Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
“Freeman, et al. “Black Soldiers in the U.S. Military during the Civil War.” National Archives
and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration,
[Link]
This Website & Recruiting poster went over the creation of the Second Confiscation and
Militia Act on July 17, 1862. I learned that a total of roughly 179,000 black men served
as soldiers in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 served in the Navy. They served in
artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain the
army such as carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies,
steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters. Harriet Tubman also helped the Union Army
by going behind enemy lines to gather intelligence and helped slaves travel North once
they passed Union lines. In the end, 16 black soldiers had been awarded the Medal of
Honor for their service.
“Mulderink, Earl F. “A Great Sacrifice: Northern Black Soldiers, Their Families, and the
Experience of Civil War.” Journal of American History, vol. 107, no. 2, Sept. 2020, p. 482.
EBSCOhost, [Link]
This book made by Earl, Mulderink went over the issues for black soldiers like military
recruitment, unequal pay, battlefield experience, etc, and also went over the historical
value and struggles of that time. From this source, I learned about the difficulties of black
soldiers and how it was handled. I also learned that black soldiers would receive letters
from their girlfriends, wives, mothers, sisters, etc. Mulderink made sure to rewrite these
letters word for word to make sure that they truly reflected the struggles of that time.
“Brown, David E. “5th Regiment Calvary United States Colored Troops.” [Link], 23 8
2020, [Link] Accessed 20 10 2020.”
This website was made as an homage to the Colored Troops of the 5th Regiment Cavalry.
It was `made by David, Brown who is a descendant of one of those troops who is named
Samuel Truehart. I learned that the 5th Regiment Calvalry and Truehart had participated
in the Burbridge’s and Stoneman’s raids on Saltville. I also learned that Truehart and his
family had moved to Western Kansas 10 years after the war. This move was directly tied
to the Exodusters movement on July 18, 1877.
“Brown, David E. 5th Regiment Calvary United States Colored Troops, 5thuscc, 28 8 2020,
[Link] Accessed 20 10 2022.”
This page of the same website talked about the history of the 5th Regiment Cavalry. The
5th Regiment was authorized to be formed by Union General Stephen G. Burbridge in
early 1864. Nearly all of this Regiment was made up of former slaves who volunteered
for 3 years of service. I also learned that while stationed in Arkansas after the war, the
regiment reportedly hunted down rebel renegades, supervised free elections, and tried to
protect officeholders and freedmen from the KKK. The Regiment was made up of a total
of 1,459 men.
Secondary Sources
“Davis, Michael S. Review of Campfires of Freedom: The Camp Life of Black Soldiers during
the Civil War. The Journal of Military History, vol. 67 no. 3, 2003, p. 946-947. Project MUSE,
doi:10.1353/jmh.2003.0215.”
This book by Keith P. Wilson is about the camp life of black soldiers during the civil war.
I learned that black soldiers living the camp life had to experience social, cultural, and
political changes. In order to help them better prepare for American citizenship, camp
activities would help reshape the way they do things. Army life helped reconfigure race
relations between whites and blacks and enabled them to achieve emancipation while also
helping increase overall support for racial equality.
“POWERS JR., BERNARD E. “Freedom for Themselves: North Carolina’s Black Soldiers in the
Civil War Era.” Georgia Historical Quarterly, vol. 93, no. 2, Summer 2009, pp. 206–09.
EBSCOhost,
[Link]/[Link]?direct=true&db=aph&AN=43374738&site=ehost-live.”
This book by Bernard, Powers JR. talks about how the colored regiment cavalries
functioned when it came to the equality of their soldiers. I learned that the white officers
of those regiments were people who were against slavery and showed that they cared
about the well-being of all of their soldiers. I also learned that the army practiced a
degree of theoretical equality unknown in civilian life. Wages for black soldiers were
equalized, and pensions were based on their service. Captured black soldiers were also
treated like their white counterparts.
“Yockelson, Mitchell, and Andrew Matthews. “Fighting Men.” Cobblestone, vol. 44, no. 1, Jan.
2023, pp. 26–29. EBSCOhost,
[Link]/[Link]?direct=true&db=mih&AN=160799528&site=ehost-live.”
This article further talks about the way the colored calvaries functioned. I learned that
amongst the many colored calvaries, the 1st was the most famous. They went by the
name of rough riders and gained popularity from exposure through newspapers and
through word of mouth. It wasn’t just made up of former slaves but was also made up of
wealthy easterners, cowboys, athletes, and indigenous people. Something else I learned
was that Theodore Roosevelt left his position as assistant secretary of the Navy to fight in
the war and ended up helping the colored cavalry with his connections as well.
“Cozzens, Lisa.“The Road to Civil War.” A Hard Shove for a "Nation On the Brink" - The
Impact of Dred Scott,
[Link]
[Link]. Accessed 27 11 2022.”
This essay talks about Dred Scott’s case on the topic of racism and what would happen if
it went unchecked. He brought up this topic to Lincoln and he addresses it during a
speech in Springfield Illinois on June 17, 1858. Many people saw this and finally saw the
potential problems that racism and slavery in the south could cause. Both North and
South were deadset on their views so the only way to solve this problem was to enact
war. This was one of the events that led to the start of the civil war and the inclusion of
black soldiers in that war.
“Madeline Zehnder /.History. “How a Miniature Emancipation Proclamation Helped Recruit
Black Soldiers During the Civil War.” [Link], Apr. 2021, p. [Link]. EBSCOhost,
[Link]/[Link]?direct=true&db=aph&AN=149790513&site=ehost-live.”
This article was about how the Emancipation Proclamation helped in the recruitment of
black soldiers in the war. Forbes believed that the inclusion of black soldiers was
essential for the progress of the war. The Emancipation Proclamation gave black soldiers
a way to obtain their liberties. It made the Union become a war for freedom and gave
morals and strengthened the Union both Militarily and Politically. Black soldiers
regarded their pamphlets as an indispensable portion of their equipment because it was a
personal statement of freedom.
“Brown, David. “Why Confederates Fought: Family and Nation in Civil War Virginia/Freedom
for Themselves: North Carolina’s Black Soldiers in the Civil War Era.” Slavery & Abolition, vol.
31, no. 2, June 2010, pp. 288–91. EBSCOhost, [Link]
This article talks about how former black slaves offered their assistance to stop slavery. I
learned that once Lincoln had authorized the formation of black regiments, many
escapees and former slaves would enlist to stop slavery. Most wanted wages to support
their families or themselves while others wanted to end a hated institution.