The Strategic Importance of Colored Soldiers in the Civil War

Abstract

This study reviews the history and accomplishments of Black soldiers during the Civil War. Black soldiers played a pivotal role in the strategy, prosecution, and ultimate conclusion of the War. Their introduction into the United States Armed Forces became possible after the Militia Act of 1862 and the Emancipation Proclamation. The Militia Act of 1862 authorized the enlistment of Negroes as laborers in the North. The Emancipation Proclamation authorized arming Negroes for combat. The more than 181,000 blacks that served with the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War helped turn the tide in favor of the Union. However, this study focuses on the service and accomplishments of the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers (Colored).

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 09, 2002
Accession Number
ADA404199

Entities

People

  • Leodis T. Jennings

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • African Americans
  • American Revolution
  • Civil War
  • Congress
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military History
  • National Governments
  • New England
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Recruiting
  • South Carolina
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • History
  • Sociology

Readers

  • Fault Tolerant Diagnosis of Black and White Balloon Isolation Tests Using ¥.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.