the Black military experience during the Civil War /
First Statement of Responsibility
James G. Hollandsworth, Jr.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Baton Rouge :
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Louisiana State University Press,
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
c1995.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
xiv, 140 p. :
Other Physical Details
ill., maps ;
Dimensions
24 cm.
INTERNAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES/INDEXES NOTE
Text of Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-134) and index.
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
Defenders of the native land -- Great pride in the business -- Woe to any man who flinches -- When tried, they will not be found wanting -- I regard it as an experiment -- The equal of any 'Yankee troops' you will find -- Unsuited for this duty -- We shall eventually come out ahead -- Diggers and drudges -- Manhood of the colored race -- Black officers in the native guards.
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SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Early in the Civil War, Louisiana's Confederate government sanctioned a militia unit of black troops, the Louisiana Native Guards. Intended as a response to demands from members of New Orleans' substantial free black population that they be permitted to participate in the defense of their state, the unit was used by Confederate authorities for public display and propaganda purposes but was not allowed to fight. After the fall of New Orleans, General Benjamin F. Butler brought the Native Guards into Federal military service and increased their numbers with runaway slaves. He intended to use the troops for guard duty and heavy labor. His successor, Nathaniel P. Banks, did not trust the black Native Guard officers, and as he replaced them with white commanders, the mistreatment and misuse of the black troops steadily increased.
CORPORATE BODY NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Louisiana.-- History-- 19th century.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
African American soldiers-- Louisiana-- History-- 19th century.
GEOGRAPHICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Louisiana, History, Civil War, 1861-1865, Participation, African American.
Louisiana.
United States, History, Civil War, 1861-1865, Participation, African American.