Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois

Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois

The Story of the Twenty-ninth U.S. Colored Infantry

  • Auteur: Miller, Jr., Edward A.
  • Éditeur: University of South Carolina Press
  • ISBN: 9781570031991
  • eISBN Pdf: 9781643362410
  • Lieu de publication:  South Carolina , United States
  • Année de publication électronique: 2021
  • Mois : Août
  • DDC: 973.7/415
  • Langue: Anglais

Chronicles the Civil War experience of a representative African American regiment

The Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois tells the story of the Twenty-ninth United States Colored Infantry, one of almost 150 African American regiments to fight in the Civil War and the only such unit assembled by the state of Illinois. The Twenty-ninth took part in the famous Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, joined Grant's forces in the siege of Richmond, and stood on the battlefield when Lee surrendered at Appomattox. In this comprehensive examination of the unit's composition, contribution, and postwar fate, Edward A. Miller, Jr., demonstrates the value of the Twenty-ninth as a means of understanding the Civil War experience of African American soldiers, including the prejudice that shaped their service.

Miller details the formation of the Twenty-ninth, its commendable performance but incompetent leadership during the Petersburg battle, and the refilling of its ranks, mostly by black enlistees who served as substitutes for drafted white men. He recounts the unit's role in the final campaign against the Army of Northern Virginia; its final, needless mission to the Texas border; the tragic postwar fate of most of its officers; and the continued discrimination and economic hardship endured after the war by the soldiers.

  • Cover
  • The Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • CONTENTS
  • List of Illustrations
  • Preface
  • Chapter 1 Finding a Place
    • Illinois Acts
    • The Race Issue in Illinois
    • Recruiting in Illinois
    • The "Chicago Companies"
    • Three More Companies
    • To the Theater of War
  • Chapter 2 Campaigns in Virginia
    • With the Army of the Potomac
    • On the Line before Petersburg
  • Chapter 3 Test of Battle
    • The Crater Battle
    • Mopping Up
    • Counting the Cost
    • Fixing the Blame
  • Chapter 4 Further War Service
    • New Recruits
    • More Reorganization and Support Duty
    • Completing the Regiment
  • Chapter 5 War's End and Final Service
    • Postwar Events
    • Mission to Texas
    • Heading Home
  • Chapter 6 The Later Years
    • Crimes, Frauds, and Confusion
    • Identity and Family Problems
    • Doctors and Peacetime Soldiers
    • Successful and Unsuccessful Veterans
    • An Incomplete Story
  • Appendix: Some Statistics
  • Notes
  • Bibliography
  • Index
  • About the Author

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