how many african americans served in the union and and navy during the civil war

“One of the most famous African-American from this era was James Forten, who enlisted on a privateer as a powder boy, and spent time on a British prison barge. Some of the first people fighting for the formation of the United States were African Americans, who still today help make the United States military branches the force that they are today. The history of Black people is in fact American history from the very beginning.

Black sailors usually performed menial tasks on ships but some served in other roles, including carpenters and even pilots.” “The Continental Navy recruited both free and enslaved Blacks, partly out of a need for laborers and partly because many African Americans were experienced seafarers, having sailed before with the Royal Navy, state navies, and merchantmen. Even greater numbers of African Americans served aboard state naval vessels and privateers,” according to the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). “Over 10 percent of the Continental Navy was African American during the American Revolution-a higher percentage than in the ground services. While some undoubtedly did what they could to dodge drafts– many more arrived to serve of their own volition– a theme you will see time in time again throughout history. They were Negroes- but they knew they were filled to the brim with grit and overflowing with courage.

They were Black- but they knew they had heart. In a country that used race to decide everything from education to water fountains, African Americans joined the armed forces at surprising rates, looking to do more than labor in the fields. Take a short walk through military history and you’re bound to notice the contributions of African-American soldiers and sailors.

How many african americans served in the union and and navy during the civil war