For the 2011 Black history Month, NAVSEA is Focusing on African American’s contributions during the civil war. The following account highlights some of the major contributions of their brave efforts to preserve our nation.

1. “The official electronic newsgram of Norfolk Naval Shipyard” Feb. 18, 2011
F or the 2011 Black history Month, NAVSEA
History:
is Focusing on African American’s con-
tributions during the civil war. The following
account highlights some of the major contri-
butions of their brave efforts to preserve our
nation.
African Americans in the Civil War “Once let the black man get upon
his person the brass letters, U.S.,
let him get an eagle on his button,
and a musket on his shoulder and
bullets in his pockets, and there is
no power on earth which can deny
that he has earned the right to citi-
zenship in the United States.”
--Frederick Douglass
These words spoken by Freder- official enrollment occurred only soldiers proved their capability to
ick Douglass moved many African after the September, 1862 issuance withstand the heat of battle.
Americans to enlist in the Union of the Emancipation Proclamation. The 1st Kansas
Army and fight for their freedom. In general, white soldiers and offi- On July 17, 1863, at Honey
With President Abraham Lincoln’s cers believed that black men lacked Springs, Indian Territory, now
issuance of the Emancipation Proc- the courage to fight and fight well. Oklahoma, the 1st Kansas Colored
lamation in 1863, the Civil War Silencing the critics fought with courage again. Union
became a war to save the union and In October, 1862, African troops under General James Blunt
to abolish slavery. American soldiers of the 1st Kan- ran into a strong Confederate force
Approximately 180,000 African sas Colored Volunteers silenced under General Douglas Cooper.
Americans comprising 163 units their critics by repulsing attack- After a two-hour bloody engage-
served in the Union Army during ing Confederates at the battle of ment, Cooper’s soldiers retreated.
the Civil War, and many more Afri- Island Mound, Missouri. By Au- The 1st Kansas, which had held the
can Americans served in the Union gust, 1863, 14 Negro Regiments center of the Union line, advanced
Navy. Both free African-Americans were in the field and ready for to within fifty paces of the Con-
and runaway slaves joined the service. At the battle of Port Hud- federate line and exchanged fire
fight. son, Louisiana, May 27, 1863, the for some twenty minutes until the
Congress and Enlistment African American soldiers bravely Confederates broke and ran. Gen-
On July 17, 1862, Congress advanced over open ground in the eral Blunt wrote after the battle,
passed two acts allowing the enlist- face of deadly artillery fire. Al- “I never saw such fighting as was
ment of African Americans, but though the attack failed, the black done by the Negro regiment....The

2. question that Negroes will $3.50. Many regiments Colored Troops survived the honor as a result of
fight is settled; besides struggled for equal pay, the fight. Many accused their actions at New Mar-
they make better solders some refusing any money the Confederates of ket Heights.
in every respect than any until June 15, 1864, when perpetuating a massacre Fight, live, be Free
troops I have ever had Congress granted equal of black troops, and the In January, 1864, Gen-
under my command.” pay for all black soldiers. controversy continues to- eral Patrick Cleburne and
Assault on Fort Wagner “Remember Ft. Pillow” day. The battle cry for the several other Confederate
The most widely known African American Negro soldier east of the officers in the Army of
battle fought by Afri- soldiers participated in Mississippi River became the Tennessee proposed
can Americans was the every major campaign of “Remember Fort Pillow!” using slaves as soldiers
assault on Fort Wagner, 1864-1865 except Sher- Heroic Engagement since the Union was using
South Carolina, by the man’s invasion of Geor- The Battle of New black troops. Cleburne
54th Massachusetts on gia. The year 1864 was Market Heights, Virginia recommended offering
July 18, 1863. The 54th especially eventful for (Chaffin’s Farm) became slaves their freedom if
volunteered to lead the African American troops. one of the most heroic they fought and survived.
assault on the strongly- On April 12, 1864, at Fort engagements involving Confederate President
fortified Confederate Pillow, Tennessee, Con- African Americans. On Jefferson Davis refused to
positions. The soldiers of federate General Nathan September 29, 1864, the consider Cleburne’s pro-
the 54th scaled the fort’s Bedford Forrest led his African American divi- posal and forbade further
parapet, and were only 2,500 men against the sion of the Eighteenth discussion of the idea.
driven back after brutal Union-held fortification, Corps, after being pinned The concept, however,
hand-to-hand combat. occupied by 292 black down by Confederate did not die.
Equal Pay and 285 white soldiers. artillery fire for about By the fall of 1864, the
Although black sol- After driving in the Union 30 minutes, charged the South was losing more
diers proved themselves pickets and giving the earthworks and rushed up and more ground, and
as reputable soldiers, garrison an opportunity the slopes of the heights. some believed that only
discrimination in pay to surrender, Forrest’s During the hour-long by arming the slaves
and other areas remained men swarmed into the engagement the divi- could defeat be averted.
widespread. Accord- fort with little difficulty sion suffered tremendous On March 13, the Con-
ing to the Militia Act of and drove the Federals casualties. Of the sixteen federate Congress passed
1862, soldiers of African down the river’s bluff African Americans who General Order 14, and
descent were to receive into a deadly crossfire. were awarded the Medal President Davis signed
$10.00 a month, plus a Casualties were high and of Honor during the Civil the order into law. The
clothing allowance of only sixty-two of the U.S. War, fourteen received order was issued March
23, 1865, but only a few
A Stop on the
African American com-
Underground panies were raised, and
Railroad: In the war ended before they
1844, Joseph could be used in battle.
Goodrich built
this inn in Mil- Final Thought
ton, Wisconsin In actual numbers, Af-
and hand rican American soldiers
dug a tunnel comprised 10% of the en-
from the inn’s
basement to tire Union Army. Losses
a cellar 40 ft among African Americans
away to hide were high, and from all
slaves as part
of the Under-
reported casualties, ap-
ground Rail- proximately one-third of
road. (Photo all African Americans
Credit: Louie enrolled in the military
Psihoyos/
CORBIS) lost their lives during the
Civil War.

3. got LO?
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Microsoft Access based available. Access to
Shop Store Catalog SSC Web Query will be
system (SSC) is a single via the SSC Query link Acquiring knowledge and innovation fast enough to
Unit Identification Code under Applications on survive and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
(UIC) application and, as the NNSY INFO web. It
such, will no longer be can also be accessed via
supported. Codes 515 WebCentral. Everyone Creating a culture that encourages and supports con-
(Supply) and Code 1235 will have access to the tinuous employee learning, critical thinking, and risk
(Business) solicited the SSC Query, therefore an taking with new ideas; allows mistakes, and values
corporate shipyards for access request form is employee contributions. Learning from experience
a suitable replacement no longer required. If and experimentation, and disseminating the new
product and decided to you have any questions,
knowledge throughout the organization for
implement a SSC Query please contact Code
link modeled after shop 1235, Cheryl Ramey at incorporation into day-to-day activities.
stores catalogs used by 396-8829 or Code 515,
PSNSY and PNSY. Ronald “Scott” Paine at In 1990, Peter Senge published “The Fifth Discipline” (later followed by
Effective February 22, 396-8774 or Mike Adkins “The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learn-
ing Organization” in 1994). The 5 Learning Disciplines – Shared Vision,
2011, the Access based at 396-8812. Mental Models, Personal Mastery, Team Learning and Systems Thinking –
SSC will no longer be are each made up of a set of tools and practices for building and sustaining
learning leadership capability in organizations.
Presidents’ Day 2011
In the official Public Law, the
third Monday of February is
George Washington,
Father of Our Country, fought
designated “Washington’s
for our freedom and helped us to
Birthday” even though Con-
become the United States.
gress set the date in order to
honor Lincoln as well.
The name morphed into
Presidents Day when busi-
nesses wanted to market big
sales during the three-day
weekend.
Mount Vernon, Virginia,
the historic home of George
Washington on the Potomac
Abraham Lincoln, River, celebrates the third
16th President, helped to
Monday in February with free
end slavery and keep the
admission to the site along
states together.
with other celebrations.