The Forgotten Confederates-African-Americans

An article in the Petersburg Express entitled Black Confederate Soldiers of Petersburg (VA) was of interest. Not much is known about Black slaves and free man in the Confederate Army. It's not something learned in high school history. Back to the Petersburg Express article, historian Edwin L. Jordan, Jr. called the lack of information regarding Black soldiers for the Confederates a "cover up" as far back as 1865. Former Park Service Chief Historian Ed Bearrs, talks about Blacks in the Civil War in a video called Ed Bearrs-National Treasure Part 1 [http://www.desiflicker.com/videos/TV_Clips/Ed_Bearrs_-_National_Treasure_Part_One] [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/bearss.html] Mr. Bearrs use to give guided tours at Gettysburg,PA and lecture on the fallen soldiers on both sides including the Black soldiers.

An email to the Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy requesting information went unanswered. Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy's website [http://www.confederateamericanpride.com/SDC.html] states it is "an organization through which all people, both men and women, of Confederate American descent may join forces to conduct the fight to save their rapidly vanishing heritage. Anyone, of any gender, who is descended from a Confederate soldier who served honorably in the Army of the Confederate States of America is welcome to join." The Petersburg Express article is quoted as saying that at least one Black soldier met those requirements. His name was Richard Poplar, "the colored Confederate soldier."

A fact sheet is prepared by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Education Committee was prepared to be freely copied and distributed without permission or notice. According to the website, The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) is a patriotic, historical, and educational organization, founded in 1896, dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of the Confederate soldier and sailor, and to preserving Southern Culture. Among the Black man noted for their contribution in several wars was Richard Poplar who was a prisoner of war. Pvt. Dick Poplar suffered cruelty by Yankee Negro guards at Pt. Lookout, MD for being a "Jeff Davis man." He was described as a captured black cook, according to the fact sheet. Petersburg Index-Appeal of May 23, 1886 stated that Pvt. Poplar died at the residence of Mr. James Muirhead, a Virginian after he endured many months of weary imprisonment rather than desert his friends and comrades in their misfortune. The article goes on to describe him as an honest, industrious man, highly esteemed by old Confederate friends and comrades.

Pvt. Poplar was a member of the Sussex Dragoons Which became Company H, of the Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry. The Sussex Dragoons were a wealthy organization, and each member of the company had his own servant along with him. During the retreat from Gettysburg, he was captured and carried to Fort Delaware, where he was a prisoner for five months. He was later moved to Point Lookout making him a prisoner of war for nineteen months. His pallbearers according to the article included Confederate officers, Capt. E.A. Goodwyn, Capt. J.R. Patterson, Gen. Stith Bolling, Col. E.M. Field, and Mesrs. Jesse Newcomb and R.M. Dobie. Pvt. Poplar is buried at Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia where many Confederate dead are buried. Services are held on Memorial Hill in Blandford Cemetery each year. The services are held not only for the 30,000 Confederate dead who are buried here, but for service members of all wars. There is actually an annual Richard "Dick" Poplar Memorial Program with reenactment.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans website has a recording of white Confederate soldier Julius Howell [http://www.scv.org/JuliusHowell.php]talking about his capture and imprisonment at the Union prison camp at Point Lookout, Md. This is the same prison camp Pvt. Poplar was sent. The recording adds general information of life for prisoners in the camp.

The fact sheet from The Sons of Confederate Veterans Education Committee makes note of other Black soldiers. Famed bridge engineer and former slave Horace King received naval contracts for building Confederate warships. A black servant named Sam Ashe killed the first Union officer during the war, abolitionist Major Theodore Winthrop. John W. Buckner, a black private, was wounded at Ft. Wagner repulsing the U.S. (Colored) 54th Massachusetts Regiment. George Wallace, a servant who surrendered with General Lee at Appomattox, later served in the Georgia Senate. Jim Lewis served General Stonewall Jackson, and was honored to hold his horse "Little Sorrel" at the general's funeral.

Additional information regarding Black Confederate soldiers can be obtained from Black members of The Sons of Confederate Veterans according to the fact sheet, like Nelson W. Winbush, a retired educator and SCV member, lectures on his black Confederate ancestor, Private Louis N. Nelson. A Black Chicago funeral home owner, Ernest A. Griffin, flies the CSA battle flag and erected at his own expense a $20,000 monument to the 6,000 Confederate soldiers who are buried on his property, once the site of the Union prison Camp Douglas. Black professor Leonard Haynes (recently deceased) of Southern University (Baton Rouge) spoke regularly on Black Confederates. American University's professor Edward Smith also lectures on the truth of black Confederate history and, with Nelson W. Winbush, has prepared an educational videotape entitled "Black Southern Heritage" (available at (954) 963-4857). Dr. Edward Smith, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016 (202) 885-1192 is Dean of American Studies, Dr. Smith (a Black professor a [point noted by the fact sheet]) is dedicated to clarifying the historical role of Blacks.

The Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia area is full of historical towns and National Parks. If you are interested in day or car trips, there are many interesting educational sites.

Work Cited:
http://civilwarlibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/07/pivotal-battles-ed-bearrs-tour-guide.html
http://www.craterroad.com/oldblandfordchurch.html
http://www.craterroad.com/richardpoplar.html
http://www.petersburgexpress.com/Petersburg_Black-CSA.html
http://www.petersburgexpress.com/Pocahontas.html
http://www.petersburg-va.org
http://www.scv.org/

References:
Charles Kelly Barrow, et al. Forgotten Confederates: An Anthology About Black Southerners (1995)
Cornish Taylor, The Sable Arm: Negro Troops in the Union Army, 1861-1865 (1956)
Edward A. Miller, Jr. Gullah Statesman: Robert Smalls - From Slavery to Congressman, 1839-1915 (1995)
Ervin L. Jordan, Jr. Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia (1995)
Iver Bernstein. The New York Draft Riots (1990)
Larry Koger. Black Slave owners: Free Black Slave owners in South Carolina, 1790-1860 (1985, 1995)
Richard Rollins. Black Southerners in Gray (1994)