Joel died yesterday.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Black Slaves in Blue and Under Fire
The author below relates that black soldiers were intended for labor duty in the Northern armies rather than fighting for emancipation. If used for offensive operations at all, black soldiers were most often assigned to suicidal assaults which would spare the lives of white Northerners who viewed the futility safely from the rear. At the February, 1865 Forks Road battle near Wilmington, and out of range of supporting gunboat fire, the 6th US Colored Infantry was hurled three times against Gen. Robert F. Hoke’s entrenched North Carolinians, never once getting closer than 150 yards of the breastworks. The Northern commander would have to await Hoke’s withdrawal before advancing.
Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
www.ncwbts150.com
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"
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Black Slaves in Blue and Under Fire:
“About 43 percent of the 6th [US Colored Infantry] Regiment had volunteered for military service. Another 31 percent were drafted, and over one-quarter of the regiment were listed as “substitute.” A conscriptee could avoid military service if he furnished an able-bodied substitute to take his place. Most substitutes in this regiment were young, usually in their twenties. A youth might well agree to be a substitute; he might likely be drafted anyway; better to join and accept a substantial cash payment for taking someone’s place.
The soldiers hailed from twenty-three different States, both North and South, as well as the District of Columbia. The most common State of birth was Pennsylvania. Of those whose birthplace is listed, over 36 percent of the men of the 6th Regiment claimed Pennsylvania as their birth place. Delaware and Maryland claimed 16 and 15 percent respectively, and Virginia, another 12 percent. Canada, providing twenty-two soldiers, stood as the most frequent birthplace of any foreign nation. Like most black units, the 6th Regiment would be assigned to an unusually high amount of physical labor particularly at building fortifications.
From the time blacks had first been recruited it generally had been understood that they were to serve as laborers, and they were used disproportionately often in that role. Their work at Dutch Gap [in Virginia] would have been physically demanding under the best of circumstances, but this assignment included a complication that made it especially difficult and dangerous – they would have to do the [canal digging] work within range of Confederate artillery.
They burrowed into the steep walls of the canal to make caves for shelter [but the] mortar shells were deadly. They were fired high into the air “and then fell by their own weight, with no warning scream, and, dropping in the midst of busy groups, burst into raged fragments of iron, which maimed and killed.”
Union artillery was brought in to silence those mortars, but its task was nearly impossible….[as] they would try to direct their fire at [mortar positions]…Confederate sharpshooters stationed in hiding near the riverbank would open fire on the artillery crews and distract them from their task.”
(Strike the Blow for Freedom, The 6th US Colored Infantry in the Civil War, James M. Paradis, White Mane Books, 1998, pp. 34-35, 61-64)
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Black Slaves in Blue and Under Fire
Millions for Bounties, But Not Compensated Emancipation
The system of raising Northern armies with generous enlistment bounties is one that needs far more light shed upon it, as well as the Homestead Acts that lured Europeans here with a promise of cheap land. Met by recruiting agents at the dock, most ended up in blue uniforms. A conclusion drawn from R.L. Dabney's writing below is this; if the Northern States were so willing to lavish money on mercenaries to subdue the American South, why didn’t they advance a peaceful, compensated emancipation plan to free the slaves -- assuming that emancipation was the desired result?
Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
www.ncwbts150.com
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"
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Millions for Bounties, But Not Compensated Emancipation:
"It is very well known that the Northern people were so averse to military service that enlistments were, in most cases, procured by high bounties. When the Central Government began to draw imperative requisitions of men on the States, the local authorities, instead of simply drafting the required numbers from among their own militia, almost universally made arrangements for purchasing mercenaries to supply their "quotas;" thus relieving their own citizens from the dreaded service.
The price usually paid, towards the end for the human cattle for Confederate shambles, was not less than fifteen hundred dollars each. A sorry commentary by the way, upon the courage and patriotism of that people, that so large a bribe was needed to persuade them to "save the nation." But thus it came to pass that not only the States, but cities, counties, country towns, and even the rural subdivisions called, among the people, townships, raised loans. Laws were passed to authorize them to make such loans, and to levy taxes necessary to provide for their interest.
The aggregate of these bounty-debts cannot be estimated by us from any evidences in our reach; but some data will be given to enable the reader to approximate it. The city of Philadelphia alone, it is believed, owes a debt of forty-four millions ($44,000,000) chiefly for bounties. It was a very "loyal" city. It claims about six hundred thousand (600,000) souls. The State of New York admits a bounty-debt of its own of $26 millions. But cities, counties and townships, within the State have also their own little debts for this and similar objects in addition.
A few other items may aid in our approximation. The federal Secretary of War informs us that in the latter part of the war there were 136,000 re-enlistments of the veterans honorably discharged. It is well known that these usually received the highest bounties. If we place them at fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) each, these cost the Northern people two hundred four millions ($204,000,000).
The system of bounties was general from May 1863 until the end of the war. The government itself fixed the minimum price of a man at $300 by appointing that sum as the cost of an exemption from the draft. But it is well known that few substitutes were purchased at so cheap a rate. The Secretary of War informs us that after May 1, 1863, there were one million six hundred thirty four thousand (1,634,000) enlistments. Placing the cost of each of these enlistments at three hundred dollars ($300), which is far below the average bounty, somebody had to pay for them four hundred ninety millions ($490,000,000). The "bounty jumpers" as it is well known perpetrated immense frauds; and the number of bounties paid to them was far larger than that of the enlistments.
The interest and principal of it (the debt) must be paid by the same people who have the federal debt to pay. If the policy pursued by the Government as to the local obligations incurred in the war of the Revolution is again to prevail, all these bounty-debts should be assumed and funded by the United States. Already this claim is heard in many quarters.
The recognized State and federal debts as we have seen, amount to three billion, four hundred forty three million dollars ($3,443,195,000). It is most manifest, that the total mass of public debt now resting on the American people (nearly the whole incurred in the late war) for the payment of which provision must be made by taxation, must be at least four billions of dollars ($4,000,000,000). Mr. Andrew Johnson, late president of the United States and an ardent advocate for the war, always affirmed constantly that the total cost of the war to the taxpayers would prove to be five billions ($5,000,000,000). He, of course, is good authority. And the interest on this debt is from 5 to 7 and one-fifth per centum!"
(Robert L. Dabney, Discussions, Volume IV, Secular, C.R. Vaughn, editor, Sprinkle Publications, 1897/1994, pp. 143-145)
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Millions for Bounties, But Not Compensated Emancipation
Aftermath: Destruction and Military Rule
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
www.ncwbts150.com
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"
========
Aftermath: Destruction and Military Rule:
“Grim scenes abounded as the homeward-bound North Carolinians rode South. One event in particular must have made [General Bryan] Grimes wonder what was in store for him as a defeated soldier without the means to fight back. According to Grimes’ astute traveling companion, Thomas Devereux:
“A few miles from the forks of the road we came to an old man, Loftin Terrel, his house was on the roadside and he was knee-deep in feathers where [Sherman’s] bummers had ripped open the beds, a yearling and a mule colt were lying dead in the lot; they had been wantonly shot.
Old man Terrel was sitting on his door step, he said there was not a thing left in the house and every bundle of fodder and grain of corn had been carried off; that he had been stripped of everything he owned and he had not a mouthful to eat. They had even killed his dog which was lying dead near the house.”
Grimes dealt with his illness and the “grief of the surrender” amid constant rumors of pending retribution at the hands of the Yankee governors. “There was a report that they would hang all officers above the rank of captain and all their property would be confiscated,” [wife] Charlotte recalled. “We were living in a “Reign of Terror.” They were also living with Charlotte’s parents in Raleigh during the summer of 1865, with the former enemy visible everywhere. Charlotte remembered “a Yankee camp just across the street from my father’s front gate by which he [Grimes] would have to pass…I would see them watch him and hear them say, “there goes the rebel, Gen. Grimes.”
Lee’s Last Major General, Bryan Grimes of North Carolina, T. Harrell Allen, pp. 258-261. Read more “Aftermath: Destruction and Military Rule”
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Aftermath: Destruction and Military Rule
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Un-Civil War: Shattering the Historical Myths
This book is written to point out many of the real reasons for the Civil War, the way in which it was fought, and the major differences between the two sides- particularly the strong stance taken by Southerners on the issues of states rights, limited government, and strict adherence to the Constitution.
Scruggs was awarded the prestigious D.T. Smithwich Award for excellence by the North Carolina Society of Historians for the Abridged Edition. In this extended work, Scruggs contrasts the perspective of the Southern mindset with the Northern federalist mentality that greatly favored many social programs and a larger centralized government.
We still face these issues today.
The Un-Civil War: Shattering the Historical Myths
Leonard Scruggs
Soft Cover, 360 Pages, Suggested Retail Price $22.95
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North Carolina residents must add 7.5% sales tax
Sad news for our SCV camp
I am sure that many of you know Compatriot Frank Long, who is a faithful member of our SCV Camp. This morning his little granddaughter Katie, who would be 12 years old next week, was hit by a car and died several hours later after she was airlifted to Pitt Hospital. We understand that the accident was totally unavoidable as Katie ran in front of the car, trying to make it to a store across from her bus stop. The woman who hit her was pregnant and went into shock and had to be taken to a hospital also. This happened on Sandridge Road outside of Swansboro.
Katie was a beautiful little girl and was Frank's daughter's child and had three older brothers. We ask that each of you please keep Frank and his family in your thoughts and prayers. I am sure that our Camp will want to do something in the way of a donation or flowers. Please feel free to make suggestions. Will let you know more as we hear it.
Thanks and God Bless
Libbie
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Child struck, killed by car in Onslow County identified
Libbie
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Child struck, killed by car in Onslow County identified
Historian revises estimate of Civil War (sic) dead
Sherman' Bummers
The Civil War — already considered the deadliest conflict in American history — in fact took a toll far more severe than previously estimated. That’s what a new analysis of census data by Binghamton University historian J. David Hacker reveals.
Hacker says the war’s dead numbered about 750,000, an estimate that’s 20 percent higher than the commonly cited figure of 620,000. His findings will be published in December in the journal Civil War History.
“The traditional estimate has become iconic,” Hacker says. “It’s been quoted for the last hundred years or more. If you go with that total for a minute — 620,000 — the number of men dying in the Civil War is more than in all other American wars from the American Revolution through the Korean War combined. And consider that the American population in 1860 was about 31 million people, about one-tenth the size it is today. If the war were fought today, the number of deaths would total 6.2 million.”
Via Peter
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Historian revises estimate of Civil War dead
Saturday, June 4, 2011
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