Description
Book SynopsisThe Civil War stands vivid in the collective memory of the American public. There has always been a profound interest in the subject, and specifically the participation of black Americans in and reactions to the war and the war's outcome. Almost 200,000 African-American soldiers fought for the Union in the Civil War. Although most were illiterate ex-slaves, several thousand were well-educated, free black men from the northern states. The 176 letters in this collection were written by black soldiers in the Union army during the Civil War to black and abolitionist newspapers. They provide a unique expression of the black voice that was meant for a public forum. The letters tell of the men's experiences, their fears and their hopes. They describe in detail their army days - the excitement of combat and the drudgery of digging trenches. Some letters give vivid descriptions of battle; others protest against racism; still others call eloquently for civil rights. Many describe their convictio
Trade Review"...a significant addition to the small but growing body of literature speaking directly to the African Americans' Civil War." Richard M. Reid, Georgia Historical Quarterly
"This volume is a substantial and important addition to the growing literature of African-American involvement in the Civil War." Richard Blackett, Journal of American History
Table of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; Introduction: for freedom and equality; 1. Black soldiers in white regiments; 2. South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida; 3. Virginia and North Carolina; 4. The Gulf States; 5. Occupation duty; 6. For the rights of citizens; 7. The struggle for equal pay; 8. Racism in the army; 9. The navy; 10. War's end; Index.
