5fish
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It seems @O' Be Joyful been holding out on us about Cincinnati, again... They had an Black Brigade during the Civil War....
en.wikipedia.org
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati was a military unit of African-American soldiers, that was organized in 1862 during the American Civil War, when the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, was in danger of being attacked, by the Confederate Army. The members of the Cincinnati "Black Brigade" were among the first African Americans to be employed in the military defense of the Union. The fortifications—including forts, miles of military roads, miles of rifle pits, magazines, and hundreds of acres of cleared forests—at the border of Northern Kentucky thwarted the major threat to Cincinnati during the Civil War.
snip...
In August 1862, with the imminent threat of a Confederate attack, black Cincinnatians met to organize a home guard and offer their services in defense of the Union cause in defense of their city.[7] Hearing that they were meeting to discuss providing service during the war, there were attempts to shut down the meeting and intimidate attendees. The Commercial stated that black men should not interfere in the war.[8] Their offer was refused by the city, and they were told there no need for their help in a "white man's war." This was contrary to the wishes of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace who intended to enlist the help of the city's black residents to construct defensive fortifications.
snip... impressment!!!
On September 2, 1862, the Cincinnati police force abruptly and forcefully impressed male black residents to construct fortifications, often at gunpoint and with rough treatment, and without a plan or explanation.[7] The men were gathered and put in a mule pen on Plum Street, not knowing what would become of them and fearfully that they might be left in Kentucky and become enslaved.[10]
Here some more highlights...
snip...
A local judge, William Martin Dickson, visited the various regiments’ camps and removed the black men who had been seized. Organizing the men along military lines and christening them the Black Brigade, Dickson and the unit marched across the river under the National flag and commenced the arduous work of digging rifle pits, clearing trees, and building forts, magazines, and roads. The men return to their homes and families to prepare for continued service commencing the following day under General Wallace’s direction
snip...
On September 5th, 700 Black men voluntarily reported for duty, including many who were securely hidden to avoid being captured by the police. In the second week, the Black Brigade soldiers received their own military unit flag and $13 a month—a Union Army private’s pay—along with various privileges, including the right to visit their families. A total of 1000 men served the Black Brigade – 700 men built forts, magazines, and miles of military roads and breastworks along the riverfront and 300 men worked at military camps and on gunboats.
snip...
Fifteen days later, on September 20th, the Black Brigade was disbanded when there was no longer a threat to Cincinnati. When they were done, hundreds of acres of forests had been cleared and miles of rifle pits were dug to protect the city. One man, Joseph Johns, was killed when a tree fell on him
snip...
Many Black Brigade members later served in the Union Army, some in the famous 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The Black Brigade was believed to be the first case of African Americans being organized and utilized for military purposes in the North.
Black Brigade of Cincinnati - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati was a military unit of African-American soldiers, that was organized in 1862 during the American Civil War, when the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, was in danger of being attacked, by the Confederate Army. The members of the Cincinnati "Black Brigade" were among the first African Americans to be employed in the military defense of the Union. The fortifications—including forts, miles of military roads, miles of rifle pits, magazines, and hundreds of acres of cleared forests—at the border of Northern Kentucky thwarted the major threat to Cincinnati during the Civil War.
snip...
In August 1862, with the imminent threat of a Confederate attack, black Cincinnatians met to organize a home guard and offer their services in defense of the Union cause in defense of their city.[7] Hearing that they were meeting to discuss providing service during the war, there were attempts to shut down the meeting and intimidate attendees. The Commercial stated that black men should not interfere in the war.[8] Their offer was refused by the city, and they were told there no need for their help in a "white man's war." This was contrary to the wishes of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace who intended to enlist the help of the city's black residents to construct defensive fortifications.
snip... impressment!!!
On September 2, 1862, the Cincinnati police force abruptly and forcefully impressed male black residents to construct fortifications, often at gunpoint and with rough treatment, and without a plan or explanation.[7] The men were gathered and put in a mule pen on Plum Street, not knowing what would become of them and fearfully that they might be left in Kentucky and become enslaved.[10]
Some of the men labored at the river and others were taken at bayonet to work as servants, camp cooks and laundrymen for Union troops at Fort Wright.[7][2] About 400 men were taken to regimental camps and were held there.[7] They were held for two days,[11] during which they worked continuously for 36 hours without sleep and received half rations of food.[10] The treatment was denounced by the Cincinnati Daily Gazette, that stated "Let our colored fellow-soldiers be treated civilly" and "treated like men". It was the only local newspaper to condemn the unjust treatment.[
Here some more highlights...
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati
1000 African American men served the Black Brigade of Cincinnati later receiving a military unit flag, $13 a month and various privileges.
thevoiceofblackcincinnati.com
snip...
A local judge, William Martin Dickson, visited the various regiments’ camps and removed the black men who had been seized. Organizing the men along military lines and christening them the Black Brigade, Dickson and the unit marched across the river under the National flag and commenced the arduous work of digging rifle pits, clearing trees, and building forts, magazines, and roads. The men return to their homes and families to prepare for continued service commencing the following day under General Wallace’s direction
snip...
On September 5th, 700 Black men voluntarily reported for duty, including many who were securely hidden to avoid being captured by the police. In the second week, the Black Brigade soldiers received their own military unit flag and $13 a month—a Union Army private’s pay—along with various privileges, including the right to visit their families. A total of 1000 men served the Black Brigade – 700 men built forts, magazines, and miles of military roads and breastworks along the riverfront and 300 men worked at military camps and on gunboats.
snip...
Fifteen days later, on September 20th, the Black Brigade was disbanded when there was no longer a threat to Cincinnati. When they were done, hundreds of acres of forests had been cleared and miles of rifle pits were dug to protect the city. One man, Joseph Johns, was killed when a tree fell on him
snip...
Many Black Brigade members later served in the Union Army, some in the famous 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The Black Brigade was believed to be the first case of African Americans being organized and utilized for military purposes in the North.
