Gettysburg and Vicksburg

One thing about Pat Buchanan that is dated? He ain't heard of The Google.

Gettysburg.

Subj: Gettysburg National Battlefield Interpretations and Stories.
Dec. 16 2004 -- >From Superintendent Latschar, Superintendent of the Gettysburg National Battlefield:
John_Latschar@nps.gov

Mr. Moody -

Thank you for your inquiry about our interpretive plans at Gettysburg National Military Park, and the information regarding Richard Poplar. His is an interesting story. It is not altogether unusual, however, since it's a well-established fact that many Confederate officers and units were accompanied by their personal servants. Some of these servants, like Mr. Poplar, were given honorary military rank, and even sometimes participated in combat, but neither Mr. Poplar nor the others could be regularly and legally enlisted in the Confederate States Army until March of 1865 when the Confederate Congress passed an act authorizing the recruitment of blacks.

At Gettysburg, to answer your question, we intend to include the stories of the thousands of blacks from both the north and south, both slave and free, that were associated with and/or impacted by the Gettysburg Campaign. As you know, this will not include the United States Colored Troops, since they were not at Gettysburg. But it would include the estimated 10,000 slaves who accompanied the Army of Northern Virginia on the Gettysburg Campaign, the free blacks and "contraband" blacks who supported the Army ofthe Potomac, the black Pennsylvania "home guard" reserve unit that was mobilized in reaction to the Confederate advance, the hundreds of free blacks in southern Pennsylvania who fled from the advancing Confederate army for fear of captured and sold south into slavery, and the unfortunate ones to whom that happened.

In short, all of our stories at Gettysburg will be told in context, so that individual stories are woven together to illustrate the larger whole.

I trust that this helps answer your inquiry.

Regards,

John Latschar

Vicksburg.

Because the black regiments lacked experience and their guns were inferior, the enemy soon managed to close in for hand-to-hand combat. The black troops fought bravely, as they handled their bayonets with fierce determination, contesting every inch of ground until they were surrounded. At that point, McCulloch’s men poured a deadly fire along their lines, directing their efforts mainly at the officers, many of whom ultimately fell. Finally, overpowered by superior numbers, the black troops retreated to the river banks, but they continued to fire and to remain as organized as possible in what was up to this time the most vicious hand-to-hand fighting of the war.

Finally, the gunboat Choctaw cruised into position, fired at the enemy, and forced them to withdraw behind the levee. Undaunted, McCulloch’s troops continued to fire at the defenders.

The Confederates at this time attempted to extend their line to the extreme right, but two black companies were determined this action would fail. These companies, a part of the 11th Louisiana, fought from behind cotton bales and parts of the old levee until almost noon, when the enemy withdrew after nine hours of fighting against inferior numbers that would not be defeated. As McCulloch’s troops retired, the gunboat Lexington placed several well-directed shots and scattered the enemy in all directions.

The Confederates’ hatred of black troops was surpassed only by their animosity toward those white officers who led them. The fact generated nightmares. Rumors ran that officers were the victims of atrocities. Needless to say they had a poor effect on morale. But Bryant not only survived the fighting, kept his spirit, and avoided capture, he became conspicuous for his gallantry, constantly rallying his troops after they had been driven to the river banks. Shouting directions, he prodded and encouraged his men. His wiry stature seemed to rise with his fervor.

In his report to the adjutant general, Grant noted the heroism of the troops, despite their lack of military experience. He concluded, ‘With good officers they will make good troops.’

Pat Buchanan. Not only on the wrong side of history. He doesn't know very much about history.

As for the "white men" who wrote the Constitution. I can assure you, none of them were "working class whites," either.

Oh, and don't even get me started about "Normandy" when Jim Crow ruled the U.S. military.