11.4

1. 11.4 Black Men Fight for the Union

2. The Union Enlists Black Troops • The Emancipation Proclamation not only began the process of ending slavery but it also authorized the enlistment of black troops • By early 1863 the Union army was not doing well and it was clear that the addition of African American soldiers could provide a needed boost to the forces

3. South Carolina Volunteer Regiments • Some Union officers recruited black men long before emancipation • In 1862 General David Hunter began recruiting former slaves along the S. Carolina coast • He even used Union soldiers to force enlistment among black men that refused to enlist • Initially Congress refused to finance this operation and all but one company of these soldiers were dismissed

4. African American Regiments • Congress did however pass the 2nd Confiscation Act and the Militia Act of 1862 which allowed Lincoln to enlist black soldiers • That fall two regiments of free black men were enlisted they were called the Corps d’Afrique • These groups were commanded by two members of the Secret Six that funded John Brown’s raid • Thomas Wentworth Higginson and James Montgomery commanded these units and were committed to proving the merit of African American soldiers

5. The 54th Massachusetts • The Black Committee was a group of prominent abolitionists tasked with raising a black regiment in the North • This unit became known as the 54th Massachusetts even though the men came from all across the Northern states • This group became the most famous black unit in the war

6. Black Soldiers Confront Discrimination • The army was segregated with separate black and white units • Most whites were not willing to accept black soldiers or their ability to endure combat • Many white officers refused to command black units in combat • Black soldiers were often paid less and were refused duty in combat

7. Black Soldiers Confront Discrimination • The 54th Massachusetts refused payment until they received equal pay • One Sgt. William Walker insisted his men be paid equally or not at all. He was charged with mutiny convicted and shot • Congress didn’t compromise on equal pay for black soldiers until 1864 • This only included retroactive pay for those soldiers that were never slaves

8. Black Men in Combat • Black soldiers fought in almost every battle for the remainder of the war • They also suffered disproportionate amounts of casualties • They fought in many significant battles throughout the war and many were decorated for bravery • They helped to dispel the myth that • African Americans were not fit for combat

9. Assignment • 1. Why were black men willing to fight for the unification of the country? • 2. What led to the formation of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment? • 3. What types of discrimination did African American soldiers face? • 4. Which Acts allowed Lincoln to finally enlist black soldiers? • 5. Who commanded the Corps d’ Afrique? Why were these men important?