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BLACKS AT SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.   Term Paper ID:28308 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Planned use of free blacks & slaves as troops by Confederacy to fight black Union soldiers in 10-month seige in Florida... More...

4 Pages / 900 Words 4 sources, 4 Citations, APA Format $16.00 Return to List of Papers

Paper Abstract: Planned use of free blacks & slaves as troops by Confederacy to fight black Union soldiers in 10-month seige in Florida Paper Introduction: THE USE OF BLACKS IN THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG Although there had been numerous “colored” troops in the United States, their use was limited primarily to forces in the Union Army. However, as the war was drawing to a close during 1864-1865, there came a time, during the siege of Petersburg, that the South was considering their use. Setting the Stage for the Siege Strategically, Petersburg was a crucial site for the Southern Armies to defend, since the town was the center of critical railroad connections. General Lee, commanding the Southern forces knew the value of the town. If Petersburg fell, Richmond was doomed. The supply and armament advantage went to the Union forces, which were well supplied, thanks to Union Engineers who had run a supply train right behind the Union fron Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Concurrently, the Confederate forces were going hungry and weresuffering a shortage in ammunition. . The supply and armament advantagewent to the Union forces, which were well supplied, thanks to UnionEngineers who had run a supply train right behind the Union front. By the time of the Siege ofPetersburg, General Robert E. Setting the Stage for the Siege Strategically, Petersburg was a crucial site for the Southern Armiesto defend, since the town was the center of critical railroad connections.General Lee, commanding the Southern forces knew the value of the town. But theblack troops didn't charge through the gap because on July 29, 1864, UnionGeneral George Meade had a twinge of conscience. and it shouldprove a failure, it would then be said, and very properly, that we wereshoving those people ahead to get killed because we did not care anythingabout them" (Thornton, 2 , C1). Still other historians call the entire 1 -month siege of Petersburg asone of the most absurd encounters in military history. In 1863, a Southern General Patrick R. The explosion was set on July 3 , 1864, and a crater 17 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 3 feet deep in the Confederate lines was created. The physical strength of the men, if their courage survives mustfail under this treatment." Following the Confiscation Act of 1863, more than 18 , Negroesbecame soldiers in the Union Army, and more than 134, of them were fromthe Southern States. The 54th Massachusetts, composedmostly of Northern free blacks, spearheaded a famous night assault atBattery Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina, and had a casualty countof 4 percent. The Siege Among the many oddities of the Siege of Petersburg is the fact thatabout half of the 18, people who lived in Petersburg were Free Blacks.Together, the Free Blacks and the Slave Blacks helped build the defenses.On the Union Side, two divisions (7, ) of USCT were preparing to destroytheir black brothers. These black soldiers were formed into 166 regiments andfought almost 5 battles, and also earned 23 Congressional Medals ofHonor. The trick wasusing these forces in encounters where the USCT would fight by itselfwithout Union Army contact. "News from Washington: Passage of the Negro Soldiers Bill by theHouse" (1863, Feb. Still other theoreticians argue that the Blacks would have beenhesitant to kill the Black population of Petersburg, many of whom werefamily. IfPetersburg fell, Richmond was doomed. However, along with the segregation there was discrimination, sincethey were paid only $7 per month plus $3 clothing allowance as compared to$13 allowed for a white private. The historian looking at the Vietnam War is aware that thisidea did not take hold. Polk. Echoes of Petersburg It would be nice to say that, as a result of Petersburg, the validityof Black soldiers was recognized. (1883), The Virginia Campaign of 1864-65, New York:A.A. It was not until the Siege of Petersburg that both Whiteand Black Union forces fought side by side. Lee wrote at one point "If some changeis not made and the commissary department reorganized I apprehend direresults. However, the War was over before thefew freed slaves could be used in battle. Theplan was to plant tons of dynamite in the center of the Confederate forces,and then the 4,3 black Union Soldiers would pour through the hole. Ulysses Grant,writing in his memoirs believed that the decision by General Meade wasdreadful, and that "General (Ambrose) Burnside wanted to put his coloreddivision in front and I believe if he had done so it would have been asuccess" (Humphries, 1883, 112). (1914), The Passing of the Armies, New York:Scribners. It would be nice to say that, as a result of Petersburg, the conceptof using Blacks and other minorities as "cannon fodder" would beeliminated. Military strategians often use Petersburg as a prime "what if"exercise. Cleburne, made a highlycontroversial suggestion that slaves be conscripted as Confederate soldiersto be rewarded with freedom after the South won, but this idea was orderedsuppressed by the Confederate government. As he explained in hisCourt Martial, "If we put the colored troops in front. Their fighting skills were notable. (2 , April 2) African-Americans played prominent rolesin the War's End Game, Greensboro News & Record, C1. It was not until well after World War IIthat full integration of the races in the military was suggested, and ittook until 1964 for full equality to become a fact. Lee urged his government to enlist black men,and the Confederate Congress agreed. The pay discrepancy was rectified in 1864with the Enrollment Act that granted pay equality, but some Generals,including Sherman, did not want the soldiers in their divisions. . 3), The New York Herald, 1. In a very strange action, much of the 1 -month siege was devoted todigging a tunnel from the Union lines to the City center, and training4,3 Black Soldiers to move through the tunnel and destroy the enemy. Nonetheless, the sum addition of Petersburg to the annals of militaryhistory is a confirmation of the old military adage that "War neverdetermines who is right, just who is left." References Chamberlain, J.L. These black troops were segregated into units led bywhite officers. Thornton, T. THE USE OF BLACKS IN THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG Although there had been numerous "colored" troops in the UnitedStates, their use was limited primarily to forces in the Union Army.However, as the war was drawing to a close during 1864-1865, there came atime, during the siege of Petersburg, that the South was considering theiruse. Instead of the 4,3 Black soldiers who had trained for three months,and who knew the countryside, and were anxious to prove themselves, 4, White soldiers who had not even been briefed charged through the tunnel,and many of them were simply shot down as they emerged. Thus a de facto separate Army, the USCT (United States Colored Troops)was formed, and this group performed well ("News" 1862, 1). Humphreys, A.A. When assigned to normal Army encampments, theBlacks were given duty assignments such as garrison and occupation duty,guarding prisoner of war compounds, supply depots, and labor details suchas building roads, digging fortifications, and driving mule powered wagons. For instance, it is conceivable that had Meade stuck with thebattle plan, the 4,3 black troops would have charged through the hole andcaused quick and rapid destruction (Chamberlain, 1914). If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.