African American Soldiers Fought in the Civil War

Did you know …

 

African Americans fought in the Civil War. They fought in segregated regiments (all black troops) that became known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT).

President Abraham Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. It became law on January 1, 1863, and freed the slaves.

Over one hundred seventy-eight thousand African Americans enlisted in the United States Army during the Civil War. Some of these men lived in free states. Most of these soldiers were from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

These recruits had to be trained to shoot a gun and become soldiers. They worked hard.

During practice drills, they loaded muskets (rifles) and aimed at targets. They fired on these targets until they felt comfortable with their weapon. They practiced marching and learned that following orders could save their lives. They became soldiers.

 

An Unfair Law Gets Corrected

The Militia Act, passed in July of 1862, set the pay for African American army employees at $10 per month, of which $3 was to be in clothing. At the same time, white soldiers received $13 per month.

They wore the same uniforms and carried the same equipment as the rest of the Union Army. They had the same risk of being wounded or killed on the battlefields. They fought bravely.

Most African American soldiers refused to accept the $10 per month pay rate. They preferred to work for free until Congress granted them equal pay, which happened in July of 1864. These men received their unpaid salaries starting January 1, 1864.

The USCT troops gained the respect they earned. By the end of the war, all those they fought with and against recognized their bravery and courage.

 

– Sandra Merville Hart