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1. Black Americans & 0thers -
1800s

2. • At the U.S. library of Congress
• African American Photographs Assembled for 1900 Paris Exposition
• The Paris Exposition of 1900 included a display devoted to the history
and "present conditions" of African Americans. W.E.B. Du Bois and
special agent Thomas J. Calloway spearheaded the planning, collection
and installation of the exhibit materials, which included 500
photographs. The Library of Congress holds approximately 220 mounted
photographs reportedly displayed in the exhibition (LOTs11293-11308),
as well as material specially compiled by Du Bois: four photograph
albums showing "Types" and "Negro Life" (LOT 11930); three albums
entitled "The Black Code of Georgia, U.S.A.," offering transcriptions of
Georgia state laws relating to blacks, 1732-1899 (LOT 11932); and 72
drawings charting the condition of African Americans at the turn of the
century (LOT 11931). The materials cataloged online include all of the
photos in LOT 11930, and any materials in the other groups for which
copy negatives have been made.

3. U.S. Civil War History & Genealogy
• Compiled References Regarding Black Confederates
• The Union Army
• According to the revised official data, slightly over two
millions troops were in the United States Volunteers, over
316,000 died (from all causes), or 15.2%. Of the 67,000
Regular Army (white) troops, 8.6%, or not quite 6,000, died.
Of the approximately 180,000 United States Colored
Troops, however, over 36,000 died, or 20.5%. In other
words, the mortality rate amongst the United States
Colored Troops in the Civil War was thirty-five percent
greater than that among other troops, notwithstanding the
fact that the former were not enrolled until some eighteen
months after the fighting began.

4. The Confederate Army
• "Nearly 40% of the Confederacy's population
were slaves. The work required to sustain the
same society during war naturally fell
disproportionately on black shoulders as well.
By drawing so many white men into the army,
indeed, the war multiplied the importance of
the black work force." Even Georgia's
Governor Joseph E. Brown noted that "the
country and the army are mainly dependent
upon slave labor for support."

5. • It has been estimated that over 65,000 Southern blacks were in the
Confederate ranks. Over 13,000 of these, "saw the elephant" also
known as meeting the enemy in combat. These Black Confederates
included both slave and free. The Confederate Congress did not
approve blacks to be officially enlisted as soldiers (except as
musicians), until late in the war. But in the ranks it was a different
story. Many Confederate officers did not obey the mandates of
politicians, they frequently enlisted blacks with the simple criteria,
"Will you fight?" Historian Ervin Jordan, explains that "biracial units"
were frequently organized "by local Confederate and State militia
Commanders in response to immediate threats in the form of
Union raids". Dr. Leonard Haynes, an African-American professor at
Southern University, stated, "When you eliminate the black
Confederate soldier, you've eliminated the history of the South."

6. • The impressment of slaves, and conscription of
freedmen, into direct military labor, initially came
on the impetus of state legislatures, and by 1864
six states had regulated impressment (Florida,
Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
South Carolina, in order of authorization) as well
as the Confederate Congress. Slave labor was
used in a wide variety of support roles, from
infrastructure and mining, to teamster and
medical roles such as hospital attendants and
nurses.

7. • The idea of arming slaves for use as soldiers
was speculated on from the onset of the war,
but not seriously considered by Davis or
others in his administration. As the Union saw
victories in the fall of 1862 and the spring of
1863, however, the need for more manpower
was acknowledged by the Confederacy in the
form of conscription of white men, and the
national impressment of free and slave blacks
into laborer positions.

8. • State militias composed of freedmen were offered, but the
War Department spurned the offer. One of the more
notable state militias was the all black 1st Louisiana Native
Guard, a militia unit composed of free men of color. It was
the first of any North American unit to have African
American officers. The unit was short lived, and forced to
disband in February 1862. The unit was "intended as a
response to demands from members of New Orleans'
substantial free black population that they be permitted to
participate in the defense of their state, the unit was used
by Confederate authorities for public display and
propaganda purposes but was not allowed to fight." A
Union army regiment was later formed under the same
name after General Butler took control of the city.

9. William Harvey Carney
• was born a slave in Norfolk, Virginia in 1840. His father William, Sr.
had escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and
eventually earned enough money to buy the freedom of his wife
and son. After freeing his family, the reunited Carneys moved to
New Bedford, Massachusetts. William Carney, Jr. had intended to
pursue ecclesiastical training with the intentions of becoming a
minister. Instead of following the call to preach he decided to enlist
in the Union Army in 1863, following the Emancipation
Proclamation which for the first time in the Civil War officially
authorized the recruitment of black soldiers. Recruited out of New
Bedford, Carney joined the soon to be famous all-black 54th
Massachusetts Infantry Regiment commanded by 26 year-old
Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the son of a wealthy Boston
abolitionist. Carney soon rose to the rank of sergeant due to his
education and strong potential to lead others.

10. • During the summer of 1863 the 54th
Massachusetts was sent to James Island,
South Carolina, where the unit saw its first
combat. After two days of sleep and food
deprivation the 54th Regiment was ordered
into battle. Shaw volunteered the 54th to lead
the charge on the heavily garrisoned and
fortified Fort Wagner.

11. • During the battle Shaw was pinned down beneath the
parapet of the fort and was desperately trying to rally his
men forward. As Shaw and the flag bearer were mortally
wounded and began to fall, Carney seized the colors and
prevented the flag from touching the ground. He struggled
up the parapet and, though wounded in the legs, chest, and
arm, planted the colors at the top of the parapet. Despite
his wounds and the heavy gunfire around him, Carney was
able to keep the flag aloft. Carney and the rest of the 54th
Massachusetts remained pinned down. Only after
reinforcements arrived was the beleaguered and
decimated unit able to withdraw. Struggling back to Union
lines while still carrying the colors, Carney collapsed saying:
“Boys, the old flag never touched the ground.”

12. • After the battle Carney was discharged from the
infantry due to his wounds. For his act of heroism
at Fort Wagner, Carney was awarded the highest
military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor
(which had just been created in 1861). Carney
was the first African American to receive this
award. Upon his death in 1908, the flag at the
Massachusetts state house was flown half mast in
his remembrance, an honor usually given only to
honor a deceased governor, senator,
congressman or US President. [blackpast.org]