined the ranks. The gallant conduct of the confederates on that day, assisted by just such brave volunteers as Turner, made that battle a draw one. He received a serious wound on his arm. Turner was prominently connected with the colored fire company and other organizations of the city. The remains will be buried today.

Jere May

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Macon Telegraph, Jun. 2, 1901 -- page 11
Jere May was delighted

Jere May, the negro mail carrier whose greatest boast is that he was a Confederate Veteran and fought for the cause of the South, returned from Memphis Yesterday loud in his praises of the good people of that city. He says if anybody enjoyed the occasion better than he did he does not that know it, He says he could not spend any money. Jere never misses a reunion and says if he lives he will go to the one in Texas next year.

Negros on Confederate Roll

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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.

Three Negro Regiments

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Southern Banner, Mar. 18, 1863 -- page 2

Second Dispatch
Columbia Tennessee , March 12

The enemy are greatly suprised and exasperated at Van Dorn's escape. They returned to Franklin to protect their rear, and committed many depredations, burning the houses Van Dorn had occupied as his headquarters. Nashville papers state that the enemies loss at Spring Hill was only 300, and that the Confederates had three negro regiments who fought bravely. The four brigades sent in pursuit of Van Dorn have returned.

Confederate Congress Feb 6

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Southern Watchman, Feb. 15, 1865 -- page 3

Congressional
Richmond February 6th
Mr. Morse introduced a resolution directing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the ezpediency on investing the President with the power to call into service all able bodied negros into the Confederate States to be used as he may think best, to aid in the military defence of our country. The motion lay on he was negatived - yeas 32, nays 30. The resolution was then adopted.

The Cleburne Marker and Georgia Historical Society

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http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x349137771/Historical-society-sets-date-to-dedicate-Dalton-marker

"The Georgia Historical Society has erected a new historical marker and the society is planning a big ceremony for this one on Thursday, July 14, at 10 a.m. ....

The historical society placed a marker on Fort Hill last fall to commemorate the role of black solders during the Civil War. Fort Hill was chosen because it was the site of the only battle in Georgia in which black troops took part."

Apparently Mrs Crisp with the Georgia Historical society does not agree. Dan Coleman, Spokeman for the Georgia Division Sons of Confederate Veterans sent a letter and made repeated calls to the Historical Society to correct this oversight. His comments below.

"Dear Ms. Crisp:
I have quickly assembled the following evidence of black Southerners who fought for the Confederacy, not just as cooks, teamsters, etc. but as actual soldiers. This is just a very brief example of the available evidence but it should be enough to show that thousands of black Southerners did see combat. The approval of the Confederate Congress was late in the war but as seen below, the evidence of participation of blacks in actual battle is overwhelming.
A useful website is: blackconfederatesoldiers.com
We would greatly appreciate a review and modification of the inscription to conform with true history. We gladly offer our assistance if you will allow us to participate.
Sincerely,
Dan Coleman"

Dans letter contains a great deal of data that I will share in other pats of this blog. Special thanks to Mr. Coleman

The Application of Eli Pickett

2011-07-08T02:03:00.002-04:00

A Black Confederate.
The Atlanta Constitution (1881-1945); Aug 4, 1889;
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945)

The application of Eli Pickett, a colored man, for a confederate pension from the State of Georgia. If this clever Negro really rendered service and was disabled in the military branch of the confederacy it seems a pity to shut him from the pension list on the account of some irregularity. Perhaps many people north and south are not aware, or have forgotten, that an act of the confederate congress, passed in the spring of 1865, authorized the enlistment of colored troops. Under that act colored men were enrolled. The work of organizing them commenced, and doubtless some old confederates in Georgia remember seeing them drilling in the streets of Richmond. But the confederacy was then tottering to its fall. The black confederates never had a fighting chance. Appomattox wound up the whole business. The act refereed to made it lawful for Eli Pickett to be regularly enlisted, but as the surrender came only a few weeks after its passage it is possible that he failed to come from a legal point of view technically within its limited operations. it is a case however which will excite sympathy and Pickett will find he has plenty of confederate friends.

another blog reported he was from Bartow County Georgia http://genealogical.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/eli-pickett-bartow-co-ga/

The following item was published in the 8 August 1889 issue of the The Franklin Press of Franklin, Macon Co., NC (Volume 4, Number 21, 2nd page, 1st column):

Eli Pickett, of Bartow county, Ga., a negro Confederate soldier who was severely wounded in the Georgia campaigns, has appealed to the State of Georgia for a pension. He was free-born and fought bravely for the Confederacy.

Bartow county is my stomping ground so I will look for Eli's grave site and data where I can find, The pension records site does not hold any more info.

Doc Clinton Rogers

2011-07-08T01:45:00.004-04:00

Pictured above is Doctor Clinton Rogers he followed his master Dr. Rogers of Griffin into the war and was by his side in many noted battles. He was himself slightly wounded and shows the scar as if it were the grandest trophy. He was a member of the Atlanta Camp #153 and in this article he was married to Mary Allen a widow of fifty years of age. The article says he will be buried with full military honors.

The Atlanta Constitution (1881-1945); May 17, 1899;Page 4

A tale of two musicians

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MUSTER ROLL OF CO. A, 1st REGIMENT GEORGIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY (OLMSTEAD'S), ARMY OF TENNESSEE C. S. A.,CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA

McCleskey, Henry (colored)-Musician August 10, 1861 . Term

of enlistment six months. Roll for February 1862 , shows him present. Appointed Musician of Co. B, 18th Battalion Ga. Inf. Paroled near Sailor's Creek, Va. April 7, 1865 .

DeLyon, Charles Henry (colored)-Musician August 10, 1861 . Transferred to Co. D, 63d Regiment Ga. Inf. August 1, 1863 ; Co. B, October 31, 1863 . No later record.

Listed above are two soldiers from Georgia who served as musicians in the 1st Georgia Regiment. We learn some facts about the unit as members moved to the 18th Battalion, Georgia Volunteer Infantry and another Black Confederate Amos Rucker also served in the 63rd Georgia of Company C.

My goal here was to introduce more than just these names from the Henderson Roster but to look at more of the lives of these men possibly before or after the war. My Chatham county records are few as I searched cemeteries to see if these men were buried there. I could not find a pension record for these men. I did find some info in a mortality schedule

Chatham 360 DeLYON, Clarence  1m   M  M S  GA     GA     GA  OCT  Abscess 1m Chatham 360 DeLYON, Clifford  1m   M  M S  GA     GA     GA  OCT  Thrash  1m

http://files.usgwarchives.org/ga/chatham/census/1880/mortchat.txt

This was an 1880 schedule and shows the children were 1 month old and mulatto. Surely this was a sad loss for this family. We don't know if this was Charles children or not but part of the Delyon family. Other census records mention a Mordecai Delyon working for Public office and a James Delyon family of 3 with one daughter. If we can find these soldiers and they don't have a marker we can see about getting one.

If you have any info on Henry McClesky or Charles Delyon please forward to this blog.

Thank you

How Did Black Southerners Respond When War Was Declared?

2011-04-13T23:50:00.000-04:00

When the war started in 1861 there were public demonstrations of support for the Confederacy by blacks throughout the South (Wesley, 1937, p. 141; Rollins, 1994, p. 2).

The largest demonstration came in New Orleans. A mass meeting attended by black residents was held just after the news arrived from Fort Sumter. They organized a regiment of black Confederate troops with black officers (New Orleans Picayune, 24 Nov 1861; Annual Cyclopedia, 1864, p. 202.)

In Nashville a company of free blacks offered their services to the Confederate government, and in June the state legislature authorized Gov. Harris to accept into Tennessee service all male persons of color (Wesley, 1937, page 153).

In Memphis in 'September a procession of several hundred free blacks marched through the streets under the command of Confederate officers. "They were brimful of patriotism, shouting for Jeff Davis and singing war songs" (Memphis Avalanche, 3 Sept 1861).

In Montgomery, blacks were seen being drilled and armed for military duty (Wesley, 1919, p. 242).

Two companies of black Confederates were formed in Ft. Smith, Arkansas (Rebellion Record, 46, in Rollins 1994).

Similar occurrences took place in Virginia. In Lynchburg, 70 men enlisted to fight for the defense of Virginia soon after it seceded; a local newspaper raised "three cheers for the patriotic Negroes of Lynchburg" (Ibid; Wesley, 1937, p. 142).

One hundred free Negroes reported for service to aid the Confederacy in Petersburg, Virginia, on 26 April 1861, and were addressed by the mayor. One of the Negroes stepped forward to receive the Confederate flag, and said “We are willing to aid Virginia’s cause to the utmost of our ability … there is not an unwilling heart among us … we promise unhesitating obedience to all orders that may be given us” (Petersburg Daily Express, April 23, 26, 1861).

In late April 1861 in Richmond, 60 black men carrying a Confederate flag asked to be enlisted. In Hampton, 300 blacks volunteered to serve in Artillery batteries (Quarles, 1955, p. 36).

In Petersburg, a group of blacks who had volunteered to work on defenses held a mass rally at the courthouse square. The former Mayor, John Dodson, presented them with a Confederate flag, and promised them "a rich reward of praise, and merit, from a thankful people” (Oblatala, 1979, p. 94).

In April of 1861, a company of 60 free blacks marched into Richmond with a Confederate flag at the head of their column. They volunteered their services to the military, but were sent home after being complimented for their show of Southern patriotism (Barrow, 2001).

Conclusion: How did black Southerners respond? They responded in the same ways that white Southerners responded.

Why did blacks fight for the South? Because an enemy army was invading their country, raping women, burning and looting homes, and attacking the only life they knew.

References

Barrow, C. K., Segars, J. H., & R.B. Rosenburg, R.B. (Eds.) (2001). Black Confederates. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company.

Oblatala, J.K. (1979). The Unlikely Story of Negroes Who Were Loyal to Dixie. Smithsonian, 9, page 94.

Quarles, Benjamin (1955). The Negro in the Civil War. Boston: Little, Brown.

Rollins, Richard, Ed. (1994). Black Southerners in Gray: Essays on Afro-Americans in Confederate Armies. Rank and File Publications, Redondo Beach, California, 172 pages.

Wesley, C. H. (1919). The Employment of Negroes as Soldiers in the Confederate Army. Journal of Negro History, 4, 242.

Wesley, C. H. (1937). The Collapse of the Confederacy. New York: Russell & Russell.

Originally published at http://www.rebelgray.com/BlackResponse.htm

Angered at the loss of life at the hands of blacks

2010-11-08T10:42:00.001-05:00

"Angered at the loss of life at the hands of blacks at Manassas and somewhat disillusioned the northern Exchange editorialized: 'The war has dispelled one delusion of the abolitionists. The Negroes regard them as enemies instead of friends. No insurrection has occurred in the South - no important stampede of slaves has evinced their desire for freedom. On the contrary, they have jeered at and insulted our troops, have readily enlisted in the rebel army and on Sunday, at Manassas, shot down our men with as much alacrity as if abolitionism had never existed.'"

New Bern Weekly Press, August 13, 1861

Tennessee Black soldiers

2010-11-08T10:39:00.000-05:00

Tennessee in June 1861 became the first in the South to legislate the use of free black soldiers. The governor was authorized to enroll those between the ages of fifteen and fifty, to be paid $18 a month and the same rations and clothing as white soldiers; the black men appeared in two black regiments in Memphis by September

Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia, Ervin L. Jordan, Jr., (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1995) pp. 218-219

Fort Fisher Black Confederates

2010-11-05T04:17:00.002-04:00

- (Notice that these blacks were paroled and exchanged just as white soldiers would have been. It should be noted that most if not all captured Confederates were offered the opportunity to sign the Oath of Allegiance. Notice that none of them did except the fourth man listed, Daniel Herring. And even he didn't agree to sign it until more than two months Lee's surrender!)

"When Fort Fisher fell to the Union troops in January, 1865, the following blacks are recorded as being among the captured Confederates:

Charles Dempsey, Private, Company F, 36th NC Regiment (2nd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled and exchanged at Coxes Landing, James River, VA, February 14-15, 1865.
Henry Dempsey, Private, Company F, 36th NC Regiment (2nd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled and exchanged at Coxes Landing, James River, VA, February 14-15, 1865.
J. Doyle, Private, Company E, 40th NC Regiment (3rd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled and exchanged at Boulware's Wharf, James River, VA, March 16, 1865.
Daniel Herring, Cook, Company F, 36th NC Regiment (2nd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until released after taking Oath of Allegiance June 19, 1865 (he was held prisoner for two months AFTER the official surrender)."

North Carolina Troops, Volume I:

Maryland, 3,000 Blacks with Stonewall

2010-10-28T22:39:00.005-04:00

“Wednesday, September 10.–At four o’clock this morning the rebel army began to move from our town "Frederick, Maryland," Jackson’s force taking the advance. The movement continued until eight o’clock p.m., occupying sixteen hours. The most liberal calculations could not give them more than 64,000 men.
Over 3,000 negroes must be included in this number. 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, etc. These were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel ranks. Most of the negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabres, bowie-knives, dirks, etc. They were supplied, in many instances, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, etc., and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederacy Army. They were seen riding on horses and mules, driving wagons, riding on caissons, in ambulances, with the staff of Generals, and promiscuously mixed up with all the rebel horde. The fact was patent, and rather interesting when considered in connection with the horror rebels express at the suggestion of black soldiers being employed for the
National defence.” ~ Dr. Lewis Steiner, Chief Inspector of the United States Sanitary Commission while observing Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson's occupation of Frederick, Maryland, in 1862:

CIVIL WAR MAGAZINE, vol. VIII, No. 3, Issue XXIII, pg. 14:

New York Herald, July 11, 1863

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After the battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, ...reported among the rebel prisoners were seven blacks in Confederate uniforms fully armed as soldiers..."
- New York Herald, July 11, 1863. [1]

Young Black Reb

2010-10-25T16:27:00.001-04:00

The 21-foot high granite obelisk, stands in a residential area on Academy Street, E.
Canton, MS in front of a cemetery. It was built in the 1890s with funds provided by William Hill Howcott.. The inscription includes these words: “A tribute to my faithful servant and friend, Willis Howcott, a colored boy of rare loyalty and faithfulness, whose memory I cherish with deep gratitude.”

Harley Howcott reports that his Great-grandfather, W.H. Howcott, was only 15 years old when he joined Harvey's Scouts in 1864. Willis, his childhood playmate and friend, was only 13 but would not be dissuaded from being at his side. Willis was, tragically, killed in combat sometime in 1865 at the age of 14. The monument was erected by his friend years after the war, after he had left Mississippi for New Orleans and made his fortune. The memory of the loss of his close friend never left him. That W.H. Howcott returned 31 years after Willis' death to erect a 21 foot tall monument to their friendship speaks volumes.

Black Reb, Chattanooga, TN,

2010-09-20T16:59:00.001-04:00

Chattanooga, TN. Confederate Cemetery

African American Confederate soldier to be honored

2010-09-13T17:40:00.001-04:00

PETERSBURG - The 7th annual Richard Poplar Day Memorial will honor Pvt. Richard Poplar this Saturday during National POW/MIA Recognition Week. The public is invited to this program which will start at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Hill in Blandford Cemetery.

A Petersburg resident and member of Company H, 13th Virginia Cavalry, Pvt. Richard Poplar was captured alongside other members of his unit as a prisoner of war in July 1863 at Gettysburg. Pvt. Poplar was confined at Fort Delaware for five months and confined at the infamous Point Lookout, Maryland Prison for an additional 14 months. He overcame this peril in a heroic manner that required outstanding courage and sacrifice.

Poplar is recognized by his veteran comrades for providing aid and comfort to his comrades while confined at Point Lookout, including fellow Petersburg residents captured during the Petersburg Battle of the Old Men and Young Boys on 9 June 1864.

In 1886 in Petersburg, Poplar passed away being given a large military funeral and laid to rest with his fellow comrads at Memorial Hill.

"His pall bearers included Capt. E.A. Goodwyn, Capt. J.R. Patterson, Gen. Stith Bolling, Col.E.M. Fiield, and Mesrs. Jesse Newcomb and R. M. Dobie," according to published reports in Petersburg's "The Index Appeal".

On Sept. 18, 2004, at Blandford Church, Mayor Annie Mickens recognized POW Richard Poplar by presenting the Richard A. Stewart/Pocahontas Black History Museum, located on Pocahontas Island, Petersburg, a resolution proclaiming September 18th as Richard Poplar Day.

- This information was provided by the Richard Poplar Memorial Commttee

Black Soldiers in Confederate Army

2010-08-13T23:03:00.000-04:00

Daniel Jenkins Mulatto Confederate

2010-08-13T23:01:00.001-04:00

Mulatto Confederate Soldier Daniel Jenkins and his wife. Jenkins was with the Confederate 9th Kentucky Infantry and was killed at Shiloh on 4/6/62.

SCV Camp 1745
Black Confederates Page

A challenge

2010-08-03T01:17:00.002-04:00

Reader, please read the below. The union generals and soldiers had a profound dislike for blacks. They belittled them at every opportunity, this can be proven with very little research...The best source being, The Official Records "War of the Rebellion."

Now a challenge, if you can find "any" information of same toward blacks by The Confederates...Please let me know the source and I'll post it. All I can find is praise for the service of our black brothers in arms by their Confederate comrades.

GB/PoP

General HALLECK:

MY DEAR FRIEND: I owe you a private letter, and believe one at this time will be acceptable to you. I appreciate your position and the delicate responsibilities that devolve on you, but believe you will master and surmount them all. I confess I owe you all I now enjoy of fame, for I had allowed myself in 1861 to sink into a perfect "slough of despond," and do believe if I could I would have run away and hid from the dangers and complications that surrounded us. You alone seemed to be confident, and opened to us the first avenue of success and hope, and you gradually put me in the way of recovering from what might have proved an ignoble end....................I hope anything I may have said or done will not be construed unfriendly to Mr. Lincoln or Stanton. That negro letter of mine I never designed for publication, but I am honest in my belief that it is not fair to our men to count negroes as equals. Cannot we at this day drop theories, and be reasonable men? Let us capture negroes, of course, and use them to the best advantage. My quartermaster now could give employment to 3,200, and relieve that number of soldiers who are now used to unload and dispatch trains, whereas those recruiting agents take them back to Nashville, where, so far as my experience goes, they disappear. When I call for expeditions at distant points, the answer invariably comes that they have not sufficient troops. All count the negroes out. On the Mississippi, where Thomas talked about 100,000 negro troops, I find I cannot draw away a white soldier, because they are indispensable to the safety of the river. I am willing to use them as far as possible, but object to fighting with "paper" men. Occasionally an exception occurs, which simply deceives.

We want the best young white men of the land, and they should be inspired with the pride of freemen to fight for their country. If Mr. Lincoln or Stanton could walk through the camps of this army and hear the soldiers talk they would hear new ideas. I have had the question put to me often: "Is not a negro as good as a white man to stop a bullet?" Yes, and a sand-bag is better; but can a negro do our skirmishing and picket duty? Can they improvise roads, bridges, sorties, flank movements, &c., like the white man? I say no. Soldiers must and do many things without orders from their own sense, as in sentinels. Negroes are not equal to this. I have gone steadily, firmly, and confidently along, and I could not have done it with black troops, but with my old troops I have never felt a waver of doubt, and that very confidence begets success..............

Your sincere friend,

W. T. SHERMAN.

O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/5 [S# 76]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN, FROM JULY 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.(*)--#32
HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, near Lovejoy's, twenty-six miles south of Atlanta,
September 4, 1864.

The Story of Amos Rucker

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On August 10, 1905, Amos Rucker, an ex-Confederate soldier and proud member of the United Confederate Veterans, died in Atlanta, Georgia. His friends of the UCV had previously bought a grave site and marker for he and his wife Martha who had limited income. Amos Rucker was one of many thousands of Black Southerners who fought for the South during the War Between the States.

Amos was a servant and best friend to Sandy Rucker. Both men joined the 33rd Georgia Regiment when the South was invaded. Amos fought as a regular soldier and sustained wounds to his breast and one of his legs that left him permanently crippled.

Amos Rucker joined the W.H.T. Walker Camp of the United Confederates after the war in Atlanta, Georgia. He would faithfully attend the meetings that were held on the second Monday of each month at 102 Forsyth Street. He was able to remember the name of every man of his old 33th Regiment and would name them and add whether they were living or dead.

Amos Rucker and wife Martha felt that the men of the United Confederate Veterans were like family. Rucker said that, "My folks gave me everything I want." The UCV men helped Amos and wife Martha with a house on the west side of Atlanta and John M. Slaton helped with his will and care for his wife. Slaton was a member of Atlanta's John B. Gordon Camp 46 Sons of Confederate Veterans and was governor of Georgia when he commuted the death sentence of Leo Frank.

Funeral services for Amos Rucker was conducted by former Confederate General and Reverend Clement A. Evans. An article about the funeral related that Rucker was clothed in a gray Confederate uniform and a Confederate flag covered his casket. It is written that both white and black friends of Rucker came to pay their last respects. They was not a dry eye in the church when Captain William Harrison read a poem, entitled, "When Rucker called the roll."

A grave marker was placed in 1909 by the United Confederate Veterans that for many years marked the graves of Amos and Martha Rucker but some say it was taken many years ago. Only the caretaker knows where the graves are located.

Information for the story came from the book "Forgotten Confederates- A Anthology about Black Confederates" compiled by Kelly Barrow, J.H. Segars and R.B. Rosenburg."

Confederate Day celebration in Dixie County, Florida. 4/27/10

2010-07-17T21:19:00.001-04:00

A Tribute to Black Confederates

2010-06-14T07:23:00.000-04:00

Black Confederates join mess

2010-05-24T17:48:00.000-04:00

Black Confederates join mess with with their white brothers

A TRIBUTE TO THE MAN IN BLACK

2010-05-17T17:45:00.000-04:00

This revives the memory of a faithful man in black who followed me through from First Manassas, Leesburg, where he assisted in capturing the guns we took from Baker, to the Peninsular, the Seven Days before Ricnmond, Fredericksburg, the bombardment of the city December 11, and the battle, two days after, at Marye's Heights, to Chancellorsville, the storming of Harper's Ferry, and the terrible struggle at Sharpsburg (Antietam now), and last, Gettysburg. Here he lost his life by his fidelity to me his 'young marster" and companion. We were reared together on 'de ole plantation" in "Massippi."

I was wounded in the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg on the second day. The fourth day found us retreating in a cold, drizzling rain. George had found an ambulance, in which I, Sergeant Major of the Seventeenth Mississippi, and Col. Holder of that regiment, still on this side of the river, and an officer of the Twenty first Mississippi, whose name escapes me, embarked for the happy land of Dixie. All day long we moved slower than any funeral train over the pike, only getting eight miles to Cashtown. When night camel had to dismount from loss of blood and became a prisoner in a strange land. On the next day about sundown faithful George, who still clung lo me, told me that the Yankees were coming down the road from Gettysburg and were separating the "black folks from dar marsters," that he didn't want to be separated from me and for me to go on to prison and he'd slip over the mountains and join the regiment in retreat, and we'd meet again "ober de ribber," meaning the Potomac. We had crossed at Williamsport.

I insisted on George accepting his freedom and joining a settlement of free negroes in the vicinity of Gettysburg, which we had passed through in going up to the battle. But he would have none of it, he wanted to stay with me always. I had him hide my sword, break it off at the hilt and stick it in a crack of the barn (that yet stands in the village) to the left of the road going away from Gettysburg, where I, with about thirty other wounded, lay. I can yet see that faithful black face and the glint of the blade as the dying rays of that day's sun flashed upon them. A canteen of water and some hard tack was the last token of his kindly care for me.

In the spring of 1865, I saw a messmate from whom I was separated on that battlefield, and he told me the fate of poor, faithful George. He had gotten through the lines safely and was marching in the rear of our retreating command, when met by a Northern lady, who had a son in our command, whom George, by chance, happened to know. He was telling her of her son, who was safe as a prisoner, when some men in blue came up. George ran and they shot and killed him. He was dressed in gray and they took him for a combatant. The lady had him buried and then joined her son in prison. She told my messmate of this and he told to the boys in camp the fate of the truest and best friend I ever had. George's prediction will come true. I feel we will meet again "over the river."

Confederate Veteran May 1896 [P.154].

Negroes Volunteering.

2010-05-15T19:55:00.001-04:00

About fifty free negroes in Amelia county have offered themselves to the Government for any service.

In our neighboring city of Petersburg, two hundred free negroes offered for any work that might be assigned to them, either to fight under white officers, dig ditches, or any thing that could show their desire to serve Old Virginia. In the same city, a negro hackman came to his master, and with tears in his eyes, insisted that he should accept all his savings, $100, to help equip the volunteers. The free negroes of Chesterfield have made a similar proposition. Such is the spirit among bond and free, throughout the whole of the State. Those who calculate on a different state of things, will soon discover their mistake.

Rich. Dispatch.
The Vindicator pg1 (Column 1)

Sensible Colored Folks

2010-05-12T19:27:00.000-04:00

According to an account by a Lieut. Daniels, between thirty-five or forty Southern blacks captured at the Battle of Gettysburg by Northern forces are being held at Fort McHenry. While they have been offered release from their confinement if they would "take an oath of allegiance to the Federal Government and join the Lincoln army," the prisoners have refused the offer and have instead insisted that they should "be restored to their masters and homes in the South."

The Spectator, October 13, 1863, p. 2, c. 5: "Sensible Colored Folks."

BILL KING, A BLACK CONFEDERATE

2010-05-12T15:59:00.001-04:00

Bill King is dead. Members of the 20th Tennessee (Battle's) Regiment will remember him. No more faithful negro ever served a cause than did Bill King serve the boys of the old 20th. He went into the war as the body servant of the sons of Mr. Jack King, of Nolensville, Tenn., but he became the faithful servant of every member of this regiment. He went with the brave boys into the heat of battle, he nursed and cared for them in sickness, and assisted in burying the dead on the battlefields. He was as true to the cause of the South as any member of that gallant band under the intrepid leadership of Col. Joel A. Battle. In Shiloh's bloody affray Colonel Battle was captured, and the leadership fell to young Col. Thomas Benton Smith.

When one of his young masters was killed in battle, Bill was one of the escort which tenderly bore the body back to his mother and father.

Since the war Bill King had been classed as an unreconstructed Rebel. He was a true and loyal Confederate until his death. He affiliated with old soldiers, attending every gathering within his reach. He was a member of Troop A, Confederate Veterans, Nashville. He lived on his old master's farm, near Nolensville, but he died in Nashville at Vanderbilt Medical College, where he underwent a serious surgical operation.

Mr. William Waller, an undertaker, took the body back to Nolensville for burial. The body was clad in the Confederate uniform which he had during the past few years worn on all reunion occasions, according to his request. The funeral service was conducted in Mount Olivet Methodist Church (white) by the pastor, Rev. H. W. Carter.

Bill King was seventy three years old, and leaves a wife and ten or eleven children. He was a Baptist, but as there is no church of this denomination near his home, his friends decided to have the funeral in the Methodist church. He was buried in the Nolensville, TN. Cemetery.

Confederate Veteran June 1910 [P.294].

Isaac Papino, Black Confederate

2010-05-08T14:22:00.001-04:00

A Confederate flag adorns a memorial marker placed in remembrance of Isaac Papino, an African American soldier who served in the Confederate army. Buried at San Lorenzo Cemetery in St. Augustine
St. Augustine Record

Black Confederate soldier Anthony T. Welters

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Confederate soldier Anthony T. Welters is pictured in this late 1800's portrait. Welters is one of two African American Confederate soldiers buried at San Lorenzo Cemetery in St. Augustine.

Returning to St. Augustine, after the war, Welters lived at 79 Bridge St. and became active in politics and with the E. Kirby Smith Camp, United Confederate Veterans. He died in 1902 at 92 years old.

St. Augustine Record

Lt. Owen Snuffer's compassion for a fellow soldier.

2010-05-08T05:21:00.003-04:00

The Osceola (Mo.) Democrat raised money to send "Uncle" George McDonald, of St. Clair County, a colored Confederate veteran, and perhaps the only one [attending the reunion], to the Confederate reunion at Columbia last month. "Uncle" George went with the Confederates from St. Clair County, and fought in several engagements. At Wilson's Creek [Oak Hills], a minie ball plowed through his hip and a buckshot struck him in the face.

George lay groaning upon the ground when he was found by Owen Snuffer, lieutenant of his company. Snuffer stooped down, examined the black man's wounds, and stanched the flow of blood from them. "For God's sake," cried the suffering negro, "give me a drink of water." Snuffer's canteen was empty, but midway between the firing lines was a well. To reach it, the lieutenant was to become the target of sharpshooters, and it meant almost certain death. But with bullets falling around him like hailstones, he pushed forward until the well was reached. And then he discovered that the bucket had been taken away and the windlass removed. The water was far down and the depth unknown. The well was old-fashioned-stone-walled. Owen pulled off his long cavalry boots; and taking one in his teeth, he let himself down slowly, hand over hand, until the water was reached and the boot filled, and then he climbed up, straddling the well and clutching with hands and feet the rocky walls. Reaching the surface again, he picked up the other boot and safely made is way back to the Confederate lines.

Returning from the war, "Uncle" George settled near Monegaw Springs, and has reared an intelligent, honest, industrious family. One of his children educated himself, graduated at the Smith University in Sedalia, and is now in charge of a Church in Kansas. Another is waiter at the Commercial Hotel in Osceola, and is known for his strict integrity.

1903 volume the Confederate Veteran.

Black Confederate snipers

2010-04-29T22:26:00.002-04:00

Alfred Bellard, a white soldier of the 5th NJ Infantry, reported in his memoirs "Gone for a Soldier pg[24]" the shooting of two black Confederate snipers by member's of the Berdan's Sharpshooters in April of 1862.

"One of the Negro Confederates was only wounded, but the other was killed one afternoon after leaving the security of a hollow tree (probably to relieve himself). Two Confederates tried to get to his body but were driven away by the Union gunfire".

A letter by a Federal officer
Col. Giles Smith commanded the First Brigade and Col. T. Kilby Smith, Fifty-fourth Ohio, the Fourth. I communicated to these officers General Sherman's orders and charged Colonel Smith, Fifty-fourth Ohio, specially with the duty of clearing away the road to the crossing and getting it into the best condition for effecting our crossing that he possibly could. The work was vigorously pressed under his immediate supervision and orders, and he devoted himself to it with as much energy and activity as any living man could employ. It had to be prosecuted under the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, protected as well as the men might be by our skirmishers on the bank, who were ordered to keep up so vigorous a fire that the enemy should not dare to lift their heads above their rifle-pits; but the enemy, and especially their armed negroes, did dare to rise and fire, and did serious execution upon our men. The casualties in the brigade were 11 killed, 40 wounded, and 4 missing; aggregate, 55. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. STUART,
Brigadier-General, Commanding."

BLACK CONFEDERATES IN THE NC STATE ARCHIVES

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Michael F. Easley, Governor Lisbeth C. Evans, Secretary
North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources

BLACK CONFEDERATES IN THE STATE ARCHIVES

RALEIGH – The North Carolina State Archives hold a number of surprises, not the least of which are records
of blacks in North Carolina who served the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

“Many people don’t realize that blacks served in the Confederate Army, and that some actually fought,”
says Earl Ijames, archivist for the Office of Archives and History in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

Ijames, who has researched black Confederate soldiers in North Carolina for more than a decade, said
both slaves and free blacks worked or fought for the Confederate cause. But, he said, it’s often difficult to
determine their exact activities because the social climate of the times did not value or recognize the
contributions of blacks.

No one knows how many blacks served the Confederate Army. It is known that some slaves
accompanied their masters into battle, but only as personal servants. Other slaves, sent by their masters, mainly
worked for the Confederacy to build forts or to transport materials, supplies or corpses. Some free blacks
enlisted and actually fought, while other free blacks worked in construction for the Confederate Army.

Official military service records of black soldier’s activities have not been found in the state archives.
But there are records in the archives that provide some names of black Confederate soldiers, but few details of
their service. No accounts exist of battles or valor, hardship or retreat, just the notation “Negro” beside a name.
Unofficial records are sketchy, if they survived the Civil War, Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.

Among the records in North Carolina’s archives that document African Americans’ service are
newspaper enrollment notices that give times for free Negroes to enlist in the Confederate Army,
correspondence, Confederate pension applications, and depositions. Some military records note that slaves
helped to construct forts or do other work at military facilities. Other documentation can be found in the “North
Carolina Troops, 1861-1865,” a 15-volume set of reference books that chronicles Confederate servicemen and
includes the names of black soldiers.

In some instances, officials even denied the existence of black Confederate soldiers. For instance, Sarah
Venable, widow of John W. Venable, applied for a widow’s pension. Venable is listed in the “North Carolina
Troops, 1861-1865,” as a member of Company H, 21st Regiment N.C. Troops. The roster shows that he was

Office of Public Affairs Brenda Follmer, Director
109 E. Jones Street, 4604 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-4604

(919) 733-5722 FAX (919) 733-1620
www.ncdcr.gov

(more)

Page 2

“Negro, enlisted June 5, 1861. No further records.” However, John Sawyer, a white Confederate veteran who
served with Venable, submitted a deposition as part of Sarah’s application stating that he knew John Venable,
and that Venable had “made a good soldier.” Yet the claim was disallowed with the notation, “No law for this.”

Another pension application came from an attorney in Spring Hope in 1924, on behalf of John Pulley.
Pulley had served in Company B under Capt. A. D. Crudup, who was deceased. State Auditor Baxter Durham
denied the claim, saying that the Confederacy had no Negro troops.

But some applications from blacks were approved, such as one from Billie Burrell, who said he was sent
by his master from Granville County to Fort Fisher, Fort Caswell and Baldhead Island. He may have helped
with fort construction and maintenance of the facilities and equipment, Ijames said. Burrell didn’t claim to be
in the Confederate Army, leading Ijames to speculate that Burrell’s application was approved because he didn’t
claim to be a soldier. In July 1939, Burrell received his pension approval; he was more than 90 years old at the
time.

Depositions and correspondence record devoted service by slaves to their masters on the battlefield,
usually by providing food and personal care. There are accounts of slaves who might have escaped bondage in
the theater of war, but chose to remain and serve, sometimes even after the death of their master.

A particularly poignant example of this was written about the service of the slave George Mills to his
master, Walter Bryson. It recounts how George provided bodily comfort and went through several battles with
his master. But the greatest service came when Walter was killed in the Battle of Antietam, Md. George
recovered the body, then made the long trip home to Hendersonville, N.C., so that his master would not be
buried in a ditch with the 24,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who died in battle that day.

Slaves often did whatever needed doing. Ijames shares the story of some slaves who got an unusual
assignment at the city of Fayetteville’s armory. In a report to Gov. Henry Clark, Fayetteville Mayor Archibal
McLean named 27 slaves whose tasks included “police duties in the square, and rear grounds, hauling bricks for
the repair of roads, hauling wood for the engine, attending the carpenters, cleaning old flint muskets, packing
arms, etc. etc.”

“Many people ask why free blacks would join the Confederate Army,” Ijames observed. “There could
be many reasons. Many free blacks were literate and property owners, so it could have been in their interest to
be with the Confederates.”

Others factors Ijames sites are religion and loyalty among slaves, saying slaves and free blacks felt a
sense of kinship to the land and families that may have made them loyal to the Confederacy. He also pointed
out that slavery also had been practiced in the North, and that blacks in the North often found the racism just as
real and unwelcoming.

Ijames, who began searching his own roots years ago, learned of the black Confederate soldiers from a
co-worker who was entering the North Carolina Confederate pension applications in an electronic database. He
began researching the topic then, and has continued. He also makes presentations to civic groups; in 2001, he
was awarded the Jefferson Davis Medal by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for his research on black
confederates.

Office of Public Affairs Brenda Follmer, Director
109 E. Jones Street, 4604 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-4604

(919) 733-5722 FAX (919) 733-1620
www.ncdcr.gov

For information on black Confederates, call Earl Ijames at 919/733-3952.

Office of Public Affairs Brenda Follmer, Director
109 E. Jones Street, 4604 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-4604

(919) 733-5722 FAX (919) 733-1620
www.ncdcr.gov

Gettysburg in July 1863

2010-03-27T15:24:00.001-04:00

"...And after the battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, ...reported among the rebel prisoners were seven blacks in Confederate uniforms fully armed as soldiers..."

- New York Herald, July 11, 1863.

No longer is their history, or my history, but our history

2010-03-16T02:28:00.000-04:00

“I’ve 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 the Confederate forces. The man spoke with pride about his family member’s contribution to the cause, was photographed with the [Confederate] flag draped over his lap…that’s 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.” ~ Terri Williams, a black journalist for the Suffolk “Virginia Pilot” newspaper

Most of the Negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabers, bowie-knives, dirks, etc

2010-03-16T02:22:00.000-04:00

Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson's occupation of Frederick, Maryland, in 1862: "Over 3,000 Negroes must be included in 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, etc. These were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel ranks. Most of the Negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabers, bowie-knives, dirks, etc.....and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederate Army." ~ Dr. Lewis Steiner, Chief Inspector of the United States Sanitary Commission

Negro Confederate Veteran Shot

2010-02-23T06:26:00.002-05:00

Dallas, Tex. - June 14. Two negroes, Henson Williams and his son William, were shot dead from ambush in Brazos County, while they were plowing in a field. Officers are searching for a white man who is believed to have shot them. The elder Williams fought through the Civil War as a Confederate soldier and made such a good record that he was made a full member of the Confederate Veteran's camp at Milliken. The old white Confederate soldiers are enraged at the assassination and threaten vengeance on the assassin when captured.

New York Times issue dated 6/15/1900.

Black History Month & "Civil War Memory"

2010-02-05T15:44:00.001-05:00

The 32 Part Series
by Bill Vallante

HERE

General Forrest's Black Warriors

2010-02-03T19:57:00.000-05:00

General Forrest's attack at Murfreesboro, Tenn, July 13, 1862: "The forces attacking my camp were the First Regiment Texas Rangers [8th Texas Cavalry, Terry's Texas Rangers, ed.], Colonel Wharton, and a battalion of the First Georgia Rangers, Colonel Morrison, and a large number of citizens of Rutherford County, many of whom had recently taken the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. There were also many negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops, who were armed and equipped, and took part in the several engagements with my forces during the day."

Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol XVI Part I, pg. 805, Lt. Col. Parkhurst's Report (Ninth Michigan Infantry)

Fort Fisher's Black Confederates

2010-01-30T18:05:00.000-05:00

It should be noted that most if not all captured Confederates were offered the opportunity to sign the Oath of Allegiance. Notice that none of them did except the fourth man listed, Daniel Herring. And even he didn't agree to sign it until more than two months Lee's surrender!)

"When Fort Fisher fell to the Union troops in January, 1865, the following blacks are recorded as being among the captured Confederates:

Charles Dempsey, Private, Company F, 36th NC Regiment (2nd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled and exchanged at Coxes Landing, James River, VA, February 14-15, 1865.

Henry Dempsey, Private, Company F, 36th NC Regiment (2nd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled and exchanged at Coxes Landing, James River, VA, February 14-15, 1865.

J. Doyle, Private, Company E, 40th NC Regiment (3rd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until paroled and exchanged at Boulware's Wharf, James River, VA, March 16, 1865.

Daniel Herring, Cook, Company F, 36th NC Regiment (2nd NC Artillery), Negro. Captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, until released after taking Oath of Allegiance June 19, 1865 (he was held prisoner for two months AFTER the official surrender)." ~ North Carolina Troops, Volume I:

Defending our homes, firesides, and country

2010-01-26T02:17:00.000-05:00

O.R.--SERIES IV--VOLUME III [S# 129]

APPENDIX.

HEADQUARTERS JACKSON HOSPITAL,
February 14, 1865.

Lieut. Gen. R. S. EWELL:

DEAR SIR: For my own gratification, as well as those who are taking great interest in the important question, with regard to the using of the slaves of the Confederacy as an assisting element to us in defending our homes, firesides, and country from those who would destroy us, I would respectfully say that this morning I caused the hired male slaves at this hospital to be convened, and after asking them the deliberate question, if they would be willing to take up arms to protect their masters' families, homes, and their own from an attacking foe, sixty out of seventy-two responded they would volunteer to go to the trenches and fight the enemy to the bitter end.

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

F. W. HANCOCK,

Surgeon in charge.

__________________

From the National Archives, RG 109 (Administrative Files – Subject Index: Ships – Zouaves, Box # 5 , “Slaves” Folder)
Hd Qrs Jackson Battalion
March 16th 1865

Sir
I have the honor to report that in obedience to your orders received through Surg Hancock I ordered my Battalion from the 1st 2d 3 & 4 Div of Jackson Hospital to the front on Saturday night at 12 o’clk and reported by order of Maj. Pegram to Col. Ship P.A.C.S. Comdg Cadet Corps.

I have great pleasure in stating that my men acted with the utmost promptness and good will.

I had the pleasure of turning over to Major Chambliss a portion of my negro command to be attached to his negro command. Allow me to state that they behaved in extraordinary commendable(?) manner. I would respectfully ask that Major Chambliss be particularly noticed for the manner which he handled that very important element to be inaugurated in our service.

Respy your Obdt Servt

H. C. Scott
Surg(?) & Major Comdg
Jackson Battln

Forgotten Confederates

2010-01-25T22:48:00.002-05:00

Monument at Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Dedicated to Forgotten Confederates

Patriots of Colour!

2010-01-24T22:47:00.010-05:00

It would take a complete fool to say many slaves did not support the Confederacy.... But it would take a greater fool to say many slaves and free blacks did not fight as Patriots for same.... As already stated, the truth is out there!

Alfred Bellard, a white soldier of the 5th NJ Infantry, reported in his memoirs the shooting of two black Confederate snipers by member's of the Berdan's Sharpshooters in April of 1862.

"One of the Negro Confederates was only wounded, but the other was killed one afternoon after leaving the security of a hollow tree (probably to relieve himself). Two Confederates tried to get to his body but were driven away by the Union gunfire"
Alfred Bellard, Gone for a Soldier, p. 56

This wasn't an isolated case. One of the best marksmen in the Confederacy was an African-American who outfitted himself in a sniper's roost in an almost perfect hiding spot inside a brick chimney from which he proceeded to shoot Yankees at their nearby camp. Any Union soldier who dared to come into his range was fired at. Several times the Federalize called up to the sniper to desert, but the black Confederate ignored their appeals. This ordeal ended when a regiment was marched off to fire a volley at the chimney, eventually putting a bullet through the sniper's head.

Serving in a military capacity wasn't the only way blacks could prove their loyalty to the Confederacy. Black patriotism took many forms, "some were sincerely patriotic, others were alarmed individuals acting on self-preservation and economic interest"
Richmond Whig, from Jordan's Black Confederates., p. 235.

Black Confederate loyalty was pervasive and real. American historians failed to recognize this loyalty. "By the summer of 1861 Southern blacks who supported and allied themselves with the Confederacy were looking to volunteer" Richmond Whig, from Jordan's Black Confederates P. 217

Serving in a military capacity wasn't the only way blacks could prove their loyalty to the Confederacy. Black patriotism took many forms, "some were sincerely patriotic, others were alarmed individuals acting on self-preservation and economic interest"
Jordan, p. 235

There are other prominent cases of black patriotism among slaves and free men. Many of these people saw their cause as protecting their homes. "Despite the hardships of slavery loyal blacks made financial and material contributions to the Confederacy"
J.K. Obatala, "The unlikely story of blacks who were loyal to Dixie", p. 94.

Blacks placed their lives in danger for a country and its cause; a cause which many Americans would not expect blacks to support. Slaves and free blacks joined for different reasons.

"The free colored population love their home, their property, their own slaves and recognize no other country than Louisiana, and are ready to shed their blood for her defense. They have no sympathy for Abolitionism; no love for the North, but they have plenty for Louisiana."
The Louisiana free blacks stated in a letter written to the New Orleans' Daily Delta:

In the beginning of the war many of the Southern states made provisions for placing blacks at the disposal of the state governments. "The Tennessee legislature passed an act in June, 1861, authorizing the governor, at his discretion to receive into the military service of the State all male free persons of color, between the ages of fifteen and fifty, or such numbers as may be necessary who may be capable of actual service" Robert Henry, The story of the Confederacy, p. 380.

"Those people" say thousands of slaves fled their masters, becoming contraband, following Sherman for safty from their masters??.

Well, the master was away fighting for state rights. They were mastered? by women and old men, they could have left way before..... Sherman's men took all the food and destoryed the food crops. These blacks followed a food source.

Confederate Monument,
Arlington National Cemetery

DID BLACKS SERVE in THE C.S. ARMY?

2010-01-06T13:45:00.011-05:00

YOU CAN BET THEY DID!

Click Images to Enlarge

The denial of "those people"amazes me. With very little effort, anyone can find that free blacks and slaves served in the C.S. Army. Some were pressed into service, but many volunteered of their own free will. Many argue the numbers which is moot, the simple fact is that blacks served!

It matters not if they were teamsters, cooks, combatants or simply caring for the family at home. These patriots of colour where heroes and deserve better than they have received!

For those in denial, the truth is out there and you know it!...PoP

United Confederate Veterans with Brothers of Colour standing proudly.

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.

Read heretofore unpublished historical document on Black Confederates:
HERE

Negro Confederate Veteran Shot

2009-12-21T09:35:00.000-05:00

In Defense of His Confederate Pride

2009-12-18T20:00:00.000-05:00

Nelson W. Winbush, 78, of Kissimmee stands in front of the Confederate battle flag that was draped over his grandfather's coffin in 1934.

Nelson Winbush is intent on defending the flag of his grandfather. It's just surprising which flag that is.

STORY HERE

Thanks to:

Honouring A Black Confederate American In NC

2009-12-18T19:48:00.000-05:00

Thanks to:

Secesh negroes!!!

2009-12-18T18:06:00.000-05:00

A Printer's Story.—It was a pretty extensive 'breach of the peace, that battle at Shiloh,' (writes a Chicago printer, from his prison at Macon, Georgia.) "The roar of musketry, from six in the morning till night, sounded like an immense waterfall. No cessation, nor rest—continual and desperate fighting. Dead men lay literally in heaps. In some places where the wounded lay, the brush caught fire, and we could hear them scream as the flames reached them. I shudder when I think of it. Another remarkable feature of the battle was the number of dead negroes lying about in secesh uniform. Draw your own inference. I have seen negroes with guns in their hands, acting as sentries.
DAILY TIMES [LEAVENWORTH, KS], June 22, 1862, p. 2, c. 2

Dr. R. A. Gwynne of Birmingham, Alabama, a Black Confederate

2009-12-18T11:26:00.001-05:00

Alabama Department of Archives and History
File Name Q5189

Eight Confederate Veterans on the steps of the Capitol in Montgomery, attending the last known Confederate Veterans reunion in the state.

Description Standing, left to right: General William Banks of Houston, Texas; General W. W.Alexander of Rockhill, South Carolina; General J. D. Ford of Marshall, Texas; General T. H.Dowling of Atlanta, Georgia; General James W. Moore of Selma, Alabama; Colonel W. H.Culpepper of Atlanta, Georgia; and General W. M. Buck of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Seated in front is Dr. R. A. Gwynne of Birmingham, Alabama, the only African American to attend the reunion. This image was used and identified in the Alabama Historical Quarterly, Volume
6, page 6 (1944).

Date 1944 September 27-28

Collection or Series Title Alabama Dept. of Archives and History photographs collection -
subjects vertical file
Box Number Box 5
Folder Title Military - Civil War - Veterans (Confederate)
Publisher Alabama Dept. of Archives and History, 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL
36130

Ten Cent Bill, Black Confederate

2009-12-18T07:29:00.000-05:00

Bill Yopp, a Black Confederate, 14th Georgia Regiment, Company H. was sympathetic to the men of Atlanta’s soldiers home who had been his compatriots in arms over fifty years earlier.

During the War Between the States, 1861-1865, Bill Yopp was nicknamed "Ten Cent Bill" because of the money he made shining shoes. He did this for the soldiers at a dime a shine and ended up with more money than most of his comrades. These men, also, cared for him when he was sick.

During the Christmas of 1919, Bill wanted to pay back the kindness that was shown to him. He caught a train from Atlanta to Macon, where he was offered help from the editor of a local newspaper [The Macon Telegraph]. He then caught a train to Savannah to raise Christmas money for the old veterans. Bill met many generous people on his trip.

Just weeks before the Christmas of 1919, he had raised the money and Georgia’s Governor Hugh Dorsey helped him distribute envelopes of three dollars to each veteran. That was a lot of money in those days.

The old Confederates were speechless. Tears were shed because of Bill Yopp's good heart and kind deed. Many of these men had little or nothing. Bill was invited to come into the home's Chapel and say a few words.

Bill Yopp was later presented a medal of appreciation for his support of the old soldiers and also voted in as a resident of the Confederate Soldier's Home.

Bill died on June 3, 1936, the 128th birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He was buried at Marietta, Georgia’s Confederate Cemetery with his compatriots.

The Confederate Soldier’s Home was located at 401 Confederate Ave., in Atlanta, Georgia.

Christmas is about love, forgiveness, old friends, family and the Child who became a savior.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!

The source of information for this story came from the book, entitled: Bill Yopp "Ten Cent Bill" Narrative of a Slave! This book was written in 1969 by Charles W. Hampton