University of Virginia Research Expands Knowledge of Former Slaves Who Fought for the Union Army

New research conducted at the John L. Nau III Canter for Civil War History at the University of Virginia has uncovered new information about former slaves who served in the Union Army. Using military and pension records, researchers have compiled a list of 240 Black men from Albemarle County who served in the Union Army. The men included former slaves and free Blacks. Many of the former slaves were recruited from areas of the Confederacy that had been liberated by the Union Army. But Army records noted their birth places that enabled the researchers to trace them back to Virginia.

Elizabeth Varon, associate director of the Nau Center and the Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History at the University of Virginia, said that “this is a very big deal. These men were fighting because of their bonds to fellow soldiers. They had a keen commitment to the nation and they were fighting for their freedom. If the Union survives, they are part of a liberating army. They are entering the circle of liberators. If they win, they are free of the curse of slavery.”

Professor Varon added that “we had always looked at the U.S. Colored Troops based on where most of the soldiers enlisted, such as Kentucky, Louisiana and Tennessee. Factoring in where soldiers were born gives us a window on the diasporic nature of the slave trade and of slave flight.”

Researchers were also able to determine that of the 240 Black men from Albemarle County, 65 died during the war. But there were very few deaths from combat. Some 90 percent of all death were related to diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery, pneumonia, and smallpox.”

Related Articles

2 COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs