Comments on: Descent into Rebeldom and its Impact on Northern Soldiers

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:09:11 +0000

Naim Peress, thank you for your comment. I have read McPherson’s book and agree that he does deal with, among many things, how soldiers viewed slavery. I am looking for a study that deals exclusively with a group of soldiers and how their political and social viewpoints changed as they entered the South, and lived, fought, and of course died there. How did that specific experience impact their opinions about blacks, slavery, and other things.
Chris

By: Naim Peress

Naim Peress — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:08:27 +0000

You might want to think of reading James McPherson’s For Cause and Comrades. That shows an evolution in attitudes toward slavery by Union soldiers.

Naim Peress

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:50:15 +0000

Matt, indeed, school is out and I have been more active!

I have Chandra Manning’s book and if you are aware of my site, http://www.soldierstudies.org, you know she has written a piece for it that deals with Civil War soldiers and Lincoln.

Howell Cobb, he is speaking from a purely Southern view and if I am not mistaken, aren’t his comments concerning the arming of slaves? But true, he makes a good point that throws the Southern war effort in disarray with his logical argument from their perspective. If blacks made good soldiers than they would make good citizens.

Blacks did indeed make just as good a soldier as any white man. I am doing some work on Fort Blakely, the last significant land battle of the war and where a large force of USCTs fought (5500).

Thanks guys for the comments!

Chris

By: elektratig

elektratig — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:21:15 +0000

Chandra Manning’s excellent book immediately also came to my mind as the closest I could think of.

By: matt mckeon

matt mckeon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:32:19 +0000

Chris,
A lot of posts lately. Is someone out of school for the summer?

By: matt mckeon

matt mckeon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:10:49 +0000

What is a little discouraging, in my mind, is the myth that African Americans will destroy racism by demonstrating courage on the battlefield. Howell Cobb says “If they(blacks) prove to be good soldiers, then our whole theory of slavery is wrong.” Or as another Confederate politician wrote, slavery would be a “monsterous tissue of lies.” Well blacks did very well as soldiers. Did Cobb change his mind?

African Americans fought bravely at Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill. Then on US Navy ships in 1812. Then at the Battle of New Orleans. Then in the Civil War. Then in the Indian Wars. Then in the Spanish American War. Then in World War One…you get the drift. This courage and sacrifice meant some change, but it wasn’t until the 1950s Civil Rights movement do we find massive change.

By: matt mckeon

matt mckeon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:02:35 +0000

I agree that such a study would be interesting. Are you thinking of a survey of soldier’s letters describing their feelings around black troops, or black people in general, to try to identify the trends and evolution of their thinking and beliefs?

As far as it “being done before” Chandra Manning’s “What This Cruel War is Over,” traces the changing perceptions of African Americans by the Union army using contemporary letters and camp newspapers.