After the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln issued an order to organize black troops. The decision was based on numerous reasons, all of which produced postive results. President Lincoln believed that that by passing a law that allowed black men to enlist in the army would have a psychological advantage on the soldiers of the Confederate Army (Williams 2). He also believed that the black man would give the Union a powerful advantage in the war by simply adding manpower to the Union side. After a strong friendship was cre

In the beginning, involvement of the African Americans was a very slow process. Both free Africans-Americans and runaway slaves joined the fight. All troops were given leadership under a white commander. Approximately 180,000 black men served under a white Union commander during the Civil War. The Unites States Colored Troops (USCT) suffered over 68,000 casualties and approximately 37,000 deaths during the Civil War on the Union side. The war offered newly freed slaves an opportunity to make something of themselves. They gained new skills in regimental skills and a wider knowledge of the world in army service (Berlin 1). The African Americans actually broadened their worlds while enlisted for a fighting cause.

There were actually many black soldiers who fought on the Confederate side. Some slaves fought by their master’s side, waiting for the chance to become free after the war’s end. Many masters made promises to their slaves, guaranteeing them freedom if they fought on the Confederate side. Many southern states offered huge numbers of slaves to the Confederate cause, especially Georgia and Louisiana. The troops dealt with the plague of non-combat duty in which they guarded prisoners, built fortifications, and contributed to the Confederate war effort in many other ways. When New Orleans fell the guard embraced the old flag and became the Unions first black troop (Black Military History NET). The Louisiana Native Guards was a regiment that was mistreated throughout the war. The Confederate authorities used them to counter northern propaganda, but never intended to let them fight (Black Military History NET).

The Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts also fought at the Battle of Fort Pillow, Tennessee, which also gained them much fame. If these black troops would not have participated in the Battle at Fort Pillow, the Union might not have won this key strategic battle. Some Confederate commanders warned that they would not respect the courtesy of surrender for Negro troopers, and vowed to shoot any black prisoners that were captured by the South (Williams 7).

The black troops of the Union and Confederate forces fought strongly for their beliefs during the Civil War, even though the white soldiers subjected them to racism and hostility. Deeply entrenched in the institution of slavery, the African American population responded by playing an important part in the Civil War. This role began before the actual fighting, with the foundation being laid by outright rebellion and individual resistance as the slaves dreamed of freedom. Building on this foundation historians agree that the role of the blacks in the fighting of the Civil War was important to both the North and South efforts. Consequently, the historians agree that one important result of their fighting was the advancement of their freedom and steps toward equality. This idea of freedom and equality gave great confidence and pride to these long oppressed people.

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