A Grand army of Black men : letters from African-American soldiers in the Union Army, 1861-1865 /

The 129 letters in this volume chart the fascinating and sometimes heart-wrenching experience of blacks in the Civil War. Originally published in African American Civil War era newspapers, these letters display the intelligence, courage, and patriotism of the nearly 190,000 African Americans who served in the Union army and navy. Divided into chapters by geographic region and theme, and accompanied by brief introductory remarks, the volume explores the black war against southern slavery and northern racial prejudice, the contentious issues of equal pay, commissioning of black officers, and the repulsive racism of white officers. Intended for general readers, the collection has few footnotes. Nevertheless, students and scholars will enjoy and learn from this work. The confusing organization of the documents, editorial lapses, and the editor's failure to place the African American soldiers' demands for ^D["liberty and equality^D]" within the context of the 35-year black abolitionist campaign to destroy slavery and racism, cannot detract from the power and appeal of these letters. Deserves to be in every library. General; undergraduate; graduate; faculty.