Mary - Journeytohistory

2..10 From Slavery to FreedomCompany E, Fourth 'oiledStlltes Colored Iufmltry.1I1ore than J 86.000 blael,sfought under the Union nagdudng the Civil Will'.Company E was one of thedetachments a signed to guardthe nation's capitol. (Chicagoflistorical Society)black laborers, In 1864 Adj. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas took notice of the situationand issued an order that there should be no excessive impositions upon blacktroops and "that they will be only required to take their fair share of fatigueduty with white troops. This is necessary to prepare them for the higher dutiesof contlicts with the enemies."The "higher duties of conflicts" had already begun, for blacks saw actionagainst Confederate forces as early as the fall of 1862. Hardly a battle wasfought up to the end of the war in which some black troops did not meet theenemy. They saw action, accord,ing to George Washington Williams, in morethan 250 skirmishes. In the Battle of Port Hudson, eight black infantry regimentsfought.Naturally the Confederacy was outraged by the Northern use of blacktroops. The question immediately arose as to whether they should be treatedas soldiers of the enemy or slaves in insurrection. The vast majority of whiteSoutherners viewed black soldiers as rebellious slaves and insisted that theyshould be treated as such. In 1862 President Davis ordered that all slaves