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Forged in Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers
Sixteen months after the start of the American Civil War, the Federal government, having vastly underestimated the length and manpower demands of the war, began to recruit black soldiers. This revolutionary policy gave 180,000 free blacks and former slaves the opportunity to prove themselves on the battlefield as part of the United States Colored Troops. By the end of the war, 37,000 in their ranks had given their lives for the cause of freedom.
In Forged in Battle, originally published in 1990, award-winning historian Joseph T. Glatthaar re-creates the events that gave these troops and their 7,000 white officers justifiable pride in their contributions to the Union victory and hope of equality in the years to come. Unfortunately, as Glatthaar poignantly demonstrates, memory of the United States Colored Troops' heroic sacrifices soon faded behind the prejudice that would plague the armed forces for another century.
In Forged in Battle, originally published in 1990, award-winning historian Joseph T. Glatthaar re-creates the events that gave these troops and their 7,000 white officers justifiable pride in their contributions to the Union victory and hope of equality in the years to come. Unfortunately, as Glatthaar poignantly demonstrates, memory of the United States Colored Troops' heroic sacrifices soon faded behind the prejudice that would plague the armed forces for another century.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1989
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About the author
Joseph T. Glatthaar
26 books14 followersMilitary historian, specializing in the American Civil War and American military history
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 11, 2013
An excellent and well-organized introduction to the formation and history of the US Colored Troops during the Civil War. Informative and readable, the first three chapters provide background on the use of African-American forces in the Civil War and the various perspectives of white officers who commanded them, which spanned the gambit of outright racists to committed abolitionists. Glatthaar in his first chapter discusses the general resistance, at first, to the use of blacks in the military and how some white officers such as Brigadier General Benjamin Butler "confiscation" of slaves from Confederate forces and employment in assist the military helped pave the way for emancipation. Others like Big Jim Lane, the Kansas senator who resigned to become a Brig. General, ignored War Department rules and raised black units on his own accord. Many white officers though were skeptical of colored troops although the Union seemed to have little trouble finding the necessary officers. In part this was due to the Free Military School for Applicants of the Command of Colored Troops which was setup with the express purpose of training officers who would lead black units to pass the officers board examination. While Glatthaar provides an insightful look at white officers his work truly shines in the sections on black forces and their role in the War.
By the fourth chapter Glatthaar delves deep into the former slaves and free African Americans who made up the some 180,000 black troops who served in the Union. The Union, facing falling recruitment as the war dragged on, had little trouble recruiting black troops who "exhibited a tremendous commitment to the Union war effort." Sadly such devotion and patriotism were rarely reciprocated. Black forces, no matter if they where free or former slaves, found racism, difficult conditions, poor equipment, and suffering at almost every turn. Often black troops were treated as second class soldiers and their white officers occasional as little better. At the same time African American units, even so poorly treated, showed their courage and ability under fire. So much so that Federal officers routinely used black troops for frontal assaults. While Glatthaar contends this was mostly not due to "prejudicial grounds" but rather a decision based on the lack of training and forces at hand. At the same time Glatthaar provides examples through the book of officers who were more than comfortable loosing black forces). Furthermore white officers and their black forces desire to show their mettle often resulted in them choosing the most dangerous assignments suggesting that multiple components played in the fact that black forces were used so often in frontal assaults were they demonstrated their "widespread and consistent levels of audacity and grittiness (pg 153)."
By the fourth chapter Glatthaar delves deep into the former slaves and free African Americans who made up the some 180,000 black troops who served in the Union. The Union, facing falling recruitment as the war dragged on, had little trouble recruiting black troops who "exhibited a tremendous commitment to the Union war effort." Sadly such devotion and patriotism were rarely reciprocated. Black forces, no matter if they where free or former slaves, found racism, difficult conditions, poor equipment, and suffering at almost every turn. Often black troops were treated as second class soldiers and their white officers occasional as little better. At the same time African American units, even so poorly treated, showed their courage and ability under fire. So much so that Federal officers routinely used black troops for frontal assaults. While Glatthaar contends this was mostly not due to "prejudicial grounds" but rather a decision based on the lack of training and forces at hand. At the same time Glatthaar provides examples through the book of officers who were more than comfortable loosing black forces). Furthermore white officers and their black forces desire to show their mettle often resulted in them choosing the most dangerous assignments suggesting that multiple components played in the fact that black forces were used so often in frontal assaults were they demonstrated their "widespread and consistent levels of audacity and grittiness (pg 153)."
June 5, 2020
Forged in Battle: The Civil War Alliance of Black Soldiers and White Officers, by Joseph T. Glatthaar, makes the argument that the prejudicial preconceptions that white officers held about blacks gradually changed throughout the American Civil War. The bravery of black soldiers helped to elevate society’s views regarding them as it granted blacks the opportunity to prove themselves as men. This eventually assisted in the destruction of slavery and the establishment of rights for blacks under law. Glatthaar also makes the case that after the war the bonds between the white officers and black soldiers began to disintegrate after their common goal (the abolishment of slavery) was realized and more complex issues began to arise. With time, Glatthaar holds, the country forgot about the accomplishments of black soldiers and returned instead to a racist ideology.
One minor annoyance found with the book is that nearly equal attention is placed on how the bonds of the men were strengthened and their views were enlightened (which, by the way, is how the ending to most chapters are resolved) with instances where progress was not made. Therefore, it sometimes becomes difficult to conjure a clear picture of how things truly were, and picking out the less frequent incidents from the common ones can be challenging.
Nevertheless, the book contributed to a better understanding of the topic, particularly through its primary sources. In the fifth chapter entitled “Coping with Racism” it helped to unearth the roots of the prejudices most whites held for blacks — even those dedicated to the abolishment of slavery. It helped to understand why they approached blacks with wild stereotypes, especially since many whites had never seen a black man prior to joining the Colored Troops. Their diaries and correspondences reveal misreadings of the actions of their troops and how these mistakes reinforced their preconceived notions. Also, the book serves as a good introduction into the problems of Reconstruction. It establishes the point at which the companionship that blacks had achieved began to diverge from not only their white officers, but from a once-sympathetic society as well. One example of this is the black soldiers’ disappointment that many of their former white officers, with whom they had accomplished so much, held the view that blacks should not be given the right to vote. It seemed a terrible contradiction to many blacks, and resulted in parting ways with their former comrades. This reveals, along with various other examples, some of the personal issues that blacks and whites differed strongly upon. It shows that despite the great strides that were made through the war to help advance the image of blacks, the prejudices of the time still had long to go before they were dissolved.
One minor annoyance found with the book is that nearly equal attention is placed on how the bonds of the men were strengthened and their views were enlightened (which, by the way, is how the ending to most chapters are resolved) with instances where progress was not made. Therefore, it sometimes becomes difficult to conjure a clear picture of how things truly were, and picking out the less frequent incidents from the common ones can be challenging.
Nevertheless, the book contributed to a better understanding of the topic, particularly through its primary sources. In the fifth chapter entitled “Coping with Racism” it helped to unearth the roots of the prejudices most whites held for blacks — even those dedicated to the abolishment of slavery. It helped to understand why they approached blacks with wild stereotypes, especially since many whites had never seen a black man prior to joining the Colored Troops. Their diaries and correspondences reveal misreadings of the actions of their troops and how these mistakes reinforced their preconceived notions. Also, the book serves as a good introduction into the problems of Reconstruction. It establishes the point at which the companionship that blacks had achieved began to diverge from not only their white officers, but from a once-sympathetic society as well. One example of this is the black soldiers’ disappointment that many of their former white officers, with whom they had accomplished so much, held the view that blacks should not be given the right to vote. It seemed a terrible contradiction to many blacks, and resulted in parting ways with their former comrades. This reveals, along with various other examples, some of the personal issues that blacks and whites differed strongly upon. It shows that despite the great strides that were made through the war to help advance the image of blacks, the prejudices of the time still had long to go before they were dissolved.
February 24, 2016
A great overview of the creation, organization and service of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the American Civil War. It focuses on the relationship between the white officers and the black enlisted men and the difficulties that accompanied these relationships and how in spite of all the challenges, the USCT provided meaningful and impactful service during the war.
June 5, 2013
It took several years and a heavy toll in white lives before blacks were allowed to serve as Union soldiers. Even then, they were commanded by white officers. This book explores the relationship between white officers and black soldiers during the Civil War.
April 27, 2012
Great subject matter but the writing leaves much to be desired.
June 3, 2015
Great research, great subject, mediocre writing
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews