BLACK AMERICAN PATRIOTS | CIVIL WAR

HEROISM, COURAGE, BRAVERY: BLACK AMERICAN PATRIOTS OF THE CIVIL WAR

During the American Civil War, many Black Americans, whether enslaved, escaped, or born free, fought valiantly in the war effort to end slavery. Their heroic and legendary contributions helped shape the future course of American history.

From its founding in 1828 until 1860, the anti-abolitionist Democrat Party dominated American politics. The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by antislavery activists. It swiftly established itself as the primary rival of the Pro-Slavery Democrat Party. 

Many notable events occurred in the years preceding the Civil War, which divided the northern and southern states. However, it is widely believed that the most significant event was the 1848 lawsuit filed by a slave named Dred Scott and his wife, Harriet, in the St. Louis Circuit Court after their owner, John Emerson, relocated with them to Missouri.

DRED SCOTT
Dred Scott v. Sandford 

Dred Scott and his wife claimed to be free because they had lived in the territory of Missouri while traveling with their Master, where slavery was illegal. This resulted in an 11-year judicial battle that became one of the most contentious Supreme Court rulings ever delivered.

In the Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) decision, the Supreme Court concluded by a 7-2 majority that the Missouri Compromise (1820), which proclaimed all territory north of latitude 36°30′ and west of Missouri to be free, was unconstitutional. (Paradoxically, it is the institution of slavery that should have been declared unconstitutional). Dred Scott would remain a slave because the court ruled that he was property, not a citizen, and property fell outside the purview of liberty.

All seven judges who voted in favor of the ruling were Democrats. The two justices who opposed the decision were both Republicans.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
16th President of the United States of America

On November 6, 1860, three years after the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln defeated Democrat John Breckinridge to become the country's first "Republican" President.

Following his election, numerous Democrat states seceded from the Union, believing that the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling would eventually be overturned as the abolitionist movement gained momentum. This set the stage for what became an unavoidable Civil War. 

AMERICA ERUPTS INTO  CIVIL WAR
On April 12, 1861, Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter was a critical stronghold for the Union during the tumultuous period of the Civil War. Its position at the harbor's entrance made it a pivotal site for controlling access to one of the South's most significant ports.

The Confederate forces, determined to assert their independence from the Union. On April 12, 1861, the Confederate Army attacked Fort Sumter. For two days, the defenders of Fort Sumter, led by Major Robert Anderson of the Union Army, endured an unyielding onslaught of cannon fire from Artillery Batteries strategically positioned around the harbor. The precision and sheer volume of firepower overwhelmed the Union defenders. 

Recognizing the futility of further resistance and the need to preserve the lives of his men, Major Robert Anderson made the difficult decision to surrender. On April 13, 1861, Major Anderson relinquished control of Fort Sumter to General P.G.T. Beauregard and his Confederate soldiers, marking an early victory for the Confederacy.

The fall of Fort Sumter was a pivotal moment in American history. It marked the official beginning of the Civil War, galvanizing the North to rally against the secessionist South. The battle set the stage for the four-year conflict that would ultimately shape the future of the United States. 

FREDERICK DOUGLASS
American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman

Frederick Douglass, a self-educated slave who escaped in 1838, was one of the most famous Black men in the United States—a prominent voice for freedom, human rights, and social reform. Douglass was one of President Lincoln's advisors throughout the Civil War.

At the start of the war, Lincoln stated unequivocally that preserving the Republic was his top priority. For this reason, he was initially reluctant to allow Black slaves to serve in the military out of concern that it might cause other states to secede. Douglas, however, adamantly disagreed and convinced Lincoln that the slaves must be allowed to join and contribute to the victorious cause of bringing the war to a successful and righteous conclusion. 

According to Douglass, wearing a military uniform is a powerful declaration of someone's entitlement to freedom and full civil rights. "With an eagle perched on his button, a musket slung over his shoulder, and bullets stuffed into his pockets, no force on earth could deny that a man has earned the right to be a citizen of the United States," said Douglass.

Two of Frederick's sons, Charles and Lewis, were among the first to join. They served in the storied 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the second Black American regiment to see heavy action in the war. 

Douglass rose to prominence as the highest-ranking Black official of his day during the Reconstruction period that followed the Civil War.

HARRIET TUBMAN
Union Army Spy and Military Leader

Harriet Tubman, best known for her courageous actions as a "conductor" along the Underground Railroad's meticulously planned passageways and network of safe houses, which enabled hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children to flee north to freedom, also served as a spy and expedition leader for the Union Army when the Civil War broke out in 1861.

In 1863, she spearheaded a military operation using intelligence gathered from slaves. Tubman led 150 Union soldiers on three government gunboats up the Combahee River in South Carolina to launch a surprise attack on well-known secessionists' plantations. The strike resulted in extensive escapes, as well as plantation burning and pillaging. They freed about 700 slaves along the way. The operation's success dealt a significant military and psychological blow to the Confederacy. Over 100 freed Black men enlisted in the Union Army on that day.

After the successful assault, Tubman carried out numerous additional expeditions. She oversaw reconnaissance and espionage activities to find and map Confederate mines, supply points, and troops while posing as a field worker behind enemy lines. Remarking on Tubman's accomplishments, the Army Colonel to whom she reported expressed his glowing praise for her achievements, stating that "her services are invaluable" and "her intelligence-gathering abilities were far superior to anyone else."

ALEXANDER AUGUSTA
The U.S. Army’s First Black Physician

Alexander Augusta, the son of free African American parents from Baltimore, traveled to Canada to pursue his medical degree after being denied admission to medical school in the United States. He went on to become the medical director of the Toronto City Hospital.

At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Alexander wrote Lincoln a letter volunteering his services as a surgeon. He received a commission as a Major in the 7th U.S. Colored Infantry, becoming the Army's first Black military physician out of eight in the Union Army—and its highest-ranking Black American officer. 

He was awarded a promotion to lieutenant colonel in March 1865. When he died in 1890, he was the first Black officer to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

WILLIAM HARVEY CARNEY
The courageous American Civil War soldier who, in the heat of battle, would not allow the flag to fall...

Sergeant William Harvey Carney was born in Norfolk City on February 29, 1840, to William and Nancy Ann Carney. According to some reports, after the master's death, his family was granted their freedom and traveled to New Bedford, Massachusetts.

In March 1863, after volunteering in the Black militia in New Bedford, William joined the historic 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, one of the first Black-only battalions in American history.

His battalion faced its greatest challenge just months after he enlisted. On July 18, 1863, the 54th launched an assault on Fort Wagner, a Confederate stronghold in South Carolina. As gunfire rained down from the fort, Carney and the 54th's 600 soldiers continued to advance. When Carney observed a bullet pierce the unit's color guard, he lunged forward to catch the American flag before it fell to the ground.

Carney weaved across the raging battlefield, flag in hand. He took cover when he found himself alone with advancing Confederate troops on the march. As he rose up to gain a better view of his surroundings, he felt the impact of a bullet. A few seconds later, the impact of a second.

Carney afterwards recalled in his account of what had occurred, "The bullets were swarming around me like mosquitoes." "I was shot, but I didn't let the bullets stop me; I kept going."

According to The Liberator's account of the events on the battlefield, Carney staggered ahead, wounded and bloodied, "pressing a wound with one hand while holding up our nation's flag with the other." When a fellow Union soldier volunteered to carry the flag for him, he refused to give it up.

Carney is reported to have returned to his unit and hoisted the flag before collapse, sobbing, "Boys, I did nothing but my duty, our beloved flag never touched the ground."

For his actions that day, Carney was awarded the Medal of Honor. He became known as one of the great military heroes in the fight for freedom. 

CONFEDERATE FORCES SURRENDER
General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant

Trapped in Virginia near the Appomattox Court House, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to  General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army on April 9, 1865, triggering the surrender of all other Confederate forces.

The contribution of Black Americans during the Civil War is a significant yet often overlooked chapter in American history. Their heroism and valor, duty, and honor were evident throughout their service, leaving a lasting impact on the nation and underscoring their contributions and sacrifices:

Twenty-six Black Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, including eight sailors from the Union Navy, fifteen soldiers from the United States Colored Troops, and three soldiers from other Union Army units for their fearless actions during the war.

CIVIL WAR SUMMARY: The American Civil War is recognized as the deadliest conflict in American history. This war saw a staggering loss of life and had profound impacts on the nation. Over 460,000 men were wounded in the fighting. The severity of the conflict is further underscored by the estimated 650,000 soldiers who lost their lives—surpassing the combined American casualties of World War I and World War II. This staggering loss meant that approximately one in four soldiers who went to war never returned home.

Their stories of bravery exhibited by Black Americans during the Civil War remain inspirational and remind us of the profound impact that men and women of courage can have in the battle for justice and equality. These heroes exemplified the virtues of courage, valor, devotion, and honor, setting a standard for future generations. 

THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

President Lincoln officially issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. 

The Emancipation Proclamation was a strategic war measure to undermine the Confederacy by encouraging slaves in the South to escape and join Union forces. The proclamation also sought to enhance the Union's moral position, discourage European interference on behalf of the Confederacy, and motivate Black Americans to enlist in the Union Army to strengthen the Union forces.

The Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves in the "Confederate states that were in rebellion" against the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation not only helped the Union win the war but also, tragically, became a reason for conspirators to plot his assassination.

The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln was a pivotal moment in American history, marking the first time a sitting president was murdered. His tragic death occurred on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theater in Washington, D. C., where he was watching a performance of the play "Our American Cousin."

John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, plotted with other like-minded Democrats who strongly opposed the abolition of slavery and the Confederacy's defeat in the Civil War. Booth assassinated Lincoln using a. .44 caliber derringer pistol—a small, easily hidden handgun—firing a single, fatal shot into Lincoln's head at point-blank range.

President Lincoln's assassination was a profound blow to a nation still recovering from the Civil War's aftermath. His vision for rebuilding the country was suddenly cut short, leaving a void in leadership during one of the most critical periods in American history.

Lincoln's historic decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation changed the course of the Civil War by demonstrating a firm commitment to ending slavery in America, and set off a chain of events that eventually led to the nation's Reconstruction Era.

THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA
Republican Congress Amendments to the U.S. Constitution (13th, 14th, 15th)

The period following the American Civil War was marked by significant change and upheaval as the nation grappled with rebuilding and redefining itself.

Following the assassination of President Lincoln, the Republican-dominated Congress took quick and decisive action, moving forward with Lincoln's promise to abolish slavery.  This period, known as the Reconstruction Era, was characterized by the urgent need to address the deep-seated inequalities faced by Black Americans and to reintegrate Southern states into the Union. The Republican Congress quickly moved forward with constitutional changes known as the Reconstruction Amendments.

The 13th Amendment: The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, and formally abolished slavery. It declared  “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude (forced Labor) except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to U.S. jurisdiction.” 

However, despite the Congress abolishing slavery, the Democrat-controlled states continued to subjugate Black Americans using a series of laws known as the Black Code. 

THE BLACK CODE
MANIPULATION OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT

The Black Code Laws were created to restrict the freedoms of the newly emancipated Black Americans, effectively maintaining a social and economic system parallel with slavery.

The Black Code manipulated the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude (Forced Labor) except as punishment for a crime. The Southern Democrat states devised a legal framework to continue the oppression and disenfranchisement of Black Americans by exploiting the exception in the 13th Amendment for using forced labor as punishment for a crime.

This malicious manipulation of the 13th Amendment allowed Democrats to impose an endless cycle of involuntary servitude, deceitfully sidestepping the legislation that had abolished slavery. 

Some examples of the many  Restrictive measures and Black Code laws included: 

• Vagrancy: Black Code laws permitted authorities to arrest unemployed Black Americans, labeling them as vagrants. Punishment included forced labor to pay off fines. thus perpetuating an endless cycle of involuntary servitude.
• Employment and Labor: Black Americans were often coerced into signing unfair labor contracts that restricted their freedom and ensured they remained economically dependent on white employers. Black Americans refusing to work as Cheap labor would be subject to breaking the Black Code for Vagrancy, resulting in forced labor. 
• Property Ownership: The Black Code restricted the types of property they could purchase and the areas they could live.
• Voting Rights: One of the most significant restrictions was denying Black Americans the right to vote by using literacy tests and a poll tax. 

The Republican Congress realized the urgency of addressing these great injustices to Black Americans. This led to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the 14th and 15th Amenedments... 

THE END OF BLACK CODES
LEGISLATIVE REFORMS AND THEIR IMPACT

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1866: The Civil Rights Act of 1866, in combination with the 14th Amendment, was instrumental in dismantling the Black Codes. These legislative measures established a legal foundation to guarantee equal protection under the law and affirm the citizenship of all persons born or naturalized in the United States, signifying the federal government's commitment to protecting the newfound freedom guaranteed in the 13th Amendment to Black Americans. 

14TH AMENDMENT Ratified in 1868: The 14th Amendment was designed to solidify the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This formal declaration states that persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States. This guaranteed due process and equal protection under the law for Black Americans. This amendment directly addressed the injustices of the Black Codes and nullified the Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) decision, which had denied Black Americans citizenship.

15TH AMENDMENT Ratified in 1870: The 15th Amendment was another crucial milestone in the fight for civil rights. It explicitly prohibited states from denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment aimed to secure political participation for Black men, further dismantling the legal foundations of the Black Codes and paving the way for racial equality in America.

SUMMARY: The Reconstruction Amendments were transformative; they not only abolished slavery but also established a constitutional guarantee of equal rights and protection under the law. These legislative Amendments marked a new era in which the federal government aggressively pursued an active role in securing the civil rights of Black Americans and ensuring equal justice for all.

The legislative actions taken by Congress to ban the Black Code Laws demonstrated a significant shift in the United States' legal and moral landscape. The Civil Rights Act of 1866, AND ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendments, are pillars of American law and liberty, enshrining human dignity and equality at the heart of the United States Constitution.

Despite the significant and historic progress during the Reconstruction Era, the struggle for equality persisted. The emergence of the Ku Klux Klan And the implementation of Jim Crow laws created new obstacles in protecting Black Americans' civil rights. These new oppressions fostered a culture of fear and intimidation in an effort to reverse the advances made through the Reconstruction Amendments.

Adonis Shifflett
Black American Patriots of the Civil War

Reference:
History.com (October 31, 2023) History.com Editors
Román, I. (February 2, 2023) Civil War History
Kaleena Fraga (February 22, 2022) Saving the Flag in Fort Wagner
John V. Quarstein (February 18, 2021) African American US Medal Of Honor Recipients During The Civil War
Carol Swain (PragerU.com) The inconvenient truth about the Democrat Party
National Archives (November 2023) Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
History.com Editors (June 27, 2023) Missouri Compromise
History.com Editors (May 28, 2025) Black Code
Heather Thomas / Library of Congress (February 18, 2020) Hiram Revels: First African American Senator