Soldiers Essay Research Paper Mike SimmonsAfrican StudiesBlack

Soldiers Essay, Research Paper

Mike Simmons

African Studies

Black Soldiers in the Civil War

The true meanings of duty, courage, and commitment were exemplified by the story of the Fifty Fourth Massachusetts regiment in the Civil War and the characters in the film Glory. Throughout the many trials and tests of their dignity and bravery, these African-American soldiers prevailed indefinitely in a cause that they firmly believed in. Although the public scrutiny and criticisms that the organizers of the Fifty Fourth Massachusetts faced when the formation of an all black regiment was initially announced, these heroic leaders were no thwarted in their attempts to bring an “inferior” race into the Union’s army. Early public disbelief and reaction were not the only form of discrimination that these soldiers so bravely confronted. Also they combated discrimination on the battlefield and camps as well as in training. Besides discrimination, the blacks had to be chivalrous to endure the hardships of battle, create and shape important heroes, and teach the world a lesson that would not be soon forgotten.

Early public disbelief and intolerance nearly obstructed the formation the first black Union soldiers in the Fifty Fourth Massachusetts regiment, but with the courage, persistence and sense of duty that the instrumental leaders possessed, nothing could stop their efforts in an attempt for equal rights. The placement of blacks in the military during the Civil War was a bold experiment that could only be accepted by whites slowly and with determination. John A. Andrews, the governor of Massachusetts during the Civil War, led the movement of Negro troops. He ignored the popular ideals and opinions of his constituents and risked his reputation to express something that he fully believed in. Governor Andrew those who the war was being fought over, participate in it and somehow have dictate the fate of their black “brothers and sisters” in the South. And yet, lingering in the minds of the white Northern population was the “Sambo myth”, an idea popularized at the very peak of slavery. Many considered the blacks to be stupid, slow, and vastly too ignorant to conduct warfare productively. To retort the formation of black regiments, terrible riots shook New York City from July 13 to 16, 1863. These outbreaks were fueled in part by the racism of Irish-Americans who wanted free slaves to have no part in warfare. On July 15, a mob beat to death the nephew of Robert Simmons, a sergeant in the Fifty Fourth, demonstrating the common disapproval of blacks in the military. The riots were also provoked by Northern Democrats in opposition to president Abraham Lincoln’s war policies, including the Emancipation Proclamation and the draft of African-American troops into the army. The soldiers paid no attention to these discouraging remarks and actions but continued to enlist in the Union army. Unfortunately this early discrimination by the public followed the soldiers out onto the battlefield.

Discrimination against black soldiers in training, camps, and in battle was quite evident and yet often ignored or met heard on depending upon the case. The Federal government promised the black soldiers of the Fifty Fourth regiment the same pay as other white soldiers equal to them in rank upon enlistment. Black soldiers were initially paid only ten dollars per month from which three dollars was automatically deducted for clothing, resulting in a net pay of only seven dollars. In contrast, white soldiers received thirteen dollars per month from which no clothing allowance was drawn. Fearlessly, the black soldiers and their white commanders stood up to authority, refusing to accept these terms. For nearly eighteen months the soldiers of the Fifty Fourth Massachusetts regiment turned down these low wages but continued to work for the Union’s army. Numerous black soldiers who protested over the pay issue were court-martialed and even executed. In spite of this, soldiers continued to risk their lives, standing up for what they believed in. After a rigorous campaign, the government finally granted them equivalent pay, proving that the blacks’ audacity could accomplish great strides in equality. Another form of discrimination inflicted upon black soldiers was excessive labor duties, beyond their fair share. For long hours, former slaves now enlisted in the army would unload ships, dig trenches, and build roads until exhaustion but never complaining. They had finally achieved the act of being admitted into the army and so they decided to prove their own worth in all aspects of the military. The blacks continued to register in the army, ignoring these unfortunate incidents. Thirdly, commanders of the regiment were hesitant in promoting African-Americans to the position of officer. Governor Andrew defended the decision to first appoint a white soldier, Robert Gould Shaw, to Colonel of the regiment, by stating that superior officers were necessary since the Fifty Fourth was the first colored regiment to be raised in the free states. Its success or failure would be closely watched so an experienced, confident leader was essential. Also, blacks were not appointed to powerful positions because they hadn’t been allowed to serve in army previously, thus lacking experience they needed to serve as officers. Also race prejudice was still so intensely strong in the North at this time, public opinio