On May 22, 1863-151 years ago today-the War Department issued General Order 143, creating the United States Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, approximately 180,000 black men had served in the Union army, and another 20,000 or so in the Union navy. Twenty-five African Americans received the Medal of Honor for heroism. Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship.-Frederick Douglass (Photo at bottom shows a group of African American veterans in 1880 visiting the Mentor, Ohio home of former Union general and then-presidential candidate James A. Garfield.)
Posted on: Thu, 22 May 2014 18:30:00 +0000
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