Black Soldiers in the Civil War

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how, in America's military forces as in all aspects of American life, blacks have faced profound racial discrimination, even hatred, and how, like other members of their race throughout history, blacks in the military have had to struggle against racism in both the North and the South that affected almost every aspect of public life, including military bases. It explores how the first and second colored regiments in the Civil War illustrate how Kansas in particular has a history of racial tensions in military settings and how the first two colored regiments were formed by Kansas General James H. Lane, who targeted both the fugitive slaves from Missouri and the free blacks from the North.

From the Paper:

"Lincoln had also been perplexed by another Kansas radical, General James Blunt . To ease frictions, Lincoln had transferred Blunt from the Department of Kansas to command the Army of the Frontier in Indian Territory. On October 6, 1863, Blunt's troops approached Baxter Springs, located in a vast prairie where army livestock was sent regularly. To protect the animals, a post had been established. The buildings stood in a hollow near the water and out of sight of the vast plain. A hundred men were stationed here, two thirds of whom were black. They were eating dinner when they heard shooting coming from between the mess tent and the soldiers' sleeping quarters. Dave Pool was in command."

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