Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant today writes U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, voicing his “hearty support” of arming blacks in the war against the Confederate States. For Grant, the letter reflects evolving convictions; earlier in the war, Grant had not voiced sympathy for the emancipation of slaves. Cairo Illinois August 23d 1863. Sir: Your letter of…
The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, fighting heroically less than two weeks ago during the failed assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, demonstrated the will and determination of African soldiers to engage Confederate forces despite the threat of execution if captured by the rebels. Many, perhaps most, of the soldiers of the 54th were or are…
North Carolina Biblical Recorder editor J. D. Hufham is making diligent efforts to place subscriptions of his weekly newspaper into the hands of North Carolina’s Confederate soldiers in an effort to evangelize and encourage spiritual growth. At the same time, there are conflicting reports of Confederate camp life this winter season. Some soldiers and observers…