mulatto in the ranks

[Busterbuttonboy]

I didnt want to revive an old thread about blacks in confederate ranks, if the mods feel otherwise please move this to another place.

Hall's report on Vaught's Hill - March 20, 1863
The interesting quote is on page 3.

"The surgeons declined to disclose the force, and one wounded officer placed it at 4,000. Amoung the enemy's dead was a mulatto, killed on the advanced line, fully uniformed and equipped. My loss is as follows..."

This was found by Matthew Borders the Historian for the American Battlefield Protection Program while researching.

D.a. Gruber

[Prodical Reb]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

There was at least 1! ;)

[NC5thCav]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I have researched one who fought in the 37th NC. He and his two brothers tried to enlist in 1861 but were turned down because of their color. He tried again and was excepted in 1862, and was KIA at 2nd Mannassas.

[ewtaylor]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

Silas Chandler, a FREE man serving with the 44th Miss. Inf. Its one of my favorite photos.

[vmi2009]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I did not know that he was a free black man. I have seen this photo before in several different books and it was identified as a slave with his master. Thank you for sharing this.

[Mcouioui]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

Silas Chandler, a FREE man serving with the 44th Miss. Inf. Its one of my favorite photos.

This subject is always a great pleasure for me, I also like very much Silas Chandler story, I have a portrait made by a painter on the subject, which takes place during the episode of the leak in wagon Goods, I have to find that to put him here.

[Mcouioui]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I found the portrait ;)

[Hank Trent]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I did not know that he was a free black man. I have seen this photo before in several different books and it was identified as a slave with his master. Thank you for sharing this.

According to this site, yes, he was free. He'd been owned by the parents of the white man in the photo, but had been freed just before the war. It seems though that his situation during the war was more complex than simply being an equal soldier.

I just posted the following in response to the photo on another forum:

More on Silas Chandler, from the site linked above, with emphasis added:

The following is from a 1950 typed transcript of handwritten notes from an interview with Andrew Martin Chandler [the white man in the photo] conducted in 1912:
...
"...While there, he told me of another Silas Chandler that served with him in the Army. This Silas was a former slave owned by his parents, who was papered out just before the war. Even though he was granted his freedom, he insisted on going off to war with Andrew, partially because of their friendship, and partially because since Silas was a little older, he felt that he needed to protect Andrew. Andrew told me that even though Silas was considered a servant by the other men and blacks in the unit, he was very much an equal, displaying just as much hatred for the yankees as anyone in the whole unit!"

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Mcouioui]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I believed that the artist was French but I have to make a mistake, my french chauvinism will have mistake me;)

[Hank Trent]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I believed that the artist was French but I have to make a mistake, my french chauvinism will have mistake me;)

The site I linked above shows the painting, sells prints, and says the artist's name is Zvonimir but strangely enough I can't find that they ever give more of his name or anything about him.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Mcouioui]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I fetch of my part...

[Mcouioui]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

The artist seems well to be American of origin the Eastern Europe, but no more information of my part to...

[laxdoc]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I have just read "Slaves Civil War", one person stated that he was sent by his owner to the army in place of the owner. Another (free black) was hired to take the place of a son of a big planter. wonder how many others did the same.

[Mcouioui]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

He does not have to be the only one I think, now on approximately 1 million men for the South, I do not think that the number of cases is astronomical... ;)

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: mulatto in the ranks

I have just read "Slaves Civil War", one person stated that he was sent by his owner to the army in place of the owner. Another (free black) was hired to take the place of a son of a big planter. wonder how many others did the same.

Very interesting...if you find the time...could you please provide a proper citation for the book...and maybe a quotation to support the information you've shared with us?

P.S. Don't forget to sign your name to all posts (as it is an AC Forum Rule)...this can be set up to do so automatically through the User Control Panel.

Thanks,

Paul B.