One Country, One Flag, One Destiny African American Service in the Civil War Page 2/6

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny: African American Service in the Civil War
African Americans and the Defense of Cincinnati
In the decades preceding the Civil War, the city of Cincinnati had a very contentious relationship with its African American community. Numerous outbursts of mob violence had resulted in the loss of life and the destruction of property belonging to African Americans. Located on the southern border of the state of Ohio, Cincinnati attempted to sustain a commercial relationships with both slaveholding businessmen from the South and abolitionists from the North. While anti-slavery speeches were presented in its lecture halls, the streets of Cincinnati frequently witnessed violence against its free black residents.

When the Civil War started, Cincinnati's African American residents attempted to organize a company of "Home Guards" to aid in the defense of the city. A business selected as a recruiting station was ordered to remove the American flag from above its door. Another businessman was told by the police, "We want you d?d niggers to keep out of this; this is a white man's war." Rumors of impending mob violence spread across the city. Although they suspended their efforts to form a company of "Home Guards," the desire to protect and defend their homes and families still burned within the African American men of the Queen City. However, the message was clear. When Cincinnati's leaders called for all citizens to defend her, they meant all white citizens.

In 1862, Cincinnati was living in fear. Due to its close proximity to the South, the city recognized the threat of attack from Confederate forces. The raids into Ohio led by Confederate Captain John H. Morgan, from July 13 until his eventual capture on July 26, intensified the city's fear. The August 30th defeat of Union forces in Richmond, Kentucky, a city one hundred miles to the south, caused the city to act. Calls for the building of defensive fortifications around the city could no longer be ignored.

On September 1, General Lewis Wallace assumed command of Cincinnati. The city was placed under martial law. General Wallace ordered that it would be "citizens for labor and soldiers for battle." On September 2, Mayor George Hatch released a proclamation:

In accordance with a resolution passed by the City Council of Cincinnati on the 1st instant, I hereby request that all business, of every kind or character, be suspended at ten o'clock of this day, that all persons, employers and employees, assemble in their respective wards, at the usual places of voting, and there organize themselves in such manner as may be thought best for the defense of the city. Every man, of every age, be he citizen or alien, who lives under the protection of our laws, is expected to take part in the organization.

No opportunity to report would be afforded to the African American population of Cincinnati. On September 2, military authorities decided to impress the African American men of Cincinnati to build fortifications. A special police was organized to assemble the African American men. The police searched houses, dragged men into the streets and marched them to a hog pen on Plum Street. In most cases, they provided no information on the reason for impression. While the African American community was outraged at the treatment of their fathers and sons, only one Cincinnati newspaper protested. An editorial article in the Gazette condemned the impression.

On September 4, General Wallace assigned Judge William Dickson the command of the African American men. One of Dickson's first actions was to release the men to return home to prepare for camp life. This action eased the fear of family members, some of whom did not know what had happened to their loved ones. The men were ordered to return to duty on September 5. They were designated "The Black Brigade."

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny African American Service in the Civil War Page 3/6

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny: African American Service in the Civil War
The Black Brigade

The Black Brigade

On September 5, the African American male population of Cincinnati reported for duty as part of the Black Brigade. More men than had been impressed reported for duty. Given the opportunity to voluntarily report, men who had previously hidden from the special police marched through the streets with their fellow residents. When they reported for duty, an informal presentation was conducted. James Lupton, Acting Camp Commandant, presented the brigade with a national flag and gave a brief speech:

I have the kind permission of your commandant, Colonel Dickson, to hand you, without formal speech or presentation, this national flag--my sole object to encourage and cheer you on to duty. On its broad folds is inscribed, “The Black Brigade of Cincinnati.� I am confident that, in your hands, it will not be dishonored.
The duty of the hour is work--hard, severe labor on the fortifications of the city. In the emergency upon us, the highest and the lowest alike owe this duty. Let it be cheerfully undertaken. He is no man who now, in defense of home and fireside, shirks duty.

A flag is the emblem of sovereignty--a symbol and guarantee of protection. Every nation and people are proud of the flag of their country. England, for a thousand years, boasts her Red flag and Cross of St. George; France glories in her Tri-color and Imperial Eagle; ours the “Star-spangled Banner,� far more beautiful than they--this dear old flag !--the sun in heaven never looked down on so proud a banner of beauty and glory. Men of the Black Brigade, rally around it. Assert your manhood, be loyal to duty, be obedient, hopeful, patient. Slavery will soon die; the slaveholders’ rebellion, accursed of God and man, will shortly and miserably perish. There will then be, through all the coming ages, in very truth, a land of the free--one country, one flag, one destiny.

I charge you, Men of the Black Brigade of Cincinnati, remember that for you, and for me, and for your children, and your children’s children, there is but one Flag, as there is but one Bible, and one God, the Father of us all.

The Black Brigade labored to build fortifications around Cincinnati until September 20. They took pride in their work to protect their homes and families. The degradation of their initial impression, while not forgotten, was at least lessened by knowing that they were the first men of their race to be employed for military purposes in the North.

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny African American Service in the Civil War Page 4/6

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny: African American Service in the Civil War
The Massachusetts Regiments

Early in 1863, after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, permission to raise an African American brigade was granted to the State of Massachusetts. Since the beginning of the war, Massachusetts Governor John Andrew had been one of the staunchest supporters of the use of African American troops. Unfortunately, the size of Massachusetts' African American population was unable to support the raising of a brigade on its own. It would be necessary to recruit beyond the boundaries of the state.

Because Ohio was still unsanctioned to raise African American soldiers for its regiments, John Langston began the recruitment of Ohio African American men for the Massachusetts brigade. Ohio's African American male population responded to the call in great numbers. More than five hundred Ohioans filled the ranks of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Regiments.

Among the recruits of the 55th Massachusetts was Joshua Dunbar, father of famous poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Thirty years after the end of the Civil War, Paul Laurence wrote the poem "The Colored Soldiers", which tells the story of the struggles of the soldiers on and off the battlefield.

Then distress fell on the nation
And the flag was drooping low;
Should the dust pollute your banner?
No! the nation shouted, No!
So when War, in savage triumph,
Spread abroad his funeral pall?
Then you called the colored soldiers,
And they answered your call.
In May 1863, Langston, waiting for a train to Massachusetts, was summoned to the state capital for a meeting with Governor Tod. Langston had been on his way to deliver the regimental colors to the 55th Massachusetts. The colors had been purchased through donations from Ohio African American communities. Finally, Tod had reversed his position on the recruitment of African American troops and now wanted to engage Langston's services as a recruiter for the state.

Initially, Langston refused the Governor's offer. Already employed in that capacity by the state of Massachusetts, Langston believed he could not work for the state of Ohio. Also, Langston was concerned that the men would not be paid the same wages as white troops. After reassurances from Governor Tod that the African American recruits would receive the same pay as white troops, Langston reconsidered Tod?s offer. Following telegraphic communication with the War Department and the State of Massachusetts, Langston accepted the position. Ohio's regiments would have its first African American soldiers.

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny African American Service in the Civil War Page 5/6

One Country, One Flag, One Destiny: African American Service in the Civil War
Ohio´s Regiments

In June 1863, Ohio first African American recruits began reporting for duty at Camp Delaware, in Delaware, Ohio, a city twenty miles north of Columbus. The unit was designated the 127th Ohio Volunteer regiment. Shortly after their arrival in camp, and despite the reassurances of Governor Tod, the recruits were informed that they would be paid ten dollars a month, three less than their white counterparts. While many felt deceived by the government, the men voted to stay when given the option to leave camp. They were going to serve their country. After the formation of the Bureau of Colored Troops in Washington, D.C., the unit was re-designated the 5th United States Colored Troops.

In November, after nearly five months of drilling, the 5th U.S.C.T. was ordered to report to Virginia. Before the unit left for Virginia, a formal presentation of the colors was held. Former Governor William Dennison, Governor Tod, and Langston participated in the ceremony. Governor Tod gave a rousing send-off speech to the unit:

My boys, sons of the State, go forth now as you are called to fight for our country and its government! Let your conduct be that of brave, intelligent devoted American citizens! If such shall be your course, if spared and I can reach you no otherwise, on your return I will come upon my hands and knees to meet and greet you! And my words of commendation and praise shall be prompted by my pride and satisfaction in view of your behavior! But, should your conduct be that of cowards, showing your forgetfulness of the fearful responsibility which now rests upon your shoulders and the supreme dignity of the mission to which your government calls and this State sends you, as you return, I will crawl if need be, away from you, that I may never look again in your faces! I have, however full confidence in you; and my prayer to Almighty God is that He will protect you while he gives you victory in every battle in which you may be called to take part.

Langston accepted the colors on behalf on the regiment.

After leaving Camp Delaware, the unit reported for duty with the Army of the James at Portsmouth Virginia. On December 18, the unit participated in its first engagement with Confederate forces near Sandy Swamp, North Carolina. In a letter to his hometown newspaper, the Athens Messenger, Sergeant-Major Milton Holland described the unit's experiences after leaving Ohio. Participating in numerous expeditions in Virginia and North Carolina, the unit also took part in the Siege of Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia, the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, the assault and capture of Fort Fisher, N.C., the capture of Wilmington, N.C., and numerous other engagements. The unit served bravely until it was mustered out September 20, 1865.

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One Country, One Flag, One Destiny: African American Service in the Civil War
Post-war United States
Even though African Americans did not have the full rights of citizenship before the Civil War, they chose to fight and die for the American flag.Through military service, many expected that African Americans would gain citizenship. Although African Americans acquired citizenship rights in 1868 through the XIV Amendment to the United States Constitution, and African American men acquired voting rights in 1870 with the passage of the XV Amendment, the United States Congress did not enforce them, which allowed many states to continue their systematic unequal treatment of their African American citizens. Through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses, many states were able to deny voting rights to African Americans. Those discriminatory practices continued until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
On the battlefields of the Civil War, Ohio African American soldiers bravely served and died beside their comrades. Sergeant Major Milton Holland, 1st Sergeant James H. Bronson, 1st Sergeant Robert Pinn, and 1st Sergeant Powhatan Beaty of the 5th U.S.C.T. were awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery. Through their service, African American men firmly established their right to defend their country. In every war after the Civil War, African Americans have fought for the stars and stripes. In so doing, African Americans have made the motto, "One Country, One Flag, and One Destiny" a reality.

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About the Author
Melissa Wiford is a member of the Archives Library Museum Access (ALMA) team, which was responsible for the Ohio Battle Flag digitization and cataloging project. She received her bachelor's degrees in history, women's studies, and sociology from The Ohio State University.