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.