The Confederacy In It's Death Throes

[kpete]

:large

[malthaussen]

1. Hard as it may be to believe, some slaves did fight for the CSA

Proving, I suppose, that Stockholm Syndrome was around long before it was given a name.

-- Mal

[edhopper]

2. Is there a reason you posted this?

Anniversary? Relevant to something today?

Just asking.

[kpete]

3. i post things

that interest ME

kind of self-centered, i know



peace edhopper,
kp

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Looks like the 150th anniversary of this order is coming - signed March 23rd, 1865

Confederate Law Authorizing the Enlistment of Black Soldiers, as Promulgated in a Military Order

ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Richmond, Va., March 23, 1865.

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 14.

I. The following act of Congress and regulations are published for the information and direction of all concerned:

AN ACT to increase the military force of the Confederate States.

The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That, in order to provide additional forces to repel invasion, maintain the rightful possession of the Confederate States, secure their independence, and preserve their institutions, the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to ask for and accept from the owners of slaves, the services of such number of able-bodied negro men as he may deem expedient, for and during the war, to perform military service in whatever capacity he may direct.

SEC 2. That the General-in-Chief be authorized to organize the said slaves into companies, battalions, regiments, and brigades, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of War may prescribe, and to be commanded by such officers as the President may appoint.

SEC 3. That while employed in the service the said troops shall receive the same rations, clothing, and compensation as are allowed to other troops in the same branch of the service.

SEC 4. That if, under the previous sections of this act, the President shall not be able to raise a sufficient number of troops to prosecute the war successfully and maintain the sovereignty of the States and the independence of the Confederate States, then he is hereby authorized to call on each State, whenever he thinks it expedient, for her quota of 300,000 troops, in addition to those subject to military service under existing laws, or so many thereof as the President may deem necessary to be raised from such classes of the population, irrespective of color, in each State, as the proper authorities thereof may determine: Provided, That not more than twenty-five per cent. of the male slaves between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, in any State, shall be called for under the provisions of this act.

More: http://www.freedmen.umd.edu/csenlist.htm

So desperate that they needed to accept the help of their own slaves because their butts were being kicked by the North.

[kpete]

5. But

they won
RIGHT?









peace,
kp

[BumRushDaShow]

7. They sure did!

(although in some cases, it doesn't feel like sacarsm. )

[Archae]

10. The North did lose one aspect of the war.

The propaganda front, which has continued to today.

"Oh the slaves were happy, and besides, it was the North that invaded first!"

There is a group that plans a celebration of John Wilkes Booth's "heroic act" of shooting President Lincoln, next month.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. 17 days before Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomatox.

[Proud Public Servant]

6. What's interesting is how badly that order failed

Not necessarily because slaves wouldn't take up arms for the CSA, but because slave owners refused to contribute slaves, in part because they feared what might happen if their own slaves were armed and in part because they valued their own private property (both their plantations, which were being maintained by the slaves, and the slaves themselves) over the war effort.

[PDittie]

8. Except it never really dies

It's like the Zombie Apocalypse.

[KG]

9. "Its"