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The Confederate Policy: Executions of Black Soldiers

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There is substantial historical evidence that Confederate forces executed Black Union soldiers who were taken as prisoners during the U.S. Civil War, often in violation of the laws of war. This was driven by the Confederacy’s refusal to recognize Black soldiers as legitimate combatants, viewing them instead as rebellious slaves or threats to the institution of slavery.
 
The Confederate government explicitly threatened harsh treatment for captured Black Union soldiers. In 1863, the Confederate Congress issued a resolution stating that Black soldiers captured in uniform would not be treated as prisoners of war but could be executed or re-enslaved. Confederate President Jefferson Davis reinforced this, declaring Black soldiers and their white officers guilty of inciting “servile insurrection,” a crime punishable by death under Southern laws.
 
This policy led to documented instances of executions and massacres, with the most infamous being:
  • Fort Pillow Massacre (April 12, 1864):
    • At Fort Pillow, Tennessee, Confederate forces under General Nathan Bedford Forrest overwhelmed a Union garrison that included Black soldiers from the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT). After the fort surrendered, Confederate troops massacred many Black soldiers, along with some white Union soldiers, who were attempting to surrender or had already been captured. Reports indicate that Black soldiers, including the wounded, were shot, bayoneted, or burned alive.
    • A New York Times account from April 16, 1864, reported that of the 600-man garrison, only about 200 survived, with Black soldiers specifically targeted for “indiscriminate butchery.” A Union correspondent noted that Confederate troops shot Black soldiers who had escaped or were attempting to surrender, with only 56 of the 350 Black troops surviving.
       
    • President Lincoln issued a resolution threatening retaliation for such acts, but it was never fully implemented, and the massacre was largely forgotten at the time.
       
  • Battle of the Crater (July 30, 1864):
    • During the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia, Black soldiers from the Fourth Division of the Ninth Army Corps were among those who led an assault on Confederate lines. After the Union attack failed, Confederate forces massacred Black soldiers attempting to surrender. Eyewitness accounts describe Confederate troops shooting or bayoneting Black soldiers in cold blood, driven by racial animus and the Confederate policy against recognizing Black combatants.
       
  • Saltville Massacre (October 2, 1864):
    • At Saltville, Virginia, Black soldiers from the 5th United States Colored Cavalry fought alongside white Union troops. After the Union forces were forced to withdraw, Confederate soldiers executed unarmed Black prisoners, including raiding a hospital to murder wounded Black soldiers in their beds. This act was widely reported and further fueled the resolve of Black troops, who adopted “Remember Fort Pillow” as a battle cry to avenge such atrocities.
Context and Confederate Rationale

The Confederacy’s refusal to treat Black soldiers as legitimate prisoners of war stemmed from their view that arming Black men, especially former slaves, was an act of rebellion against the Southern social order. The Confederate Congress’s 1863 resolution explicitly called for captured Black soldiers to be returned to their states for punishment under slave laws, which often meant execution or re-enslavement. Confederate Secretary of War James Seddon suggested that former slaves be returned to their owners, but in practice, many were killed on the spot.

This policy was in stark contrast to the treatment of white Union prisoners, who were generally eligible for prisoner exchanges until the Confederacy halted exchanges over the issue of Black soldiers. President Lincoln responded with General Order 252 in 1863, threatening reprisals against Confederate prisoners for any mistreatment of Black Union soldiers, but such reprisals were rarely carried out due to political and military complexities.
 
Scale and Documentation exact numbers are hard to pin down; thousands of Black soldiers were killed in these incidents, either during or after battles. By the end of the war, approximately 186,000 Black soldiers served in the Union Army, with over 38,000 killed in action, a disproportionate number compared to their 10% share of the Union forces. Many of these deaths were due to combat, but massacres like those at Fort Pillow, Saltville, and the Crater significantly contributed to the toll.
 

Historical records, including those from the National Archives, Union soldier testimonies, and contemporary newspaper accounts, corroborate these events. For example, the compiled military service records of the USCT, held by the National Archives, document the service and sacrifices of Black soldiers, though they are underutilized. Additionally, the bravery of Black soldiers in the face of such risks was acknowledged by figures such as Frederick Douglass and President Lincoln, who recognized their critical role in the Union’s victory.

Critical Perspective

While the evidence for these executions is clear, some Confederate apologists and “Lost Cause” narratives have downplayed or denied these atrocities, claiming they were exaggerated or that Black soldiers were not targeted specifically. However, primary sources, including Confederate policies and Union eyewitness accounts, contradict these claims. The lack of accountability for these massacres, such as no formal federal response to Fort Pillow, reflects the era’s racial prejudices and the political constraints Lincoln faced in addressing them fully.

Conclusion
The execution of Black Union soldiers by Confederate forces is a well-documented and tragic aspect of the Civil War. Key incidents like the Fort Pillow Massacre, the Battle of the Crater, and the Saltville Massacre highlight the Confederacy’s policy of treating Black soldiers as criminals rather than combatants, leading to widespread atrocities. These events were driven by racial ideology and fear of slave rebellion, and they underscore the immense risks Black soldiers faced, not only in battle but also in captivity. This is the legacy of the Democratic Party, in my opinion.

Published by Editor, Sammy Campbell.

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