From Oppressed Slaves to Champion Soldiers

The cause of the Civil War was tension between the North and the South. The sectional division between the areas began in colonial times, largely resulting from geographical differences. The South was ideal for growing tobacco due to the warm climate and the fertile soil. Plantations brought in black slaves from Africa to provide most of the labor required for growing the crop. In time, other plantation crops such as cotton, sugar cane, indigo, and sugar beets were to thrive in the South. "By the onset of the Civil War, 2.4 million slaves were engaged in cotton production" (Long 16). A rural way of life that supported an agrian economy based on slave labor was quickly established in the South. The North, however, was a cooler, rockier climate that would not support the development of plantations. As a result, the North's economy came to depend more on trade and industry than on agriculture. T

On July 17, 1863, at Honey Springs, Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, the 1st Kansas Colored fought with courage once again. Union troops under General James Blunt ran into a strong Confederate force under General Douglas Cooper. After a two-hour bloody engagement, Cooper's soldiers retreated. The 1st Kansas, which had held the center of the Union line, advanced to within fifty paces of the Confederate line and exchanged fire for some twenty minutes until the Confederates broke and ran. General Blunt wrote after the battle, "I never saw such fighting as was done by the Negro regiment. The question if Negroes will fight is settled besides they make better soldiers in every respect than any other troops I have ever had under my command." After this battle, black soldiers began to receive some respect. (Park Net 1). Even though the 1st Kansas regiment and other colored groups were beginning to win many battles, discrimination in pay and other areas remained widespread. "According to the Militia Act of 1862, soldiers of African descent were to receive $10.00 a month, plus a clothing allowance of $3.50. Many regiments struggled for equal pay, some refusing any money. However, Congress granted equal pay for all black soldiers in June of 1864. The most famous black regiment would have to be the 54th Massachusetts. On February 16, 1863, a call for black soldiers was published in the columns of the Boston Journal. In five days, twenty-five men were secured. Much of the larger number of recruits were obtained through black organizations in the Boston area. This regiment was to be lead by Colonel Robert Shaw. This regiment has gained great popularity over the last decade with the release of the Oscar-winning film Glory.

The United States Civil War began as an effort to save the Union, and ended in a fight to abolish slavery. This battle for emancipation, some would argue, was won by the slaves themselves. While this remains a debate, it is clear that the slaves did contribute significantly to their own freedom. By running from masters to become contrabands for the Union, laboring behind the scenes for the Northern armies, and risking their lives on the battlefront, the slaves centralized the issue of freedom and played a key role in the North's victory. (New York Public Library 1).

The soldiers of the 54th scaled the fort's parapet, and were only driven back after brutal hand-to-hand combat. A monument of the 54th and its slain leader Colonel Robert Shaw was installed in Boston May 31st, 1897. Black soldiers participated in every major campaign of 1864-1865 except Sherman's invasion of Georgia. The year 1864 was especially eventful for black troops.

The Confederate army did not consider the usage of slaves throughout the war. However, near the end when the future looked dismal, the South decided to use blacks for the Confederate cause. "Leaders of the Confederacy considered schemes for the enlistment of blacks in the armies and for their eventual freedom" (Long 26). However, those who did serve in the Confederate army were not given their freedom by the Confederate government, but rather by the North after the war had ended.

Some topics in this essay:
Civil War, National Head, North Northerners, Official Recruiting, Park Net, Fort Sumter, South North, Negro Company, Massachusetts Fifty-fourth, Public Library, black soldiers, civil war, park net, white soldiers, 1st kansas, union army, fort sumter, emancipation proclamation, african-american soldiers, north south, park net 5, park net 1, 1st kansas colored, public library 1, economy based slave,