Option 2 - What impact did the enlistment of black soldiers in the Union Army have on the
course of the war? The black soldiers were eager to enlist into the Union Army, by joining in
the fight against slavery and be seen as equals and prove their right to equality. It was shortly
after the Emancipation of Proclamation went into effect that African Americans were allowed
to join the Union Army and navy. The black soldiers were initially only to be used for manual
labor but not for combat. But that soon changed and black soldiers were fighting for their
freedom.
Black Soldier dealt with racism while fighting with other white soldier, they didn't get the full
pay like white soldiers but that didn't stop them from fighting in the war, the black soldiers
were determined to remain loyal to serve their country and fights for their rights.
It was after the Battle of Fort Pillow that black soldiers understood that going into combat
might mean death to them. Because many Southerners announced unofficially that they would
execute any black soldier they captured. It was in Battle of Fort Pillow that made that threat
real by General Nathan Forrest, there was several white and black soldiers, and all prisoners
were shot. It was after that Battle that black soldiers were determined to fight harder because
they understood when they went into combat that surrender might mean death. Towards end
of the war, nearly 200,000 black soldiers were fighting in the Union and navy forces.
References
Edwin S. Redkey. 1992. A Grand Army of Black Men : Letters From African-American Soldiers in the Union Army
1861-1865. Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=675643&site=eds-
live&scope=site.
John David Smith.2013. Lincoln and the U.S. Colored Troops. Concise Lincoln Library. Carbondale: Southern IIlinois
direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=662622&site=eds-live&scope=site.