Jacksonville, Fla.,
Monday, Feb. 29, 1864.
Dear Sister L.:
You will probably see accounts of the battle of Olustee, or Ocean Pond, in the papers…
1864: “That Speaks Volumes For The Bravery”
African American Regiments
1863: “My Son Went In The 54th Regiment”
[spelling is original]
Buffalo July 31, 1863
Excellent Sir
My good friend says I must write to you and she will send it[.] My son went in the 54th regiment. I am a colored woman and my son was strong and able as any to fight for his country and the colored people have as much to fight for as any. My father was a Slave and escaped from Louisiana before I was born morn forty years agone[.] I have but poor edication but I never went to schol, but I know just as well as any what is right between man and man. Now I know it is right that a colored man should go and fight for his country, and so ought to a white man. I know that a colored man ought to run no greater risques than a white, his pay is no greater his obligation to fight is the same. So why should not our enemies be compelled to treat him the same, Made to do it. Continue reading
1863: “Use Your Official And Personal Influence To Remove Prejudices”
Washington, March 31, 1863.
Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant
Commanding Department of the Tennessee, near Vicksburg:
GENERAL: It is the policy of the Government to withdraw from the enemy as much productive labor as possible. So long as the rebels retain and employ their slaves in producing grains, &c., they can employ all the whites in the field… Continue reading
1863: “Learn To Know The Hearts Of My Abused And Suffering People!”
Alexandria, March 18.
Since I last wrote to you, the condition of the poor refugees has improved. During the winter months, the small pox carried them off by hundreds; but now it has somewhat abated. At present, we have one hundred and forty patients in the hospital. The misery I have witness must be seen to be believed. The Quakers of Philadelphia, who sent me here, have done nobly for my people. They have indeed proved themselves a Society of Friends. Had it not been for their timely relief, many more must have died. They have sent thousands and tens of thousands of dollars to different sections of the country, wherever these poor sufferers came within our lines. But, notwithstanding all that has been done, very many have died from destitution. It is impossible to reach them all. Government has erected here barracks for the accommodations of five hundred. We have fifteen hundred on the list. Continue reading
Thanksgiving 1918: A World War I Soldier Dreams Of Home
This year (2017) marks 100 years since American entered World War I, and earlier we shared details about this incident in U.S. and World History. Today’s primary source about Thanksgiving was written in 1918 by a U.S. African American soldier, just days after the war ended. He was still stationed in France and shared some exciting news of the day…
For those of you who might be wondering, I found this letter in a private online archive of World War I letters. I’ve decided to include the complete text of the letter and added some notes. Continue reading
1862: “Treated As Outlaws”
WAR DEPT., ADIT. AND INSP. GENERAL’S OFFICE,
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 60
Richmond, August 21, 1862
- Whereas, Major-General Hunter, recently in command of the enemy’s forces on the coast of South Carolina, and Brigadier-General Phelps, a military commander in the State of Louisiana, have organized and armed negro slaves for military service against their masters, citizens of this Confederacy; and whereas, the Government of the United States has refused to answer an inquiry whether said conduct of its officers has met its sanction, and has thus left to this Government no other means of repressing said crimes and outrages than the adoption of such measure of retaliation as shall serve to prevent their repetition:
