Black History Month
I believe the Black troops in the Union Army were probably the only units who were fighting, as a whole, for freedom of their people. Much of the rest of the Army fought because they had been drafted and had no choice. Others fought for the preservation of the Union, or to 'keep those Rebs in line' or some other reason. The brother against brother divisiveness of the Civil War is illustrated by the fact that there were also Black soldiers fighting on the side of the Confederacy. The Confederacy didn't (officially) allow black troops until 1865; but they did exist. Tennessee raised two black regiments (1000 men each) in 1861 and many other units had black members. Like any other group or individual, they had their own reasons for doing what they did. Some went to war with their masters, some few were defending their way of life because they too, were slaveholders, some may have felt more comfortable upholding the status quo. Several are known to have run away from their masters to join the Army.
Some of the heroes from the U.S. military have been:
Robert Smalls, wheelman of the steamer 'Planter', who escaped from Charleston harbor with the ship and the families of the entire crew while the white officers were ashore. Smalls was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops and detailed as pilot for the 'Planter'. He later was assigned as the vessel's Captain, when the actual captain was relieved for cowardice under fire. Smalls later became a Major General in the South Carolina militia (post war) and a Congressman.
Andrew Jackson Smith was an escaped slave who 'fell in' to service with the Union Army as a result of his escape. He originally served as a white officer's servant in the 41st Illinois Volunteer Regiment. He was wounded in action and eventually returned to Illinois with the unit, where he heard of the formation of the 54th Massachusetts. He immediately volunteered and was placed in the 55th Massachusetts because the response for enlistment had been so great. At the battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina, Andy left the field at the end of the day with both the Company colors and the Regimental colors, as casualties had been so heavy. He was promoted to Color Sergeant after the battle and served in that position for the remainder of the war.
Alfred Wood was a civilian scout
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