The Life of an African American During the Civil War

1 The Life of an African American During the Civil WarYou DecideLesson Plans for grades 4-5 June, 2001 The Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War MuseumAn Indiana War Memorials MuseumAn Indiana War Memorials MuseumAn Indiana War Memorials MuseumAn Indiana War Memorials MuseumThe Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, an Indiana War Memorials Museum June, 20011 Acknowledgments Thank you to the many people who contributed their timeand expertise to the development of these lesson Hartley, Pleasant Grove Elementary School, Greenwood, INMechall King, Indianapolis Public SchoolsLinda Kirsch, Indiana School for the BlindRon Stone, Hamilton Heights Elementary School, Arcadia, INAmy Turley, Hobart, INReadersBill Dichtl, Ohio County Historical Society, Rising Sun, INWilma Gibbs, Indiana Historical SocietyCharles Poindexter, Indianapolis, INSteve Towne, Indiana State ArchivesMartha Wiley, Abraham Lincoln Library and MuseumNancy Wolfe, Indiana Historical SocietyInstitutionsIndiana Historical SocietyIndiana State ArchivesIndiana State LibraryAbraham Lincoln Library and Museum, Harrogate, TNContributing AuthorLinda GrimesGraphics CourtesyThe Civil War Press, Walden Font CompanyThese lesson plans were made possible through a grant fromThe Indiana War Memorial CommissionandThe Governor s Hoosier Heritage FoundationThe Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum.

2 An Indiana War Memorials Museum June, 20012 Table of You Know? be a Soldier You Garland H. White an Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, an Indiana War Memorials Museum June, 20013 INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTR ODUCTION This series of lessons will help students become familiar with the 28th RegimentUnited States Colored Troops and the lives of African Americans in Indiana During theCivil War. All names are of real people. Five story lines will allow students to experiencethese lives.

3 The discussion questions and activity suggestions will expand the ideasin the story. The interview with Chaplain Garland White will give students a first personaccount of the time and can be dramatized. According to the reading level of thestudents the story and interview can be read by individual children or read aloud. Thiswill help the teacher point out the variations in the experience of the African Americansoldier and the white soldier. The lessons involve academic standards in social studies,math, language arts, and fine arts and may be used as part of an interdisciplinary Students will be able to identify why a soldier joined the regiment. Students will learn where two battles were fought.

4 Students will learn about two men in the 28th USCT Infantry StandardsAcademic StandardsAcademic StandardsAcademic StandardsSocial StudiesTO BE DROPPED IN LATERL anguage ArtsReading Comprehension use appropriate strategies when reading for Application write for different purposes: narrative, information, and Speaking ask thoughtful questions and respond orally; make aninformational presentation; develop clear, organized speech and measure using customary units. Collect, organize, analyze, andinterpret ArtsDraw a portrait, or illustration from a Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, an Indiana War Memorials Museum June, 20014 SUMMARYSUMMARYSUMMARYSUMMARY A group of French settlers brought the first African Americans as slaves tothe area that became the Indiana Territory in the mid-1700s.

5 Under theNorthwest Ordinance of 1787, slavery was not legal, but many people were stillheld in slavery. Laws limited settlement to the small towns where freedmen andthose who had escaped slavery already African Americans settled near Quaker1 or Society of Friendssettlements. In 1850, the counties of Wayne, Grant, Marion, Rush, andRandolph had the highest number of both African American and Quakerresidents. Named for the families who started the settlement, the RobertsSettlement was in Hamilton County and Lyles Station was in Gibson 1861, African Americans could not serve as soldiers. Though they hadfought in previous wars, an old law actually prohibited their service. By 1862,both sides saw African Americans as an untapped resource.

6 In July of 1862,Congress gave the President the power to enlist African American men in thearmy and navy. Union Army units immediately formed in Kansas. After theEmancipation Proclamation, about 100 men from Indiana joined the 54thMassachusetts, the first regiment of African Americans formed in the North. TheUnion Navy had previously integrated them into all ships' duties. In December1863, Hoosier soldiers were recruited for the 28th 28th USCT trained for the assault on Petersburg, Virginia. Their unitwas to lead the attack. Early on the morning of the battle, the plan unit would lead the advance. Instead of blowing an opening in theseigeworks, the mine s explosion made a large hole. The 28th USCT finallystormed the Confederate line gaining, their objective.

7 The Confederatesregrouped and forced a retreat, pushing the 28th USCT back into the were very high casualties. Nine months later Petersburg finally fell and the28th USCT were among the first troops marching victoriously into the end of the war, the 28th USCT served one more year in. Theyhelped to keep the peace, built bridges and roads and ran telegraph lines. Apublic reception, after they mustered out, was held in January, YOU KNOW? The population of African Americans inIndiana in 1860 was11,428, a little more than 1% of the state s population. Approximately 180,000 African Americans (10%) served in the Union Army. Of the Union Navy s 118,000 sailors, roughly 19,000 were African American .

8 There were 16 African Americans Medal of Honor winners During the Civil War. Approximately one-third of the African Americans who fought in the Civil War died. 1 All words in bold are found in the vocabulary at the end of the lesson Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, an Indiana War Memorials Museum June, 20015 TIMELINE TIMELINE TIMELINE TIMELINE DATEEVENT1843 Frederick Douglass, along with a group of abolitionist speakers,stop at Pendleton, Indiana.

9 This is a part of their HundredConvention s Tour. A mob, mostly people from out of town, causerioting as the speakers begin. Douglass and others are Act of 1862 places pay at $10 per month. The clothingallowance is $ This is not always followed. African Americansoldiers are routinely paid less than white soldiers. White soldiersreceive $ per month plus clothing allowance. July 17 Congress passes two acts allowing African Americans to join thearmy and navy. President Lincoln must approve units. October 28 First battle in Kansas where African American soldiers prove theirvalor. Abolitionist Senator Jim Lane includes African Americans inhis volunteer cavalry. Confederate soldiers attack his s unit stops the attack.

10 Ten men are killed and twelvewounded in the January 1 Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves inSouthern states. January 311st South Carolina organizes with freedmen and former slaves. MayThe 54th Massachusetts organizes as the first official blackregiment in the does not yet allow enlistment, so 80-100 Hoosier AfricanAmericans go east to join the 54th Massachusetts, some join the55th Massachusetts when the 54th Massachusetts is filled. July 16-18 The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment leads the assault on Six hundred men courageously charge the fort. There are272 killed, wounded, or captured. November 30 Indiana begins recruitment of 28th Infantry Regiment, April 12 Fort Pillow taken by Confederate troops.