Revolutionary African Americans

Noted African Americans

When Washington took over the command of the Continental Army in July of 1775 in Cambridge, MA, there were already many African American soldiers. Most were free. Some were slaves sent by their owners to fight in their place although this was a very rare occurrence, especially in New England. There were a few of note in those early days. Prince Estabrook actually participated in the Battle of Lexington. Peter Salem was credited with taking out British Marine Major John Pitcairn at the Battle of Bunker (Breed's Hill). Later, the First Rhode Island regiment was formed with African Americans. There was also an aborted attempt by John Laurens to do the same in South Carolina. In July of 1781 a French officer, Baraon Ludwig von Clausen noted in his journal about the American army that, "A quarter of them were Negoes, merry, confident, and sturdy."

Continental Congress “Official Position”

In the first few months after Washington took over there was a standing rule from Congress that "Negros could not be enlisted". This was relaxed somewhat due to a couple of circumstances. One was a young lady who was a slave in Boston named Phyllis Wheatly. She had been purchased by a wealthy family and taught to read and write. She became such an accomplished poet that she actually had a book published in England. One day she wrote a poem praising George Washington and sent it to him privately. He was very moved and wrote back that it was worthy to be printed in the papers but that he felt that would be too self serving even though he was very appreciative of her sentiment. He expressed great surprise at her skill and asked to meet with her personally. The second was the fact that at the end of 1775, the enlistment of the majority of the New England troops was ending and he was going to have to replace a whole 20,000 man army while still trying to hold the British inside the town of Boston. Practicality won over prejudice at that time.

First Rhode Island Regiment Formed

Another huge instance of African American participation was sponsored by Christopher Green. He was a cousin of Nathaniel Green, Washington's right hand General and the architect of the American success down in the Southern Theater and the General who said of his troops, "We fight, get beat and rise up to fight again!" It was all those losses to Cornwallis the finally did Cornwallis in! Christopher Green of Rhode Island saw that blacks were an untapped source of manpower and he proposed to his home state that they should raise a black regiment. Rhode Island agreed and actually bought their freedom or else the owners of the slaves "donated" them to the cause. Whatever the case, these slaves earned their freedom when they joined "The First Rhode Island Regiment". It is also to be noted that several Native Americans also participated in this regiment.

First Rhode Island Regiment Performance

The aforementioned Baron von Clausen also noted that this "Rhode Island regiment regiment is ... the most neatly dressed, the best under arms, and the most precise in its maneuvers." The Marquis de Lafayette praised them for their fearless work in covering the U.S. retreat during the failed attack on Newport in one of the first joint Franco-American actions. They participated in the deciding battle of the American Revolution at Yorktown, VA and were commended for their service. The Light Infantry of the 1st Rhode Island were commanded by the French Lt. Colonel Jean-Joseph de Gimat who commanded one of three Battalions chosen to storm Redoubt # 10 on October 14. The other two Battalions were commanded by Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens. It was only three days later that General Cornwallis surrendered.

African American Redcoats?

The British did, as early as 1775, advertise that Blacks would have their freedom if they came over to the British Army; however, both American and British authorities had a dismal record of keeping their promises. On the British side, they were rarely given any combat duty. They were mostly used as they had been their whole lives, for pretty meaningless manual labor. Then when the war was over, many of these slaves thinking that they were to be freed were loaded on troop transports and actually sold back into slavery in the Caribbean. Americans had a dismal record as well. Even while they earned their freedom and were paid, during their service, as well as anyone, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment did not receive the same land bounties and bonuses that the rest of the white soldiers received at the end of the war.

One Step Forward …

On one positive side there was a young man named Abel Benson from Framingham MA who was 9 years old when Hostilities broke out in 1775. In fact he was one of the many Alarm riders who joined with Paul Revere and others to warn the countryside that the Regulars were out. In his case he used his trumpet to sound the alarm. Just a few years later, in 1780, he joined the army. When he was mustered out in 1783 he was actually given a land grant and it was this grant that enabled his family to barely make it through many lean years and the rough time ahead for African-Americans even after Independence was won.

Sources

Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution by Terry Golway, 2005, Henry Holt and Company, LLC

The Cousins' Wars: Religion, Politics, and the Triumph of Anglo-America By Kevin P. Phillips, 1999, Basic Books

Alexander hamilton, A Concise Biography by Broadus Mitchell, 1976. Oxford University Press

Victory at Yorktown, The Campaign that Won the Revolution by Richar Ketchum, 2004, Henry Holt and Company, LLC

An Imperfect God, George Washington, His Slaves and the Creation of America by Henry Weincek, 2003, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

1st Rhode Island Re-enactors

First Rhode Island regiment Flag

Christopher Greene

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