The Louisiana in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Re: Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield

I agree. There were also two women in one of the New York units, I guess now some revisionist historian will credit the North with "gender equity".

If a Union black soldier died in combat at Mansfield, however, I wish someone could produce undisputable evidence of it. I wish too, that the TRUTH about black Confederates would be told.

I have studied the Red River Campaign closely and know that black units, on both sides, were present, but have seen very little documentation of their participation. Local oral history however (remember the "grain of salt")lay claims to a black Union mounted unit engaged in the fighting at Crump's Corner, and an independent black Confederate unit (I assume composed of the free blacks from the Isle Brevelle) attached to Vincent's 2nd Cavalry and seeing some action. Again, I wish I could find some documentation. Of course, given the level of exaggerations by those purporting to record the "truth," anything written at the time must also be viewed with some skepticism.

As for the presence of foreigners on both sides, that has been clearly documented. The 10th Louisiana Infantry was known as "Lee's Foreign Legion" and with good cause. Although the majority of the regiment were Irish, there were also men from Asia, Greece, Italy, India, etc...

It is unfortunate for us that those of the time "failed" to properly record every aspect of that war and era. I say "failed" because obviously they had more important matters to tend to, like survival! Also, in the immediate aftermath of the war the nation wanted to heal itself and little or no effort was made to preserve documents, etc, and especially the negative photo plates, that were sold to greenhouses and that the sun faded away. It is clear, however, that beginning in earnest in the 1890's, a certain group with a political agenda began revising the history of the war. Veterans still alive at the time were appalled and it was that movement that led to the formation of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 1896, whose mission is to keep alive the truth of what the South was fighting for. My point is, documents were altered and some destroyed and we are left today with a less-than-accurate recorded history. Examples? well, regimental musters for one. Even Ed Bearrs will tell you that.

Sorry for the long post. I get carried away on this subject.

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Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield
Re: Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield
Re: Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield
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Re: Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield
Re: Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield
Re: Mixed Race US unit @ Mansfield