Remembering the Teachers - Who Brought Thousands Out of Darkness

Mary Peake taught many former slave children underneath Emancipation Oak, 

on what is now the campus of Hampton University. 

Source of Image: Past is Present

In the civil war years as well as the years immediately after the war, so much needed to be done to stimulate the minds of children, especially those whose status as slaves had denied them a formal education.  

From the works of women like Mary Peake, of Virginia to the teachers of the Port Royal Experiment, to the countless hundreds of others who labored for years, these women deserve their place on a Roll of Honor of people who worked towards the effort of freedom through education.

Port Royal Teacher Laura Towne

Source: 

Mary Peake is one of the most well known--yet she is still unknown by many.  She was the daughter of a free black woman and an Englishman.  She was educated in Alexandria in the 1830s at a school for blacks in the District of Columbia. At that time, Alexandria was still part of the District of Washington. She began teaching in the 1840s from her home and later, after her marriage to Thomas Peake, a former slave, she moved with her husband  to Hampton Virginia. 

When the Civil War burned much of  Hampton, she found herself in a city among many newly freed slaves--known as contrabands. Many  had taken refuge at nearby Ft. Monroe. Others had lived in the Grand Contraband Camp in Hampton, established by Gen. Butler and Union forces, when Ft. Monroe had no more room. There she found herself in a city with hundreds of children wanting to learn. 

Projects emerged around the country and many organizations assisted in the process. The American Tract Society of Boston created a school primer for former slave children.

The Freedmen Spelling Book created by the American Tract Society of Boston

Even during the years of the war itself, thousands of men who had enlisted in the Union Army also set about the task of learning to read and write. So great was this desire to learn!

In Hampton, a project began with six students and then grew to dozens within a few days and Mary Peake immediately threw herself into her work. This was in the fall of 1861. She was often seen teaching children underneath a massive oak tree (now known as Emancipation Oak). 

A small school structure was erected and she immersed herself into teaching over the next several months. As does happen with people often thrown into close contact, illness and disease occurs, and by winter, Mary Peake had caught tuberculosis after continuous weeks of work and constant exposure. Her illness progressed, during the winter but her constant desire was always for the children and to see that they would be taught. When she was first bedridden she was often known to still have children brought into her room and she would teach them from her bed. But eventually she could no longer teach. In February of 1862, she was finally overtaken by tuberculosis and died.

Mary Peake loved teaching and wanted to bring enlightenment into the lives and minds of the newly free slave children. Several months after her death, the black residents of the Hampton area were to hear the words of the Emancipation Proclamation read to them underneath the very oak tree where she taught new freed children of slaves. This was also the first public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

 Emancipation Oak, as it is known today still stands strongly on the campus at Hampton University. A few feet away from the trunk of Emancipation Oak  stands a small red schoolhouse said to be the Butler School building where Mary Peake and later other teachers taught.

Butler School Stands on Grounds Next to Emancipation Oak

Source: Historical Marker Database Site

Taken by Bernard Fisher, July 2010

The devotion of Mary Peake to teaching contraband children, and her devotion to her school became a model for other Freedman Schools throughout the South. 

From the teachers in Hampton to the Port Royal Experiment of the Low Country to the Freedmen Schools in Arkansas, teachers such as Mary Peake unlocked doors. The education of former slaves brought about the true ending of slavery to hundreds of thousands. Through education the shackles of bondage remained broken.

Emancipation Oak

General Burnside and Young Tom, a Contraband

Masthead for Frederick Douglass' Monthly, August 1862

Source: Accessible Archives, African American Collection

150 years ago in the month of February, a young man paddled his way to freedom in a canoe. It was said that "in that contraband's  hand, a victory was brought to the United States of America, led by Burnside."

I found this story of this young man, while looking at an issue of the Douglass' Monthly through Accessible Archives. What I discovered was the story of a  young many who rowed to freedom, who was befriended by General Burnside and who shared everything he knew about the countryside, allowing the General and his staff to map the area around Newbern , and to plan a military strategy that would lead to a major victory.

There were two things that stood out for me----first, the actions of the enslaved population are indirectly revealed--the enslaved people were fleeing to the Union lines and seizing their freedom. Secondly, this one young boy had a sharp memory--enough to allow General Burnside to map the area accurately and plan a military attack.

General Ambrose Burside

Source: Major General Ambrose Burnside, and the Ninth Army Corps

Providence: Sidney S. Rider and Brother, 1867

Online Edition of book available through Google Books

How wonderful that I was able to see such an interesting article in the Douglass Monthly. Although his name was not mentioned, I truly wanted to find out more about this courageous lad, and if his story was recorded any other place.

So after a careful Google Search, I came across an interesting work, called, Major General Amborse Burnside and the Ninth Army Corp, published in 1867. In that book, I found a full description of the same incident reported in Frederick Douglass' publication about the young boy, Tom. 

General Burnside was stationed near Hatteras, and calculating how to capture Roanoke Island. It is noted that a solution to his question rowed literally into his presence.

Source: Major General Ambrose Burnside, and the Ninth Army Corps

Providence: Sidney S. Rider and Brother, 1867, p 33

Online Edition of book available through Google Books

Tom proved to be a valuable aid to the officers assisting Burnside. He was able to describe the land, the location of troops on both sides and was able to assist the team of officers on the best place to land ashore.

 He was therefore treated well for his assistance, and was allowed to remain among the soldiers at Hatteras.

Source: Major General Ambrose Burnside, and the Ninth Army Corps

Providence: Sidney S. Rider and Brother, 1867, p. 33

Online Edition of book available through Google Books

Sure enough when the regiment sailed into the harbor to begin to take Roanoke, Tom led them to the spot where they disembarked and the plans unfolded.

Source: Major General Ambrose Burnside, and the Ninth Army Corps

Providence: Sidney S. Rider and Brother, 1867 p. 39

Online Edition of book available through Google Books

Another book mentioned young Tom and his impact on Burnside's operation. That book is called The Outer Banks of No. Carolina  1584-1958, by author David Stick. He refers to young Tom and the topographical engineer as the two heroes that helped to capture Roanoke Island.

What happened to Tom after the war? 

Did he survive the war, and live to see freedom?

Did he eventually move into the Freedman's Colony at Roanoke? No complete roster of the colony exists. But considering his relationship with the General and his staff, my hope is that he did survive the war, and begin life again and live to breathe free air in a time of peace. 

Young Thomas Robinson, like hundreds of other contrabands is one of may unsung heroes of the Civil War. His desire for freedom was fulfilled and he shared his skill and knowledge of the land with General Ambrose Burnside and his actions had direct impact on a major campaign in America's Civil War. The small article published by Frederick Douglass in 1862, provided a small glimpse into how even the most ordinary actions of one person can bring about change.

The sesquicentennial anniversary of young Tom's arrival at Hatteras will take place in February and I for one shall remember him as those days approach.

Union Army Overtaking Roanoke Island

Source: North Carolina Civil War Experience

Continuing the Story--Soldiers, Contrabands and Their Freedom

20th US Colored Infantry Presentation of Colors

The celebrations continue.

Last year marked the beginning of a five year campaign to commemorate the story of America's Civil War. For many Americans the Civil War stirs up emotions of another time. For some that was a time that has been romanticized. For others it is a time that was long awaited and the beginning of a transition from enslavement toa new journey of freedom.

I launched this blog a year ago today, and my goal was to simply tell a few of those stories long ignored, long forgotten, and simply buried. I was not sure if I could, but I managed to sustain it, and I dared to venture into an arena long considered a subject area for males only. In addition, the Civil War is a subject  that few of people of color have as a topic of interest. But this incredible conflict which divided a nation, involved people of color--men, and women alike. This national conflict also included persons who were enslaved, and those who were anxious to be free.

Thankfully their stories are emerging more even though the circle of people who tell those stories is a small circle. In fact, although there are many websites and blogs pertaining to the Civil war but how many persons of color are telling those stories?  I know of less than 20, I know of less than 10, in fact I cannot name 5.

I understand how and why there are so few Civil War blogs written by people of color. Many of us simply feel that we simply do not know enough about the Civil War to actually create and sustain a blog about it.

After all----how many us can recall the moments in high school sitting through US History dreading the time period of the Civil war and simply praying that we would get through that time period quickly?

I remember it quite well. Oh the true sense of dread!  The sense of detachment, and the very real sense of shame.  The shame came because there were no stories in our textbooks of heroes from the enslaved population. Our textbooks offered no stories of resistance, no stories of courage, and no stories of any efforts to win freedom. There was no one for me to embrace from the story of that conflict. The Civil War story as it was taught did not reflect me.

But little did I know that there WERE such stories! What I missed such amazing stories. A favorite for me is the story Robert Smalls who took over a confederate gunboat, and steered his way into freedom!

Robert Smalls

The Planter - Gunboat Steered by Robert Smalls

And the soldiers--there were thousands of them! And these men were fighting for their freedom!!!

What a surprise to learn that the 11th US Colored Troops were organized in my own hometown!

Image from Service Record of Soldier in the 11th US Colored Infantry

And in the local national cemetery nearby, over 100 Civil War soldiers of color are buried.

Entrance to Ft. Smith National Cemetery

All were Union Army, from multiple regiments, yet  I was never taught this. (I wonder if they are taught this today--somehow I have my doubts.)

The greatest surprise, is that some of the most amazing Civil War stories come from my own family history! It would be 3 decades after that US history high school class, before I would learn their names and learn about the amazing events in their lives. And what stories they were! Some of my readers on my family history blog, followed my story about how I found Uncle Sephus Bass who served in the 111th US Colored Infantry.

But Uncle Sephus was only one ancestor. There was Braxton Bass, (another uncle) and Henry and Emanuel Bass--both brothers who were sons of Uncle Sephus, and Thomas Bass, from the same community. On another family line there was Berry Young, there was John Talkington, and there were the Ordway brotheres, who enlisted as William Oddaway and James Oddaway.

William and James Oddaway were also names of ancestors in the US Colored Troops

There were the contrabands as well---women and children were not to be left behind when the Union soldiers came through. They followed their men. Once separated--they continued their trek to freedom! What joy--freedom!

So as this second year of this blog begins, I plan to highlight people the unknown men, and women who won their freedom.

No one should ever feel shame for those untold stories again!

I hope that others from the larger family will begin to tell their family stories of freedom. I hope that other African Americans will join the small family of writers and bloggers who dare to write about the Civil war.

What a travesty that there are less than 5 blogs honoring US Colored Soldiers and Sailors. There are many of us who descend from these thousands of men and women---and I hope that others will join me

Reflections of a Sesquicentennial Year

On January 1st, 2012 it will be exactly one year since I will have launched this blog. My interest in Civil War and it's history began with my own discovery of brave men and women who were freedom seekers in my own family.

Some became soldiers.....

Some escaped as freedom seekers, to the contraband camps......

And yet others were held captive where they were enslaved, until their circumstances were changed by the war's outcome.

However, my discovery of these acts of resistance among my own ancestors and their stories needed to be told and they inspired me to create this blog.

A year ago, I was not certain if I had a year's worth of information to share. But somehow the stories came, new ideas formed and more stories emerged. I did fill up the blog each month with something to share. And I was not sure if I had many or any friends or associates who would follow my posts about the Civil War.  But now--as the year ends, and I have had over 8700 visits to the page, I have been so humbled. I have had followers from authors to fellow genealogists, to re-enactors who visit the blog.

But most importantly truly I have learned so much!

I have learned the value of telling both the story of ancestors who were freedom seekers, as well as speaking about those who remained. I have learned because I have seen empowerment in the eyes of those who listened.

At events where I spoke about Uncle Sephus and his escape from Nathan Bedford Forrest, I saw the eyes lighten up from  young cousins amazed at such courage of an ancestor so distant in time, but yet so close in our line.

At conferences when I shared methods of researching the history of US Colored Troops, I saw approving nods from my colleagues when they realized that they too, could explore this same chapter in their family history and embark upon their own Civil War research journey.

Now a year later, I look back at this blog which was created to honor the Sesquicentennial of the beginning of the Civil War.  I know however, that as each year of the Civil War went by in the past, each year in the present will mark a new landmark year with more to commemorate.

And there is so much more to tell. I am honored therefore to tell some of their stories, and I am grateful to the Ancestors that there is such a story to tell.

So as 2012 begins, new stories emerge as well.  I am humbled and I am honored to research them, to find what I can, and to pass them on.

Will We Come When They Tell Our Story?

There has been much discussion in recent days about the lack of interest in Civil War from the African American community. 

To me, the lack of interest is merely a symptom of a larger problem. Much of it stems from a lack of knowledge, and from minimal efforts to teach, grow and learn from a rich history. But when that rich history is ignored and not taught by the very community itself, the end result can only be a misunderstanding of one's own past and this leads to blatantly low self esteem.   

The Civil War---for many people of color is a story about places. There were the major battles in places like Gettysburg, Shiloh, Antietam, Bull Run. There were other incidents in places such as Pea Ridge,  Jenkins Ferry, Chapin's Farm, Petersburg. Yet these are place names that mean very little to the average person of color. There are fleeting images that might come to mind (if at all)  when these battles are celebrated or commemorated with flags, ammunition and fanfare.

In today's life, few African American children experience vacation trips to visit battlegrounds such as Petersburg, and should they go there on a school field trip, do they see their own faces reflected?

When the local community honors a civil war incident, there are ladies in hooped skirts, men in uniform--blue and gray, lots of flags---usually more Confederate flags---and that---to most people of color is a sign---stay away and protect the children! There is usually some period music being played at these events by a small drum and fife corps, and frankly few black parents take their children to such events. But why?

The discussion about the Civil War frequently has two arenas---one in the classroom and the other in the general public.  The recent comments in the press---those questions are being asked by scholars---who don't speak to the public--in many cases they speak to their colleagues--other historians.  

The other arena is the public arena. And it is from the public arena where one finds many Civil war enthusiasts---re-enactors, living historians, local preservationists. But---most of those faces are not faces of color. At many public events where local celebration occur--there is a lot of fanfare. Guns, cannons, and flags. Especially the one flag that represents terror to many people. It brings back 20th century horror, and terror, and its very origins from the Civil War are enough to just say stay away and let folks have their 19th century party.  

But then in 1989, came the movie Glory, a film which told a story of some brave men from Massachusetts, who became soldiers. But a child from Arkansas, or Mississippi, or Louisiana, or Alabama, the film has no connection to those men. 

In Arkansas as Civil War celebrations emerge, from Pea Ridge to Jenkins Ferry, yet when the story of Jenkins Ferry is told, quite often but it is often told without mention of the Kansas Colored Infantry---later known as the 83 US Colored Infantry that fought at that battle. 

Historical Marker from Jenkins Ferry State Park

Do the children of Louisiana learn about the 39 regiments of US Colored Troops that were organized there? All children should know this--no other state in the union produced so many regiments!!

Historical Illustration of Black Soldiers at  the Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana

How many children in Mississippi know about the amazing contributions of black Union soldiers in the Vicksbug Campaign? Several thousand black men were involved---but are the children both white and black, that live along the Delta taught this?

Historical Marker Denoting the Seige of Vicksburg

A Rare Battle Monument Honoring Black Soldiers at Vicksburg

The stories go on and on. But for the average person, and the effects of the war are still told from side only. 

There are countless stories told about Union armies raiding small southern towns. One reads about the effects upon the town--good folks who lost property. Yet---some of the property lost consisted of human property. And their ownership of human beings as property has yet to be addressed---and this is what keeps so many who descend from that human property so silent. There has been no mention of the wrongness of it all. But these things did happen and yes, slaves were part of the property of the good folks. Their enslavement was morally wrong and their freedom was never celebrated. It was hushed, not mentioned and buried.

And even less known are the stories of the contrabands the ones who seized their freedom. And truly, the heart of the story of liberation was the story of the thousands who made it to the Union lines---on foot, by wagon, horses, mules and in some cases later taken by train to settlement camps----because they had the courage to free themselves.

But the story told that prevails is a romantic story of Tara and Gone With the Wind. For most people of color, Gone With the Wind is a horrible story--and nothing more than a slave owner's love story. Even decades after World War II ended, Hollywood would never make a movie of a Nazi love story--yet America and so many Americans dream of life in the good ole days and often see themselves as Scarlett, and long for Rhett Butler and love that movie! The people who were victims of Scarlet and her social class are depicted as caricatures, merely presented for laughter. The pains suffered of the people enslaved by Scarlett, are not visible, not shown and their personalities are shallow at best. 

Until the larger story of human beings who resisted, are told, until the stories of those who eventually succeeded are told,  and until they are presented as people with a history worth telling, the lack of interest in this Civil War story will continue.

Library of Congress Image of Contrabands Arriving at Union Lines

How can this be taught well?  Has a curriculum been established to teach this portion of Civil War history? 

Not as yet. Therefore, as the sesquicentennial celebrations continue---and they will continue till 2015---the silence of many will continue.  This silence is rooted in the burying of the story of what happened to so many. 

My question is, will we come when they tell our story?

At least some are beginning to ask the right questions, and I have hope that things might change.

Remembering Andrew Jackson Smith - Medal of Honor Winner At Honey Hill

In 1863 when the call went out to form black regiments, the call was so great in New England that enough recruits were present to form two black regiments from Massachusetts. Thus the 55th US Colored Infantry was formed. This would be sometimes called the sister regiment to the famous 54 Massachusetts Colored Infantry depicted in the movie Glory! 

The men came from everywhere. From Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York they enlisted eagerly. After being drilled and trained, they were sent to North Carolina, then Morris Island where they would work for many weeks in the trenches. 

On his massive website Lest We Forget, historical researcher Bennie McRae describes how this regiment became quickly demoralized when it was learned that they were not to be paid the same as white soldiers. The typical pay was $13 per month for volunteers. Black soldiers, it was decided would be  paid $10.00 per month. When they learned of this, they were immediately upset that their lives were valued less that the lives of white soldiers. They refused the pay of $10 and demanded to be treated equally as they had been guaranteed.

Mr. McRae reported:

"Governor Andrew pressed the issue of a supplemental pay act and this law passed the Massachusetts Legislature on November 16th. On December 11, 1863, Major Sturges, paymaster for the state and Mr. Edward W. Kinsley, a Boston merchant arrived at the camp on Folly Island to offer the men the difference between the $10.00 a month, and the promised $13.00...but the men respectfully declined it. “They felt that their manhood was at stake. They were regarded as good enough to be killed and wounded, and to work in the trenches side by side with white soldiers, so they said they would wait until they got their dues.”

For months, the government refused to settle the pay issue, and morale among the soldiers of the 55th began to detiorate, meanwhile---they continued to serve as soldiers. Their service on Folly's Island and other detachments was still going on though the issue of equal payment continued. Finally word came in August of 1864 that it was finally decided that all colored troops were to receive equal pay from January 1, 1864 forward.

Again, Mr. McRae succinctly describes the time when the soldiers received all of their back pay:

For the regiment, October 7th turned out to be a banner day, the day they were all finally paid off. The process took three days to complete and when it was finally completed the men had sent home to their families the amount of over $60,000. As well, “it is not known that in a single case any man present with the regiment failed to repay his debts.”

The morale was boosted among all of the men after payment and the following month, they would all find themselves to be tested in a major battle--the Battle of Honey Hill. Among the hundreds of men in the 55th, was a young Kentucky born man Andrew Jackson Smith. He was a slave of Elijah Smith of Kentucky and when the war broke out, Elijah Smith had planned to take Andrew and other male slaves into battle with him into the Confederate war front. But Andrew had no desire to follow his master to the confederate battle front and so he and another slave took flight on foot. They made their way 25 miles on foot, till they reached  the Union line and presented themselves to the Union soldiers encamped there. He connected with an Illinois regiment where he was wounded near Shiloh. After recovering, he was still determined to enlist in the Union Army as a soldier.

He was mustered into the 55th Massachusetts and was serving in the regiment when they were ordered to Honey Hill, SC.  While crossing a swamp the unit came under very heavy fire from the enemy.  The color barrier was hit and mortally wounded. 

Smith rushed to the side of the color barrier, took up the colors and carried them throughout the rest of the battle. He was exposed to the enemy but never lost the colors and never let them fall. In spite of the heavy fire under which he found himself, the colors of the 55th Massachusetts did not fall, thanks to the actions of Corporal Smith.  He was later promoted to Color Sergeant two months later.

After the war, Andrew Jackson Smith returned to Kentucky, purchased land there and remained.  In 1916, many year after the famous battle, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor but it was denied. 

However, in 2001 a mere 137 years after the battle of Honey Hill where he earned the medal it was finally awarded to him posthumously by President Bill Clinton, in 2001. 

His descendants received it at a White House ceremony. A marker has also been erected reflecting this honor and it is placed on the road near the cemetery where he is buried.

November Reflections of US Colored Troops

A Montage November Engagements of US Colored Troops

I am continually amazed at how much the US Colored Troops were engaged in battle during each month after they were mustered into service.

As November comes to a close, I was looking over a list of military engagements that involved black soldiers and the geographic as well as military diversity was interesting to note and I decided to share my observations on this blog.

The Bureau of US Colored Troop was organized in 1863 and the recruitment of black men into the Union Army was rapid. The month of November was a busy month in both 1863 and still in 1864 as well.  However, as early as November of 1862, the organization of black Union regiments had begun.

Black Union Army Regiments organized in the month of November 

-Battery C -  Louisiana  (November 6, 1863)

-Battery F - Tennessee (November 23, 1863)

-6th US Colored Cavaly - Kentucky (November 1, 1864)

-9th US Colored Infantry - Maryland (November 11, 1863)

-10thUS Colored Heavy Artillery -  Louisiana (Novermber 29, 1862)

-10th US Colored Infantry - Virginia (November, 18, 1863)

-13th US Colored Infantry - Tennessee (November 19, 1863)

-14th US Colored Infantry - Tennessee (November 16, 1863)

-23rd US Colored Infantry - Virginia (November 23, 1863)

-75th US Colored Infantry -  Louisiana (November 24, 1863)

-87th US Colored Infantry - Louisiana (November 26, 1863)

-93rd US Colored Infantry - Louisiana (November 23, 1863)

-110th US Colored Infantry - Alabama (November 20th, 1863)

-120th US Colored Infantry - Kentucky (November 1864)

The month of November would also prove to be a month in which many black soldiers were to become engaged in battles and skirmishes. Some were small skirmishes involving as few as one company and otheres were  much larger such as Honey Hill and Bermuda Hundred that would involve hundreds of soldiers. But from the Gulf of Mexico, to Virginia, the battle for freedom continued.

Battles Involving USCTs in November

November  1, 1864  - Black River Louisiana,  6th USC Heavy Artillery

November  4, 1864 - Chapin's Farm, Virginia, 22nd USC Infantry

November  9, 1864 - Bayou Tunica Louisiana,  73rd US Infantry

November 11, 1864 - Natchez Mississippi, 58th USC Infantry

November 14, 1864 - Cow Creek, Cherkoee Nation, 54th USC Infantry

November 17, 1864 - Bayou St. Louis, Mississippi, 91st USC Infantry

November 17, 1864 - Dutch Gap, Virginia, 36th USC  Infantry

November 19, 1864 -  Ash Bayou, Louisiana, 93rd USC Infantry

November 19, 1864 - Timber Hill, Cherokee Nation, 79th USC Infantry (New)

November 22, 1864 - Rolling Ford, Mississippi,  3rd US Cavalry

November 23, 1864 - Morganza Louisiana,  84th USC Infantry

November 24, 1864 - Hall Island South Carolina  33rd USC Infantry

November 26, 1864 - Plymouth NC, 10th USC Infantry

November 26, 1864 - Madison Sta. Alabama 101st USC Infantry

November 30, 1864 - Bermuda Hundred, Virginia  19th USC Infantry

November 30, 1864 - Honey Hill, South Carolina  32nd, 35th, 54th & 55th USC Infantries

~~~~~

"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters US, let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder, and bullets in his pocket, and there is no power on earth or under the earth which can deny that he has earned the right of citizenship in the United States."         

 ~Frederick Douglass  1863~