Eye for an Eye: The Role of Armed Resistance ... - Freedom Archives

soldiers defended their sisters and brothers against local law enforcement offi-
cials . In one case, Black soldiers in Wilmington, North Carolina, "arrested the
white chief of police and paraded him through the streets before an appreciative
crowd" of recently freed Black people . In Aiken, South Carolina, Black soldiers
refused to be seated on a segregated basis at a Baptist worship service . When
confronted by white men, the Black soldiers produced bayonets to defend their
right to sit where they pleased . Union army officials also blamed Black troops for
the increasing Black anticipation for land redistribution to the newly free Black
community.,,
Former slavers and Confederates did not like the effect on Black soldiers
of the recently free Black population . Many whites complained to Union officials
that Black soldiers encouraged local Black freedpersons not to work for whites .
Some white Southerners also resented the stationing of Black troops, many
formerly enslaved people in the South . This they viewed as further punishment by
the North for the South rebelling against the Union . Racist attitudes also contrib-
uted to Southern whites' rejection of Black soldiers, who they viewed as a "horde
of barbarians" and "creatures who cannot understand the responsibility with
which they are invested ." While Black soldiers distinguished themselves in
combat and won praises for their discipline from superiors after the war, requests
were made to President Andrew Johnson for their removal . Johnson responded by
removing Black soldiers from the South and demobilizing them as soon as pos-
sible . 3B While the demobilization of Black fighting forces seriously weakened
the ability of Black people to defend themselves against white supremacist forces .
the participation in the U .S . military provided training, skills, and confidence to