| View single post by borderuffian | |||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Jan 7th, 2010 04:39 pm |
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borderuffian Member
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Here's the part of the Steiner report that mentions black Confederates. The only item worthy of notice or debate would be- "Most of the negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabres, bowie-knives, dirks, etc." Nothing unusual about the rest. 3,000 black servants, teamsters, cooks intermingled within a Confederate army would be rather typical. "Wednesday September 10 [1862].—At four o’clock this morning the rebel army began to move from our town, Jackson’s force taking the advance. The movement continued until eight o’clock p.m., occupying sixteen hours. The most liberal calculations could not give them more than 64,000 men. Over 3,000 negroes must be included in this number. These were clad in all kinds of uniforms, not only in cast-off or captured United States uniforms, but in coats with Southern buttons, State buttons, etc. These were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel ranks. Most of the negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabres, bowie-knives, dirks, etc. They were supplied, in many instances, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, etc., and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederacy Army. They were seen riding on horses and mules, driving wagons, riding on caissons, in ambulances, with the staff of Generals, and promiscuously mixed up with all the rebel horde. The fact was patent, and rather, interesting when considered in connection with the horror rebels express at the suggestion of black soldiers being employed for the National defence." pages 10-11- http://www.edinborough.com/Learn/cw_nurses/Steiner.PDF
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