The Negro as a soldier

In Short

This work is a formal address delivered at the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition. It chronicles the participation of black men in American military conflicts, beginning with the Revolutionary War and culminating in the Union cause of the Civil War. By documenting the enlistment statistics, battlefield sacrifices, and specific acts of heroism, the narrative argues that African American soldiers have consistently proven their bravery and loyalty, even when met with systemic discrimination, exclusion, or the threat of re-enslavement. It remains a foundational text for understanding the intersection of citizenship and military duty.

The Story

The narrative begins by confronting a historical silence: for sixteen hundred years, the role of the black soldier went largely unrecorded. During the Revolutionary War, black men served in the Continental Army and Navy, yet their contributions were often obscured by the prevailing attitudes of the time. Initially, many colonists resisted arming black men, fearing the loss of enslaved labor or questioning the justice of using the enslaved to fight for a freedom they did not share. Despite the vacillations of leadership—including George Washington’s early opposition and later grudging acceptance—black soldiers fought at Bunker Hill and Rhode Island with distinction. The tragedy, however, was that these veterans often returned home to face the same, or worse, conditions. The narrative cites the heartbreaking case of a revolutionary veteran re-enslaved by his master and sold into servitude in his old age, a stark reminder of the fragile freedom afforded to those who bled for the nation's independence.

Moving to the War of 1812, the account highlights the naval contributions of men like John Johnson, who urged his shipmates to continue fighting even after suffering mortal wounds. General Andrew Jackson’s eventual call for black recruits in Louisiana proved pivotal, as these men demonstrated "noble enthusiasm" in the defense of the country. Yet, even this service failed to secure lasting respect; the narrative concludes this section with the grim fate of Major Jeffreys, a black veteran who was brutally whipped for defending himself against a white assailant—a final, bitter reward for his service.

The primary focus then turns to the Civil War, characterized as a struggle that the South paradoxically began by enlisting black men, only to have the North eventually adopt the policy as a strategic necessity. The narrative recounts the bureaucratic resistance within the Union, countered by figures like General David Hunter, whose sharp, defiant correspondence with the Secretary of War serves as a centerpiece of the text. As the war progressed, black regiments proved their mettle at Fort Wagner, Millikens Bend, and New Market Heights. The text meticulously details the carnage at these sites, noting that black troops fought with "coolness, steadiness, determined courage and dash." It emphasizes that these soldiers were not merely laboring in trenches, but were active, essential participants in the final Union victories at Petersburg and Appomattox. The record closes with a sobering statistical accounting of the nearly 180,000 black soldiers who served, followed by a final, pointed demand for justice, urging the nation to recognize these heroes rather than relegate their sacrifices to "outer darkness."

How It Unfolds

The Revolutionary silence The account opens by acknowledging the difficulty of tracing early records, as black soldiers were often integrated into general units rather than separated. It describes the internal friction of the Continental Congress and colonial leadership as they grappled with the contradictions of fighting for liberty while maintaining slavery.

The War of 1812 and the naval front The focus shifts to the sea and the battle of New Orleans, where black sailors and soldiers were instrumental in defending the nation. It highlights the stark transition from wartime praise and honorary titles to the harsh, violent reality of post-war civilian life for black veterans.

The Civil War and the policy of exclusion The middle section details the reluctant transition of the Union toward the widespread use of black troops. It focuses on the bureaucratic hurdles placed before them and the biting satire used by contemporary writers and generals to shame the administration into action.

The battlefield reality The narrative moves through the grim, bloody geography of the Civil War, recounting specific assaults at Port Hudson, Fort Wagner, and the Petersburg mine. It highlights the immense physical and psychological pressures these men endured, emphasizing that they held their own against the best of the Confederate forces.

The final record The text concludes with a statistical roll call of regiments and casualties, providing a firm, mathematical rebuttal to those who questioned the fighting capacity of the race. It culminates in a final appeal for the nation to honor the "living few" who survived the conflict.

The People

Christian A. Fleetwood acts as the guiding narrator. He writes from the perspective of a veteran—a late Sergeant-Major of the 4th U. S. Colored Troops—who seeks to transform raw military history into a moral mandate for modern recognition. He is not a neutral observer but a participant who understands the weight of the flag.

General David Hunter emerges as a crucial ally. He is the personification of pragmatism and defiance, willing to risk his own standing in Washington by weaponizing the loyalty of the soldiers he armed against the hypocrisy of his political superiors. His letter is the text's primary act of rhetorical resistance.

Major Jeffreys serves as the tragic embodiment of the black veteran’s precarious existence. A man honored by his general for his heroism in 1812, he is nevertheless reduced to a victim of the law in his later years. He represents the systemic betrayal that follows the conclusion of every American war.

General Benjamin Butler appears as a figure of transformation. Having witnessed the slaughter at New Market Heights, he is moved to a "solemn oath" to defend the rights of the men who died for him. He represents the awakening of a white officer who, through the sacrifice of his troops, is forced to confront his own past prejudices.

In Its Own Voice

The simple fact is that the fathers as a rule enlisted men both for the Army and Navy, just as now, is only continued by the Navy, that is to say, they were assigned wherever needed, without regard to race or color.

This passage reflects on the integrated, albeit unrecorded, nature of early American military service.

The right to be kilt I’ll divide wid him, and divil a word I’ll say.

These lines from a song by "Miles O'Reilly" are used to illustrate the dark, biting irony surrounding the white soldiers' acceptance of black comrades in the Union army.

May my right hand forget its cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if ever I fail to defend the rights of the men who have given their blood for me and my country this day and for their race forever.

General Butler recounts his vow to the fallen after seeing the scale of sacrifice at New Market Heights.

What It's Really About

The central argument is that the history of the American military is incomplete without the inclusion of the black soldier, whose service has been a constant, if suppressed, truth of every national conflict. The text addresses the fundamental hypocrisy of a country that asks for the ultimate sacrifice from people it otherwise denies full citizenship. It treats the "problem" of the black soldier not as a military question—as the battlefield successes definitively prove their capability—but as a moral and political failure of the nation to keep its promises. By cataloging the dead, it attempts to force the reader to reckon with the debt owed to those who fought for a flag that offered them so little in return.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of the American Civil War or the long, arduous struggle for civil rights will find this book an essential, if sobering, primary source. It provides a rare, direct link to the voice of a black veteran speaking to his contemporaries at the close of the 19th century. The prose is precise, formal, and occasionally sharp with a dry, military wit that underscores the author’s authority as both a soldier and an advocate.

It is important to approach this text with an awareness of its era; the language reflects the late 19th-century context, and the occasional inclusion of dialect or period-specific terminology can be jarring for a modern reader. However, these elements only deepen the historical honesty of the work. The book does not shy away from the horrific realities of the battlefield or the systematic injustices of the post-war period. What stays with you is not just the recitation of bravery, but the recurring, tragic pattern of the nation using the black soldier to save itself, only to abandon him when the peace is signed. It is a powerful exercise in historical preservation, reminding us that the fight for recognition is as old as the country itself.