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.