Black Brigade of Cincinnati

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Black Brigade of Cincinnati
Black Brigade of Cincinnati Flag.jpg
The 1862 flag of the forcibly, conscripted, African American citizens, of the "B
lack Brigade of Cincinnati", who constructed the defensive fortifications, aroun
d Cincinnati, Ohio, during the American Civil War, in preparation of a potential
, Confederate attack.
Active September 2, 1862 - September 20, 1862
Country United States United States of America
Allegiance United States United States of America
Branch Cincinnati volunteer militia, Union Army
Type conscripted labor detail
Size battalion-brigade (700)
Nickname(s) Black Brigade
Engagements No combat experience
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Lew Wallace
William M. Dickson
Black Brigade of Cincinnati historical marker
Black Brigade of Cincinnati Monument, African American soldiers, shouldering sho
vels, marching through the city
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati was a military unit that was organized, in 1862,
during the American Civil War, when the city of, Cincinnati, Ohio was in danger
of being attacked, by Confederate Army. The black, male population of the Cinci
nnati "Black Brigade", were among the very first African Americans to be employe
d, in the military defense of the Union.
Contents [hide]
1 Brigade service
2 Uniforms
3 Legacy
4 Memorial monument
5 See also
6 References
Brigade service[edit]
Main article: Defense of Cincinnati
In the early years, of the American Civil War, Ohio was a free state, where slav
ery was illegal. In southern Ohio, the pro-slavery city, of Cincinnati, was alon
g the Ohio River, which bordered the Union-held, slave state, of Kentucky. On Se
ptember 2, 1862, with the imminent threat, of a Confederate attack, half of, the
city's white citizens, supported the forcible rounding up, many times, at gun p
oint, from their homes, all, available, free black, adult, male citizens, by the
Cincinnati police force and impressed, into temporary, forced labor, in the con
struction of fortifications.
Powhatan Beaty, a soldier, in the Black Brigade of Cincinnati, who enlisted in t
he 5th United States Colored Cavalry, promoted to first sergeant, and later awar
ded the Medal of Honor, for valiant, Union Army service, in Virginia
These unfortunate men, were treated like slaves, during the construction of the
defensive perimeter, around Cincinnati, on the Ohio and Kentucky sides of the ri
ver. Between, the harsh, working conditions imposed, on the black conscripts and
the extreme brutality, of the quasi-military, police guards, the fortifications
were eventually completed. Soon after, Union Army officer, Major General Lew Wa
llace put Colonel William M. Dickson in charge and made sure the men finally rec
eived fair treatment, due to soldiers. The soldiers of Black Brigade, received t
heir own military unit flag and $13 a month, Union Army private's pay. The Briga
de continued to work, as a labor detail, until September 20. The Brigade had onl
y one fatality: Joseph Johns who was killed, in an accident, on September 17, 18
62. Because of the racial segregation, of the military, at that time, the city w
ould not allow black men, to join the all, white, volunteer militia. The Black B
rigade were never intended to be activated, as armed soldiers and saw no combat,
during the war.
The officers of the brigade as of September 6, 1862 were all white, and included
: commander, William M. Dickson; Adjutant-General, T. C. Day; Commissary, H. McB
urney; Quartermaster, J. S. Hill; Assistant Adjutant-General, Jacob Reior.[1]
Uniforms[edit]
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati were never issued Union Army uniforms, during th
eir short service, but wore the civilian clothes they had, when they were forcef
ully conscripted, for military labor duty.
Legacy[edit]
The Black Brigade of Cincinnati was later recognized, as the first organization,
of African Americans, to be used for military purposes, by the North, during th
e American Civil War.
Memorial monument[edit]
On September 9, 2012, a Civil War memorial monument to the Black Brigade, create
d by sculptors John Hebenstreit and Carolyn Manto, was dedicated on the 150th an
niversary of the 1862 defense of Cincinnati in Smale Riverfront Park, in Cincinn
ati.
See also[edit]
contraband (American Civil War)
Military history of African Americans in the American Civil War
United States Army portal
American Civil War portal
References[edit]
Black Brigade of Cincinnati
African-American Experience in Ohio
Clark, Peter H. Black Brigade of Cincinnati: Being a Report of Its Labors and a
Muster-Roll of Its Members etc., 1864, accessed at Ohio Historical Society [1] J
an 22, 2007
Jump up ^ Defense of Cincinnati, Daily Ohio Statesman (Columbus, Ohio) September
6, 1862, page 2, accessed February 6, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8
786789/defense_of_cincinnati_daily_ohio/
[hide] v t e
Ohio in the American Civil War
1861
Early military recruiting Camp Chase Camp Dennison Camp Harrison Camp Thomas Dep
artment of the Ohio McClellan's Buckeyes seize western Virginia Fighting McCooks
Johnson's Island POW camp
Monument in Hillsboro
1862
Anti-war movement Knights of the Golden Circle First Confederate incursion into
Ohio Defense of Cincinnati Black Brigade of Cincinnati
1863
"Fort Fizzle" Morgan's Raid Battle of Buffington Island Battle of Salineville
1864-65
Hundred Days Men Ohio's generals and admirals Ohio's regiments Cincinnati in the
War Cleveland in the War Buckeye POWs and the Sultana
Post-war
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2 This article about a specific military unit of the Ameri
can Civil War is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Categories: African-American military units and formations of the American Civil
WarCincinnati in the American Civil WarAfrican-American history in Cincinnati18
62 establishments in OhioAmerican Civil War unit and formation stubs
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