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Estimates of Black Confederate Serving the South
How many black Confederates served the South in combat or direct battlefield support ? The numbers vary wildly from 15,000 to 120,000. The truth remains that nobody has an accurate figure. My estimate is that 65,000 blacks scattered across the entire South followed the Confederate armies from one battlefield to the next from 1861 to 1865. Larger numbers of blacks loyally served the Confederacy, not as soldiers but as employees of the Army, Navy, Confederate government or the individual State governments.
Where does this estimate of 65,000 come from ?
Dr. Steiner, Chief Inspector of the United States Sanitary Commission, observed that Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops in occupation of Frederick, Maryland, in 1862: “Over 3,000 Negroes must be included in this number [Confederate troops]. These were clad in all kinds of uniforms, not only in cast-off or captured United States uniforms, but in coats with Southern buttons, State buttons, etc. These were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel ranks. Most of the Negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabers, bowie-knives, dirks, etc…and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederate Army.”
If we assume Dr. Steiner is somewhat reliable and assume that this 3,000 Negroes of Jackson’s troops are a representative number of black Confederates in a typical Confederate fighting force, then we may be able to make a rough calculation. First we must determine how many men were part of Jackson’s troops ? If Lee had 50,000, was Jackson’s force, 25,000 ? That would be a likely estimate. So then what percentage is 3,000 of 25,000 ? Answer: 12 %. So that would tell us that 12% of Jackson’s force was black Confederates. Now, if we assume that Steiner meant 3,000 blacks soldiers in Lee’s entire 50,000 force that crossed the Potomac, then the percentage of black Confederates is reduced to 6%. Either way it is calculated, black Confederates were a considerable percentage of the total Confederate fighting force.
To extend this reasoning across the entire Confederate Army, what does this represent ? That depends on the total number of men that served in the CS Army, which is also in itself debatable as muster rolls are notoriously incomplete.
For example, let’s use for example the 1,000,000 listed names in Broadfoot’s Confederate roster compiled by the National Archives. Yes, there is some repeat names, but let’s use that figure as an example. What percentage is 12% ? This would translate to 120,000 black Confederates and half that, 60,000. As such, the 65,000 estimate is not an unreasonable estimate. Debatable ? Yes. Refutable ? Absolutely not. Black Confederates imaginary ? Ridiculous
Could Dr. Steiner have been wrong regarding the numbers ? Yes, absolutely. In fact, many Army officers routinely made mistakes at estimating the enemies numerical strengths. However, the smaller the body of troops one is estimating, the more likely that number is correct. While Steiner failed to accurately estimate Lee’s total forces (I recall he estimated 80,000 instead of 50,000), in my opinion, it is unlikely he erred as significantly with a handful of 3,000 black troops. So even if Steiner made an overestimate of 30%, we still are in the range of 40,000 to 80,000.
About the Author: Scott K. Williams is a St. Louis historian and writes articles for the American Local History Network and The Missouri Civil War Museum at Jefferson Barracks. He is a kinsmen of Lt. Col. James B. McCreary, who submitted a petition to the Confederate Congress, on behalf of Confederate soldiers, requesting slaves be recruited as soldiers in the Confederate Army. He is also a descendant of Union soldiers, abolitionists, and a member of the U.S. Grant Camp, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. He is also author of , “Slavery in St. Louis”, “U.S. Colored Troops” (And the Plight of the Refugee Slave), and “Benton Barracks”.
Online Resources Regarding Black Confederates:
Terrell’s Texas Cavalry, a historical multi-racial Confederate unit.
George McDonald, Proud Black Confederate of Missouri
Black Confederate Pensioners of Marshall County, Mississippi.
Rev. William Mack Lee Narrative (Gen. Robert E. Lee’s black servant) “I was raised by one of the greatest men in the world. There was never one born of a woman greater than Gen. Robert E. Lee, according to my judgment. All of his servants were set free ten years before the war, but all remained on the plantation until after the surrender.”
Copyright 1998-2003, by Scott K. Williams, All Rights Reserved. Permission granted to reproduce this fact sheet for educational purposes only. Must include this statement on all copies.
