black soldiers mostly worked as laborers-digging tranches, putting up forts, cooked food and did picket duty, but some units like the 54th. mass and some others(like at vicksburg) saw extensive action and impressed many whites who had their doubts about blacks in the military-the book also said in chapter20 that blacks in the union navy played an importaant role in the sea war but never elaborated much on it
There was a lot of criticism of Jefferson Davis, and how he could be to blame for the South losing the war, but he can not control what his generals do during battels to win or lose. If he and president Lincoln were on opposite sides would it have caused the South to win and the North to fail?
I don't think you could really judge how effective the African American soldiers were. They generally did not see too much combat but as Mr. Lopez said they were often seen cooking or working as medics. Obviously by performing these jobs it freed up white soldiers so they could combat.
As far as Blacks in the Navy, being in the navy sucked. Long time at sea, hard work on the ships, very few people wanted that life, which is why they would take just about anyone to do the work. British naval forces impressed people through out the 18th and 19th centuries to work their ships, so Americans weren't going to be too picky about who shoveled the coal for the steam ships or what have you.
7 comments:
How effective were the Black soldiers in the war? From what they did as units and the effect their commisson had on the South?
Why were blacks always allowed in the navy while they were restricted from the army
black soldiers mostly worked as laborers-digging tranches, putting up forts, cooked food and did picket duty, but some units like the 54th. mass and some others(like at vicksburg) saw extensive action and impressed many whites who had their doubts about blacks in the military-the book also said in chapter20 that blacks in the union navy played an importaant role in the sea war but never elaborated much on it
There was a lot of criticism of Jefferson Davis, and how he could be to blame for the South losing the war, but he can not control what his generals do during battels to win or lose. If he and president Lincoln were on opposite sides would it have caused the South to win and the North to fail?
I don't think you could really judge how effective the African American soldiers were. They generally did not see too much combat but as Mr. Lopez said they were often seen cooking or working as medics. Obviously by performing these jobs it freed up white soldiers so they could combat.
Didn't they have a psychological effect for the south? Was that worth anything?
As far as Blacks in the Navy, being in the navy sucked. Long time at sea, hard work on the ships, very few people wanted that life, which is why they would take just about anyone to do the work. British naval forces impressed people through out the 18th and 19th centuries to work their ships, so Americans weren't going to be too picky about who shoveled the coal for the steam ships or what have you.
Post a Comment