When American society was divided into South and North, the camp of the latter realized that they could win only by gaining the support of all citizens of the country, regardless of their skin color. 11 regiments, consisting of both white- and dark-skinned citizens, fought on the side of Abraham Lincoln from the City of Brotherly Love. Learn more about recruits’ training, the struggle for common peace and the contribution to victory at philadelphiayes.com.
Dark-skinned citizens in the army
In the second half of the 20th century, the former British colonies split territorially into two camps. The first was the United States and the second was the Confederate States. They treated African-American citizens differently. In 1862, mainly southern American regions refused to recognize dark-skinned people as free, instead, they were given freedom in the north, which provoked the beginning of hostilities.
With the beginning of the Civil War, many dark-skinned residents, in particular from Philadelphia, showed a desire to fight for their rights on the side of the Union. If Abraham Lincoln defeated the opponents from the South, slavery would be eliminated forever in America. All citizens would be able to decide the course of the country on elections, defend themselves in court and, in general, do everything that the white residents of the city could do before. That’s what they thought and that’s why they willingly came to the military assembly points at that time, although not everything was so simple.
Not all white people in the North wanted to fight with African Americans. There were enough racists in the ranks of the Union troops, believing that the defense of the republic was the responsibility of “pure Americans”. Discriminatory disputes were augmented by the same legal implementations, for example, the 1792 law prohibiting African-Americans from serving in law enforcement bodies.
The situation changed in the summer of 1862, when the northern coalition suffered heavy losses in men on the battlefield and then the rest of the white military were affected by the disease. Therefore, dark-skinned people began to be recruited into the army too, in defiance of the above-mentioned law, which was eventually canceled forever. From that moment, according to the orders of military commander Edwin Stanton, the recruitment of African Americans into the army began throughout the North.
One of the first such regiments was created in the City of Brotherly Love, which at that time had approximately 300 residents. By the way, the city completed a company of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which, in general, was the debut structural unit in America made up entirely of dark-skinned men.
Did the hostilities take place in the very city?
In the summer of 1863, the military leader of the South’s army, Robert Lee, reached the southern part of Pennsylvania. The main theater of hostilities escalated near the city of Gettysburg. When news that the enemy’s army was a hundred miles from Philadelphia, the residents of the city felt no threat. Only military general Napoleon Dana recognized the imminent danger and prepared the defense of the city.
Having gained the support of the locals, the military leader created a number of defensive fortifications. This was also facilitated by local politicians, whom Dana assured of the necessity of radical actions. At the same time, the governor of the state, Andrew Curtin, spoke to raise the fighting spirit of the Philadelphians, but the residents believed more in the courage of the soldiers than in his words.
The 20th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, with the support of the First City Troop, prevented the Southern Army from forcing the local Susquehanna River near Philadelphia. In the course of a special counter sabotage operation, the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge was destroyed. As a result, the Confederates lost the only possible logistical route to the city.
In addition, General Robert Lee’s Northern Virginia army failed in the Battle of Gettysburg, where it was defeated thanks to the clever Spanish military leader, George Meade, who died in Philadelphia.
War heroes among dark-skinned residents
In total, 11 regiments were established in the first capital of the USA in 1862. They numbered more than 10,0000 servicemen. All of them were preparing for battle against the South at Camp William Penn, near Philadelphia. Then the everyday army life of white and dark-skinned men was the same for both. At least, the service united different layers of the population, despite their skin color.
The city’s newly formed military regiments made their debuts in such famous battles as the attack on the Forts Wagner and Gregg, the Richmond-Petersburg campaign in Virginia, Ocean Pond in the swamps of northern Florida as well as the Battle of Honey Hill in South Carolina. The most memorable is, of course, the successful Battle of Appomattox Court House. In the spring of 1865, the local 41 Infantry Regiment (which was made up of dark-skinned men) surrendered to the Union troops in Virginia. One of the famous dark-skinned heroes of that battle was Alexander Kelly, a man who won a memorable award, showing leadership qualities at a difficult moment of the battle. Another resident of Philadelphia, Thomas Hawkins, also saved many American lives. The African-American showed his enemies the true spirit of freedom, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
How were the heroes greeted at home after the war?
Unfortunately, after the victory of the North, the hopes of African Americans that they would be accepted by a united society didn’t come true. Having returned to the City of Brotherly Love, dark-skinned people continued to face discrimination. Military personnel who fought for the United States of America were sometimes denied access to Philadelphia public transportation or forced to ride in the front seats. Therefore, Pennsylvania state authorities had to intervene, issuing a law prohibiting discrimination in all types of public transport.
In the second half of the 19th century, a large number of African-American military units returned home after passing an additional training course at the base named after William Penn. African Americans who sacrificed their lives and health were given a proper welcome in 1863. The residents gathered on the streets of their city, accompanying the march of military personnel with applause. The Philadelphia heroes could legally claim full citizenship in their home state.