The Black American history month here at A&P continues with Black Confederate Soldiers:
There’s a memorial for the UNION soldiers of color who helped defeat the confederate army. But you scarcely hear about the Confederate Black Soldiers. While the story’s of the union Black soldiers are more “Colorful” and serve the purpose of defining a very rough time in our history for Blacks. The facts show a bit of a different take:
ALL Blacks didn’t fight against the Confederacy. In Fact there were many black soldiers fighting under the stars and bars. The Confederate flag was held by Blacks as well as whites in the war. Take for instance the Petersburg Black Confederates
“We are willing to aid Virginia’s cause to the utmost of our ability. There is not an unwilling heart among us, not a hand but will tell in the work before us, and we promise unhesitating obedience to all orders that may be given us.”
— Charles Tinsley, Free Black, Pocahontas, Petersburg, Va.
And that my friends is about it according to the “Whitewashed” stories of confederate soldiers. However; There are many stories passed down from generation to generation about Blacks fighting for the southern states in the Civil War. The history has been virtually rewritten as to the memory of the Black Soldier in confederate garb.
There’s a handful of stories and newspaper accounts that can be found. There’s a few books out there. But for the most part. The established truth (Written by the victor of the war) is that the Black soldier only fought for the Union. False on it’s face, but it’s accepted.
The families of the Black Confederate Soldier know, the families of those who fought with them know. The fact is we owe it to their memory to acknowledge them as playing an important role in our history. We seem to have no problem acknowledging the role they played for the Union. Time to honor all soldiers in that war of all colors.