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Africans in the War of 1812African Americans have done their part in every war that America has participated even though most history books will not present this in a clear fashion. Just as Crispus Attucks had shed the first blood of the Revolution, Africans in America were involved in the first major incident leading to the War of 1812. On June 22, 1807, the American frigate Chesapeake was stopped by the British ship, HMS Leopard. The British removed parts of the crew and alleged them to be deserters from the British navy. Of the four men removed, three were Africans in America. The Chesapeake affair greatly angered Americans because they resented Britain’s failure to honor U.S. maritime rights. Also, America had an eye on expanding the USA territories into Florida, the Northwest, and Canada. All of these factors led to America declaring war on June 12, 1812. Africans in America were excluded in the opening of the War of 1812 because of two Congressional Acts that prohibited Negroes, mulattoes, or Indians from enlisting into the Militia. In 1814, however, whites reversed their attitudes when British forces attacked and burned the Capitol at Washington, D.C. Many white citizens in New York and Pennsylvania, who had formerly opposed Africans in the military, now welcomed them into the ranks to defend their cities against the advancing enemy. Once again need overcame racism. Cities began passing laws to recruit “colored” soldiers with white officers in command. Freemen could enlist as well as slaves if their owners, who would receive their enlistment bonuses and wages, permitted. The condition of enlistment granted the Africans their freedom after three years of enlistment and promised them $124 in money and 160 acres of land. General Andrew Jackson, U.S. Army commander, was offered African troops to support his efforts in New Orleans. Whites across the South protested, but Jackson welcomed the additional soldiers and began to recruit even more African soldiers. Jackson’s primary motivation was twofold: He needed to increase his own numbers while denying the enemy potential recruits and also sought to counter British efforts to create unrest among the local African population. By the time the Americans met the advancing British at Chalmette Plains on January 8, 1815, more than six hundred black soldiers constituted about 10 percent of Jackson’s total force. The Americans dealt the British their worst defeat of the war, inflicting more than fifteen hundred casualties, compared with less than sixty of their own. Jackson delivered this message to his troops for their successful engagement of the enemy: To the men of color – Soldiers! From the shores of Mobile I collected you to arms. I invited you to share in the perils and to divide the glory of your white countrymen. I expected much from you, for I was not uninformed of those qualities which much render you so formidable to an invading foe. I knew you could endure hunger and thirst and all the hardships of war. I knew that you loved the land of your nativity, and that, like ourselves, you had to defend all that is most dear to man. But you surpass my hopes. I found in you, united to these qualities, that noble enthusiasm which impels to great deeds. Soldiers! The President of the United States shall be informed of your conduct on the present occasion; and the voice of the representatives of the American nation shall applaud your valor, as your General now praises your ardor. The men of the Louisiana Battalion of Free Men of Color and other African volunteers enjoyed a brief moment as heroes until word reached New Orleans that the war was over. Their burst of glory faded quickly, and once more the whites mustered them out of uniform and back into slavery. One hundred years after the Battle of New Orleans, the city celebrated the centennial of the victory. White soldiers marched, white orators spoke, white schoolchildren sang, and even white English visitors, representing the former enemy, occupied seats of honor. Not a single black person participated in the festivities, nor was any mention made of the Battalion of Free Men of Color or of any other African actions in the battle. From the book, The African American Soldier by Lt.
Col. (Ret.) Michael Lee Lanning
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Chattanooga African American Museum |
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