Edward A. Wild and the African Brigade in the Civil WarEdward Wild, the controversial Union general who headed the all-black African Brigade in the Civil War, was one of the most loved and most hated figures of the 19th century. The man was neither understood nor appreciated by military or civilian, black or white, Northerner or Southerner. After enlisting at the outbreak of the war, Wild was promoted to Brigadier General and placed in charge of the United States Colored Troops. In fulfilling his assignment to free slaves and gain recruits, he took three women as hostages and ordered a great deal of property destruction. He freed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of slaves and settled them safely on Roanoke Island. Wild then not only recruited the newly freed blacks but trained them and gave them the opportunity to prove their worth in battle. Nobody, it seems, was happy about serving with them, but the African Brigade performed courageously in several battles. Wild did some inexplicable things. Were his actions typical of the 19th century or did he act outside the norm? Was the criticism he suffered from his fellow Union officers valid - or was it due to personality conflicts? Did he deserve to be arrested, court-martialed, and even wiped |
Contents
Acknowledgments vii | 1 |
Family History and Early Life of Edward Augustus Wild | 5 |
Captain Wild United States Army 1861 | 19 |
Copyright | |
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Edward A. Wild and the African Brigade in the Civil War Frances Harding Casstevens Limited preview - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
actions Andrew Army arrest arrived attack August authority bank battle believed Boston Brig Brigadier Brookline Bureau Butler camp Captain cavalry charge Charles cited citizens City Civil Colonel colored command Company Confederate Corps County court December Department Division Draper Duke University duty Edward Edward Wild enemy eral Federal fire forces Frances friends George Georgia Governor guerrillas held Hinks History hostage Ibid Island James January John July June killed land letter Lieutenant Major March Mass Massachusetts military Miss moved Negro Norfolk North Carolina noted October officers ordered Pension Point prisoners received Record recruiting regiment remained reported returned River Robert sent September slaves soldiers South Southern Special Stevens and Bradford taken troops Tyler Union United University Virginia Volunteers Washington White Wild Papers Wild's Wilson's Wharf wounded wrote York