March 2022 Meeting

At our dinner meeting on March 16th, Dr. James B. Martin, former Dean of Academics at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, gave a program titled: "African-American Military Heroes of the Civil War." Key points made by Dr. Martin during his presentation are as follows:

Dr. Martin said he normally talks about irregular warfare in the American West. His book titled: African-American War Heroes includes stories about 80 African-American war heroes.
On July 25, 1992, Dr. Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first African-American to occupy America's most senior military position, presided over the dedication of the Buffalo Soldiers monument at Fort Leavenworth KS. Dr. Powell said: "Since 1641, there has never been a time in this country when Blacks were unwilling to serve and sacrifice for America. But for most of that time Blacks served without recognition or reward for the contribution they made for our freedom, for the freedom they did not enjoy here in their own beloved native land."
Over the years, many medals for courage and self-sacrifice have been awarded, such as the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Navy Cross, etc. However, the opportunities for the African-Americans to celebrate its military heroes have been restricted for 240 years since the Revolutionary War, due to prejudice.
The capacity of Blacks to serve in the military was questioned after the Civil War. Prejudice existed in the military up to the Korean War and beyond. African-Americans were restricted to segr egated units until 1948.
African-American units were successful in combat, but were segregated after the war. In every major conflict, African-Americans served with courage and were awarded with Medals of Honor. However, no African-Americans actually received the Medal of Honor during World War I or World War II (they did later).
Four African-Americans received French medals during World War I. For example. Private Henry Johnson (369th Infantry Regiment) became one of the first Americans to receive the highest French award for valor, the Croix de Guerre.
African-Americans were capable of heroism, but they didn't fit the image due to race, especially during the Civil War. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Alexander Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy claimed "the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man." Confederate General Howell Cobb answered the call to enlist slaves into the Confederate Army by stating: "If slaves make good soldiers, then our whole theory of slavery is wrong."
Out of nearly 3,500 Medals of Honor awarded since inception, African-Americans have only received 87 and one received two. Nine Medals of Honor were awarded for peacetime service.
During the Civil War close to 179,000 African-Americans seived in segregated units, such as the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. This represents approximately 9% of the Union soldiers. A total of 29 African-Americans received medals for courage and valor. Most of these were received late in the war at the Battle of New Market Heights outside of Richmond VA.
After the Civil War, African-Americans were mustered out of service. The U.S. government created segregated African-American units, which seived in the West. The 9th and 10th Cavahy and the 24th and 25tli Infantry regiments became known as "Buffalo Soldiers."
African-American soldiers seived with white officers during the Indian Wars in the West (1865-1890) and during the Spanish-American War (1898-1899). African-American troops were engaged in 11-13% of the combat versus the Indians. They received a total of 18 Medals of Honor, 11 of which were in the 9th Cavalry. During the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), African-American troops performed well. Deployed in Cuba, the 9th and 10th Cavalry charged with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. The 10th Cavalry received five Medals of Honor.
In his book. Dr. Martin wrote about ten African-American heroes of the Civil War. This includes the following Medal of Honor winners:
- Sergeant William H. Carney, 54th Massachusetts. He saved regimental colors during the Battle of Fort Wagner, July 1863. Received Medal of Honor on May 23, 1900.
- obert Blake, runaway slave, seived in Union Navy on steamboat USS Marblehead. On December 25, 1863, engaged on Stono River versus Confederate howitzer on Joints Island. Ran powder boxes to the ship's gun loaders. Received Medal of Honor on April 16, 1864.
- Andrew Jackson Smith, born into slavery 1842. Accomplished boatman. Ran away to the North. Was servant to Major Joint Warner, 41st Illinois, during the Battle of Shiloh. Supplied fresh horses to Major Warner. Got shot in the head. Fought with 54th Massachusetts at the Battle of Honey Hill SC on November 30, 1864. When color bearer was killed. Smith took up battle flags and carried them through the remainder of the fight. Awarded Medal of Honor on January 16, 2001, 137 years later. President Clinton presented the medal to Smith's descendants.
- Christian Fleetwood was never a slave. Enlisted in the 4th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops on August 11, 1863. In September 1864, fought at Petersburg. Sergeant Major Fleetwood displayed heroism by picking up the regimental flags at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. Colored troops captured fortifications by charging with bayonets. However, they lost 365 out of 683 killed or wounded.
- Corporal Miles James received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm. After their white officer was killed, James rallied the men even though he was badly wounded and lost an arm.
Some African-Americans did not receive the Medal of Honor, but deserved to. This includes:
- Robert Smalls was captain of a Union vessel. He led fellow slaves to capture the vessel and sail it to the Union. He was made a captain after that.
- Harriet Tubman was a spy for the Union. She created a string of safe houses known as the "Underground Railroad" for runaway slaves to escape to the North.
Many white officers did not want to lead African-American troops. Segregated units kept African-Americans from achieving the honors that they deserved. However, the Medals of Honor that they did receive meant more to them.
In his book, Dr. Martin states: "African-Americans have served with distinction in eveiy conflict America has been in since the founding of the nation and they have done so with a courage and loyalty far surpassing the loyalty their country showed to them. They fought for a nation that treated them poorly as its best and almost inhumanely at its worst...They fought not just for the African-American community, but also for what America could be and what it still can be."