Published: 3/1/12Honoring Civil War Women for Women’s History MonthBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line Today marks the first day of Women’s History Month. To celebrate, The Front Line will have a month-long series of women’s history posts including images, quotes, writings, and biographies. We...
Published: 2/28/12Mustered Out…The U.S. Colored TroopsBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line “Mustered Out,” Little Rock, Arkansas, April 20, 1865 by Alfred R. Waud. Image Credit: Harper’s Weekly, May 19, 1866 courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Published: 2/28/12Mustering Out Continued…General Orders No. 1By: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line COMRADES: The hour is at hand when we must separate forever, and nothing can take from us the pride we feel, when we look upon the history of the ‘First...
Published: 2/27/12Recruiting Black Soldiers – The Fight for Equal RightsBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line After President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the Union army began recruiting African American soldiers. The first authorized black regiments came from Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Tennessee. While initially...
Published: 2/24/12A Request from the 36 U.S. Colored RegimentBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line Our Black History Month celebration contines with this letter written by the 36th U.S. Colored Regiment to the commissioner of the Freedman’s Bureau. Stationed near Petersburg, VA at the time,...
Published: 2/23/12Black Soldiers and the Bloody Battle of Milliken’s BendBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line Part of the Vicksburg Campaign, the Battle at Milliken’s Bend occured on June 7, 1863 and included hand-to-hand combat between Confederate troops and a newly formed “African Brigade.” The following...
Published: 2/21/12Quarters for African American SoldiersBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line Our Black History Month Celebration continues with this Harper’s Weekly depiction of “Negro Quarters, Army of the James.” Image Credit: Harper’s Weekly, February 25, 1865.
Published: 2/20/12Rest in Peace Willie LincolnBy: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth. God has called him home. I know that he is much better off in heaven, but then we loved him...
Published: 2/20/12Special Field Orders No. 15By: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line Our Black History Month celebration continues with General Willaim Tecumseh Sherman’s Special Field Orders No. 15. Issued January 16, 1865, Sherman’s orders confiscated approximately 400,000 acres of Confederate coastal property,...
Published: 2/17/12Voice from the Past: “It Pleased Me Much More Than One Of Those Sentimental Things”By: Laura June DavisCategory: The Front Line Our Valentine-themed series is coming to a close. We hope you have enjoyed reading some of these love letters from February 1862. Have a great weekend! Camp Porter, Virginia, Tuesday,...