During the American Civil War thousands of blacks enlisted to support the cause of emancipation. Before the war ended the black troops began to shift their focus to issues such as citizenship rights by preparing to become citizens, and insisting that they should receive the same treatment and opportunities as white troops. The book Firebrand of Liberty does a good job arguing the importance of the Florida expedition in convincing the North that blacks should fight and to increase enlistment. However, the author fails to consider other reasons for that decision.
Blacks, both free and enslaved, believed in the cause of emancipation. They often sent letters affirming their desire for a Union victory and an end to the rebellion. Furthermore they …show more content…
The author points out that there was a great deal of resistance to the idea of recruiting blacks from Democrats in particular. He goes on to describe the expedition to Florida. After the expedition receives reinforcements in the form of the white 6th Connecticut and 8th Maine regiments they launched raids into the interior. They succeeded in liberating slaves, and tearing up railroad track until the expedition was recalled by General Hunter. Despite the recall the author asserts that the behavior of the black troops helped to convince many opponents of the recruitment of blacks to change their minds. Furthermore he states that it was the Florida expedition that persuaded the Lincoln administration to begin actively recruiting blacks in May 1863. However, the author doesn’t consider the possibility that other events may have played an important part in changing the president’s mind. It seems too much of a coincidence that less than a month before the expansion of black recruitment, the North suffered one of its worst defeats at Chancellorsville. A defeat that was so devastating, Lincoln responded by saying “My God! What will the country say?” This despair probably helped him overcome his earlier reluctance to increase the recruitment of black
Blacks, both free and enslaved, believed in the cause of emancipation. They often sent letters affirming their desire for a Union victory and an end to the rebellion. Furthermore they …show more content…
The author points out that there was a great deal of resistance to the idea of recruiting blacks from Democrats in particular. He goes on to describe the expedition to Florida. After the expedition receives reinforcements in the form of the white 6th Connecticut and 8th Maine regiments they launched raids into the interior. They succeeded in liberating slaves, and tearing up railroad track until the expedition was recalled by General Hunter. Despite the recall the author asserts that the behavior of the black troops helped to convince many opponents of the recruitment of blacks to change their minds. Furthermore he states that it was the Florida expedition that persuaded the Lincoln administration to begin actively recruiting blacks in May 1863. However, the author doesn’t consider the possibility that other events may have played an important part in changing the president’s mind. It seems too much of a coincidence that less than a month before the expansion of black recruitment, the North suffered one of its worst defeats at Chancellorsville. A defeat that was so devastating, Lincoln responded by saying “My God! What will the country say?” This despair probably helped him overcome his earlier reluctance to increase the recruitment of black