Fighting for Citizenship: Black Northerners and the Debate over Military Service in the Civil War

249 Pages·2020·3.198 MB·English

by  Brian Taylor

Fighting for Citizenship
Civil War America
peter s. carmichael, caroline e. janney,
and aaron sheehan- dean, editors
This landmark series interprets broadly the history and
culture of the Civil War era through the long nineteenth
century and beyond. Drawing on diverse approaches
and methods, the series publishes historical works that
explore all aspects of the war, biographies of leading
commanders, and tactical and campaign studies, along
with select editions of primary sources. Together, these
books shed new light on an era that remains central to
our understanding of American and world history.
FIghtinG for
CItizensHIp
n
BLACK NORTHERNERS
AND THE DEBATE OVER
MILITARY SERVICE IN
THE CIVIL WAR
Brian Taylor
the university of north carolina press
chapel hill
© 2020 The University of North Carolina Press
All rights reserved
Designed by April Leidig
Set in Miller by Copperline Book Services
Manufactured in the United States of America
The University of North Carolina Press has been a member
of the Green Press Initiative since 2003.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Taylor, Brian (Brian M.), author.
Title: Fighting for citizenship : black Northerners and the debate over
military service in the Civil War / Brian Taylor.
Other titles: Civil War America (Series)
Description: Chapel Hill : The University of North Carolina Press, 2020. |
Series: Civil War America | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: lccn 2020004162 | isbn 9781469659763 (cloth) |
isbn 9781469659770 (pbk. : alk. paper) | isbn 9781469659787 (ebook)
Subjects: lcsh: Citizenship—United States—History. | African American
soldiers—History—19th century. | African Americans—United States—
History—19th century. | United States—History—Civil War,
1861–1865—African Americans.
Classification: lcc e540.n3 t29 2020 | ddc 973.7/415—dc23
lc record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020004162
For my father, Steve, for letting me take his history
books off the shelf to look at the pictures;
my mother, Lois, for teaching me to write
despite my best efforts to the contrary;
my sister, Jenny, for putting up with
the cannon fire down the hall;
my wife, Diane, for her unwavering love and support and
for letting me turn that shoe rack into a bookshelf;
my son, Steve, for allowing me to practice my lectures
during our walks around the neighborhood;
and my mentor and friend Chandra Manning for
teaching me about the craft of history and for looking past
potentially problematic sports allegiances.
“Some things you will remember;
some things stay sweet forever.”
—john darnielle
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction
1
— 1 —
If We Are Not Citizens, Then What Are We? To 1861
15
— 2 —
A White Man’s War? April 1861–December 1862
39
— 3 —
Decision Time: January–August 1863
69
— 4 —
Contracts of War: September 1864–April 1865
101
— 5 —
Making Black Service Matter: 1865–1883
127
Conclusion
149
Notes 165
Bibliography 211
Index 229
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Acknowledgments
my first thanks go to the staff of the University of North Carolina Press
and the editorial board of the press’s Civil War America series, especially
Mark Simpson- Vos, Jessica Newman, Caroline Janney, Jay Mazzocchi, and
Elizabeth Crowder. For the past three years, the UNC Press staff and the Civil
War America board have given their time, attention, and expertise to my proj-
ect. They have helped me sharpen my argument, address questions left unan-
swered in my original manuscript, and refine my prose. When I have needed
extra time for revisions or responses to readers’ comments, they have been
patient and understanding. Their assistance has improved this project im-
measurably. Thanks are due to the staffs at the following archives: Common-
wealth of Massachusetts Archives, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Library
of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, and Moorland- Springarn
Research Center at Howard University. Thanks are also due to the staff of
Georgetown’s Lauinger Library, especially Maura Seale and Scott Taylor.
During the time I have spent working on this project, I have had the oppor-
tunity to teach at three wonderful schools: Georgetown University, the Uni-
versity of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the Universities at Shady Grove.
At Georgetown, I benefited from the opportunity to learn from and work
alongside Katie Benton- Cohen, Maurice Jackson, Michael Kazin, Amy Leon-
ard, Joseph McCartin, Meredith McKittrick, David Painter, Aviel Roshwald,
Erika Seamon, and James Shedel. Special thanks go to Adam Rothman for
the time and attention he devoted to this project; I have learned a great deal
about writing, interpreting sources, and coming up with titles from Adam.
Special thanks also to Stephen Kantrowitz, for his attention to this manu-
script. At UMBC and Shady Grove, I am grateful to Amy Froide, Anne Sarah
Rubin, and Andrew Nolan for their time, advice and support. Gratitude is also
due to Djuana Shields, Jan Liverance, and Jessica Knoll for their patience and
assistance.
Over the past few years, I have cherished the opportunity to work with en-
gaged, enthusiastic, motivated undergraduate students like Kat Ball, Jack
ix