Replies

With the exception of General Forrest’s testimony before the joint Congressional committees, each of the citations below come from northern (Union) rather than southern (Confederate) voices. These voices include politicians, officers and ordinary soldiers. These reports strongly identify Black Confederates serving in combat roles.

1. Congressional Testimony of Nathan Bedford Forrest before the Congress Joint Select Committee, Ku Klux conspiracy: Report of the joint Select Committee to Inquire into the Condition of Affairs in the Late Insurrectionary States, Made to Both Houses of Congress. 42nd Congress; 2nd session, Senate Report 41, Volume 13; Washington, D.C. (1872)

Nathan Beford ForrestI said to forty-five colored fellows on my plantation that it was a war upon slavery, and that I was going into the army; that if they would go with me, if we got whipped they would be free anyhow, and that if we succeeded and slavery was perpetuated, if they would act faithfully to me to the end of the war, I would set them free . . . Eighteen months before the war closed I was satisfied that we were going to be defeated and, and I gave them their free papers, for I fear I might be killed . . . No finer Confederates rode with me. {Emphasis Added}

When Forrest surrendered, there were 65 Free Men of Color riding with his forces. It is noted that all of these men rode with Gen. Forrest until the end of the war and not one ever signed an Oath of Loyalty or was “reconstructed.”

2. Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol XVI Part I, pg. 805, Lt. Col. Parkhurst’s Report (Ninth Michigan Infantry) on General Forrest’s attack at Murfreesboro, Tenn, July 13, 1862:

“The forces attacking my camp were the First Regiment Texas Rangers, Colonel Wharton, and a battalion of the First Georgia Rangers, Colonel Morrison, and a large number of citizens of Rutherford County, many of whom had recently taken the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. There were also many negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops, who were armed and equipped, and took part in the several engagements with my forces during the day.”

3. Federal Official Records Series 1, Volume 15, Part 1, Pages 137-138, report of the Union commander:

“Pickets were thrown out that night, and Captain Hennessy, Company E, of the Ninth Connecticut, having been sent out with his company, captured a colored rebel scout, well mounted, who had been sent out to watch our movements.”

4. Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XLIX, Part II, pg. 253 - April 6, 1865:

“The rebels [Forrest] are recruiting Negro troops at Enterprise, Miss., and the Negroes are all enrolled in the State.”

5. Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XIV, pg. 24, second paragraph, Colonel B. C. Christ, 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, official report of May 30, 1862 regarding Confederate forces opposing him at Pocotaligo, SC.,

“It is also difficult to state the force of the enemy, but it could not have been less than from 600 to 800. There were six companies of mounted riflemen, besides infantry, among which were a considerable number of colored men.”

6. Federal Official Records: Series 2, vol 6, Part 1 (Prisoners of War) p. 17-18

...before one single Negro or mulatto was mustered into the U.S. service you had them organized in arms in Louisiana. You had Indians and half-breed Negroes and Indians organized in arms under Albert Pike, in Arkansas. Subsequently Negroes were captured on the battlefield at Antietam and delivered as prisoners of war at Aiken’s Landing to the Confederate authorities, and receipted for and counted in exchange.”

7. Federal Official Records, Vol. XIII, Chapter XXV, pg. 688

“...We are not likely to use one Negro where the rebels have used a thousand. When I left Arkansas they were still enrolling Negroes to fortify the rebellion.” - September, 1862

8. Federal Official Records, Correspondence, Etc., Vol. II, pg. 218

“...they [the Confederacy] have, by means of sweeping conscription, gathered in countless hordes, and threaten to overwhelm the armies of the Union, with blood and treason in their hearts. They flaunt the black flag of rebellion in the face of the Government, and threaten to butcher our brave and loyal armies with foreign bayonets. They arm Negroes and merciless savages in their behalf.” - July 11, 1862 - Rich D. Yates, Governor of Illinois

9. Federal Official Records, Vol. XIX, Chapter XXXI, pg. 617 Record of the Harper’s Ferry Military Commission (U.S.Army)

Question. Do you know of any individual of the enemy having been killed or wounded during the siege of Harper’s Ferry?
Answer. I have strong reasons to believe that there was a Negro killed, who had wounded 2 or 3 of my men. I know that an officer took deliberate aim at him, and he fell over. He was one of the skirmishers of the enemy [Confederate, ed.], and wounded 3 of my men. I know there must have been some of the enemy killed.
Question. How do you know the Negro was killed?
Answer. “>The officer saw him fall.”

10. Federal Official Records, Vol. XLI, Chapter LIII, pg. 670 Patterson, [November] 24, 1864

“Colonel MAUPIN: I have arrived with my squad on return. Captain McClanahan has gone on the upper road for Pilot Knob; will all arrive there to-morrow. No rebel force below. We have turned up eleven bushwhackers to dry and one rebel Negro. No man hurt on our side. The men are generally well.”

11. Federal Official Records, Series 1, Volume 4, p.569, Report of Colonel John W. Phelps, First Vermont Infantry: CAMP BUTLER, Newport News, Va., August 11, 1861 –

SIR: Scouts from this post represent the enemy as having retired, they came to New Market Bridge on Wednesday, and left the next day. They-the enemy-talked of having 9,000 men. They were recalled by dispatches from Richmond. They had twenty pieces of artillery, among which was the Richmond Howitzer Battery, manned by Negroes. . . Their numbers are probably overrated; but with regard to their artillery, and its being manned in part by Negroes, I think the report is probably correct.”

12. Federal Official Records, Series 1, vol 35, Part 1 (Olustee), Page 442-443, S.C., FLA., AND ON THE GA. COAST. Chapter XLVII - Report of Brig. Gen/ Asboth, USA:

“...when I proceeded to Milton, Fla., a distance of 9 miles, and after rebuilding the destroyed bridge on the Arcadia Creek, I came upon the enemy, about 100 strong, and consisting of Captain Goldsby’s (Alabama) cavalry company and a new militia infantry company, mounted...Having received early information of the arrival of two army steamers at Bayou Mulatte, the enemy had sent his stores on seven wagons in time toward Pollard, and seemed prepared and decided to accept a fight in the camp at the upper end of the town, but fled, upon our impetuous charge, in all directions. We pursued them closely for 7 miles, and captured 4 privates of Goldsby’s company and 3 colored men, mounted and armed, with 7 horses and 5 mules with equipments, and 20 Austrian rifles.”

13. Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XVII, Chapter XXIX, Pg. 635-637 - December 28, 1863

“...It had to be prosecuted under the fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters, protected as well as the men might be by our skirmishers on the bank, who were ordered to keep up so vigorous a fire that the enemy should not dare to lift their heads above their rifle-pits; but the enemy, and especially their armed negroes, did dare to rise and fire, and did serious execution upon our men...The casualties in the brigade were 11 killed, 40 wounded, and 4 missing; aggregate, 55.

- Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. STUART, Brigadier-General, Commanding”

14. Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. III, Correspondence, etc., pg 767-768

“CAMBRIDGE, September 4, 1863. His Excellency A. LINCOLN, President of the United States:
...excitement here growing out of the recruiting of colored troops, and as some of the recruiting officers are acting rather indiscreetly, I fear, by taking slaves in their recruits, and the slaves of loyal as well as disloyal persons...to enlist slaves as well as free people is creating a great deal of anxiety among the people...we ought to use the colored people, after the rebels commenced to use them against us.”

15. Federal Official Records, Series I, Volume XLVI, Correspondence, etc., CHAP. LVIII pg 583 JAMESTOWN ISLAND, February 17, 1865.

Major J. C. HICKS:
There have been seen last night and this morning a force of cavalry at Burnt Ordinary, on Richmond road. A Negro on Mr. Jones’ farm carries all the news to rebel scouts. He has been through our lines at Williamsburg several times and back with information to them. Four rebels were at a house last night above the island; took two mules, and threatened to shoot the man. I am short of ammunition; can I have some up? Can I burn some houses across the island which serve as shelter for rebel scouts, and of which they easily can make a raft to cross over on the lower end of the island?

CARLO BLOMBERG, Lieutenant.