[African-American Soldiers in the U.S. Civil War]

Demonstrating the value of African-American soldiers to the Union war efforts.

This trio of woodcut prints were originally published in New York as part of three different editions of Harper’s Weekly magazine (7/4/1863, 4/1/1865, 11/11/1865). Each illustrates the various means by which African-American soldiers were of tremendous military benefit to the Union war efforts during the American Civil War.

The earliest, issued on Independence Day, emphasizes the heroic defense of Milliken’s Bend, in which vicious close-quarters fighting disrupted Confederate attempts to relieve the siege of Vicksburg. The second sheet shows masses of ‘Negro Recruits’ debarking at Hilton Head, South Carolina, ready to join the fight. The final image, titled ‘The True Defenders of the Constitution’, presents a powerful battlefield scene littered with corpses from both races. It was published five days after peace was signed at Appomattox Court House – a striking condemnation of those rebellious politicians who started the Civil War and a poignant reminder of the valuable contributions of the African-Americans to ultimate victory.