African American Soldiers in the Civil War (Answer Key)

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Battle

Port

Hudson

Milliken’s

Bend

Fort

Wagner

Battle of the Crater

Quote(s)

African American Soldiers in the Civil War (Answer Key)

“Loyal Whites have generally become willing that they should fight, but the great majority have no faith that they will really do so. Many hope they will prove cowards and sneaks -- others greatly fear it."

Who wrote or said this?

The New York

Tribune

What does this quote tell us about the views of the person quoted?

That many Northern whites anticipated that African

Americans would fail as soldiers.

What does this tell us about the experiences of the “US Colored Troops?”

That racism was not confined to the

Confederacy, and that even Northerners feared the success of African-American troops.

"The severe test to which they were subjected, and the determined manner in which they encountered the enemy, leaves upon my mind no doubt of their ultimate success."

Union General

Nathaniel P.

Banks

That Banks was open-minded to

African-Americans’ quality as soldiers.

The African-Americans demonstrated great courage on the battlefield, and that this promised progress for them in other aspects as well.

That McCullough couldn’t help but respect the fighting abilities of men who he still could not regard as “true Yankees”.

That African-American troops were capable of fighting as well or better than white troops.

[My] "charge was resisted by the negro portion of the enemy's force with considerable obstinacy, while the white or true Yankee position ran like whipped curs almost as soon as the charge was ordered."

"We have buried him with his niggers.”

"If I fall in the battle anticipated, remember I fall in defense of my race and my country."

Confederate

General Henry

McCullough

Anonymous

Confederate soldier

Anonymous

African-

American sergeant

That this soldier was racist and disrespectful even to fallen fellow soldiers.

That this soldier knew and believed in the larger causes he was fighting for.

Demonstrates the contempt of many

Confederates for African-American soldiers and the white officers who led them.

That African-American soldiers thought of themselves not only as liberators of their people, but as Americans.

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