Those who usually deny the existence of any Negro Confederates dismiss the idea of them serving by their job classification or the fact they may have been slaves. That being the case lets look at some of these jobs: musician, laborer, miner, cook, teamster etc., you get the idea.
Posted by the classification and my source
George ****************************************
ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES, HELD AT MONTGOMERY, ALA.
RICHMOND: ENQUIRER BOOK AND JOB PRESS. BY TYLER, WISE, ALLEGRE & SMITH. 1861
No. 48.] AN ACT To provide for the Public Defence
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SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That whenever the militia or volunteers are called and received into the service of the Confederate States, under the provisions of this act, they shall have the same organization, and shall have the same pay and allowances as may be provided for the regular army; and all mounted non-commissioned officers, privates, musicians and artificers, shall be allowed forty cents per day for the use and risk of their horses; and if any volunteer shall not keep himself provided with a serviceable horse, such volunteer shall serve on foot. For horses killed in action, volunteers shall be allowed compensation according to their appraised value at the date of muster into service.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the field and staff officers of a separate battalion of volunteers shall be one lieutenant colonel or major, one adjutant with the rank of lieutenant, one sergeant-major, one quartermaster- sergeant, and a chief bugler or principal musician, according to corps;
States For the establishment and organization of the Army of the Confederate of America
SEC. 2. The Corps of Engineers shall consist of one Colonel, four Majors, five Captains, and one company of sappers, miners and pontoniers, which shall consist of ten sergeants or master workmen, ten corporals or overseers, two musicians, and thirty-nine privates of the first class, or artificers, and thirty-nine privates of the second class, or laborers, making in all one hundred
SEC. 3. The said company shall be officered by one captain of the corps of engineers, and as many lieutenants, to be selected by the President from the line of the army, as he may deem necessary for the service, and shall be instructed in and perform all the duties of sappers, miners and pontoniers, and shall, moreover, under the orders of the chief engineer, be liable to serve by detachments in overseeing and aiding laborers upon fortifications or other works, under the engineer department, and in supervising finished fortifications, as fortkeepers, preventing injury and making repairs.
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SEC. 6. Each regiment of infantry shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one major and ten companies; each company shall consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, two second lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, two musicians and ninety privates; and to each regiment there shall be attached one adjutant, to be selected from the lieutenants, and one sergeant major, to be selected from the enlisted men of the regiment.
SEC. 7. The regiment of cavalry shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one major and ten companies, each of which shall consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, two second lieutenants , four sergeants, four corporals, one farrier, one blacksmith, two musicians and sixty privates. There shall also be one adjutant and one sergeant major, to be selected as aforesaid.
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SEC. 22. The monthly pay of the enlisted men of the army of the Confederate States shall be as follows: That of a sergeant or master workman of the engineer corps, thirty-four dollars; that of a corporal or overseer, twenty dollars; privates of the first class, or artificers, seventeen dollars; and privates of the second class, or laborers, and musicians, thirteen dollars. The sergeant-major of cavalry, twenty-one dollars; first sergeants, twenty dollars; sergeants, seventeen dollars; corporals, farriers and blacksmiths, thirteen dollars; musicians, thirteen dollars; and privates, twelve dollars. Sergeants-major of artillery and infantry, twenty-one dollars; first sergeants, twenty dollars each; sergeants, seventeen dollars; corporals and artificers, thirteen dollars; musicians, twelve dollars; and privates eleven dollars each. The non-commissioned officers, artificers, musicians and privates serving in light batteries shall receive the same pay as those of cavalry.
SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That every officer, non-commissioned officer, musician and private shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation, to-wit: I, A. B., do solemly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that while I continue in the service I will bear true faith and yield obedience to the Confederate States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies, and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the Confederate States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war.
SEC. 5. There shall be a corps of marines, to consist of one major, one quartermaster, one paymaster, one adjutant, one sergeant-major, one quartermaster-sergeant, and six companies, each company to consist of one captain, one first and one second lieutenant, four sergeants, four corporals, one hundred men and two musicians; and the pay and allowances of the officers and enlisted men shall be the same as that of the officers and enlisted men of like grade in the infantry of the army, except that the ration of the enlisted marines shall be the ration allowed by law to seamen.
No 89.] AN ACT For Making appropriations for the for the support of the Navy the year ending 4th February, eighteen hundred and sixty-two
2d. For the pay of officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates of the marine corps, one hundred and seventy-five thousand five hundred and twelve dollars
Some references to laborers found in section 1. This is proof positive that the jobs usually associated with Negroes were part of the Confederate as early as 1861, not 1864 or 65 as usually stated. I am not implying in any way, shape of form, that Negroes were the only ones who performed these tasks as I know some White men also worked in these jobs. The total number of Negroes employed is anyone’s guess, as there is no solid number on how many men and women of other races who may have served.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Secretaries of State, Treasury, War, Navy, Attorney-General, and Postmaster-General are hereby authorized to employ such other clerical force in their respective departments as the exigencies of the public service may absolutely require, being limited in the compensation to the lower grade of salary for clerks provided for in this bill; they are also empowered to employ such laborers for their respective offices as may be required, not exceeding one for each of the executive departments, and whose compensation shall not exceed one dollar and fifty cents per day. *****************************************************************
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No. 63.] AN ACT
Making appropriations for the support of the Regular Army of the Confederate States of America for twelve months, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Clothing for the army, six hundred and forty-eight thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars. Camp and garrison equipage, sixty thousand dollars. Supplies for the quartermaster’s department–consisting of fuel for the officers, enlisted men, guards, hospitals, store-houses and officers; of forage in kind for horses, mules and oxen of the quartermaster’s department, at the several posts and stations, and with the armies in the field; of postage on letters and packages received and sent by officers of the army on public service; expenses of courts martial and courts of inquiry, including the additional compensation of judge advocates, recorders, members and witnesses, while in that service; extra pay to soldiers employed under the direction of the quartermaster’s department in the erection of barracks, quarters, store-houses and hospitals, for constant labor for periods of not less than ten days, including those employed as clerks; expense of interment of officers killed in action, or who die when on duty in the field, or at the posts on the frontiers, and of non-commissioned officers and soldiers; authorized office furniture; hire of laborers in the quartermaster’s department; compensation of clerk’s of the officers of the quartermaster’s department; for the apprehension of deserters and the expenses incident to their pursuit; for the following expenses required for the regiment of cavalry and for the four batteries of light artillery: namely, the purchase of travelling forges, blacksmith’s and shoeing tools, ****************************** Page 92
, for drayage and cartage at the several posts, hire of teamsters, transportation of funds for the disbursing departments, the expense of public transports on the various rivers, the gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, six
Acts and Resolutions of the Second Session of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, Held at Montgomery, Ala. :
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No. 141.] AN ACT To provide an Additional Company of Sappers and Bombardiers for the Army.
SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That there be added to the military establishment of the Confederate States one company of sappers and bombardiers, to consist of one captain, two first lieutenants, one second lieutenant, ten sergeants or master-workmen, ten corporals or overseers, two musicians, thirty-nine privates of the first class, and thirty-nine privates of the second class, who shall be instructed in and perform all the duties of sappers and bombardiers, and shall, moreover, under the orders of the chief engineer, be liable to serve, by detachments, in overseeing and aiding laborers upon fortifications or other works under the engineer department, and in supervising finished fortifications, as fort-keepers, preventing injury and making repairs.
Page 39 No. 145.] AN ACT Amendatory of an Act to provide for the organization of the Navy.
SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this act, the corps of marines shall consist of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel, one major, one quartermaster with the rank of major, one paymaster with the rank of major, one adjutant with the rank of major, one sergeant major, one quartermaster sergeant, ten captains, ten first lieutenants, twenty second lieutenants, forty sergeants, forty corporals, and eight hundred and forty privates, ten drummers and ten fifers and two musicians.
Page 83 SEC. 50. And be it further enacted, That in case the original inventor or discoverer of the art, machine or improvement for which a patent is solicited is a slave, the master of such slave may take an oath that the said slave was the original inventor; and on complying with the requisites of the law, shall receive a patent for said discovery or invention, and have all the rights to which a patentee is entitled by law.
Page 86 No. 171.] AN ACT To provide for the pay of additional officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates of the Marine Corps, to constitute a Regiment, and for the additional clothing and subsistence of the non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, for the year ending February the eighteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the sum of ninety-five thousand two hundred and forty dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the pay of additional officers, musicians and privates of the marine corps, and subsistence for the same for and during the year ending February the eighteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, said sum to be appropriated as follows: One colonel, (for nine months,) two thousand dollars; lieutenant colonel, (for nine months,) eighteen hundred dollars;
The Statutes at Large of the Confederate States of America, Commencing with the First Session of the First Congress; 1862. Public Laws of the Confederate States of America, Passed at the First Session of the First Congress; 1862. Private Laws of the Confederate States of America, Passed at the First Session of the First Congress; 1862:
CHAP. LXIV.--A Bill [An Act] for the enlistment of Cooks in the Army.
April 21, 1862.
Enlistment of Cooks in the Army.
Their duties.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That hereafter it shall be duty of the Captain or Commanding Officer of his company to enlist four Cooks for the use of his company, whose duty it shall be to cook for such company--taking charge of the supplies, utensils and other things furnished therefor, and safely keep the same, subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the War Department or the Colonel of the Regiment to which such company may be attached:
May be white or black, free or slave persons.
Proviso.
Pay and allowances.
[SEC. 2.] Be it further enacted, That the Cooks so directed to be enlisted, may be white or black, free or slave persons; Provided, however, That no slave shall be so enlisted, without the written consent of his owner. And such Cooks shall be enlisted as such only, and put on the muster-roll and paid at the time and place the company may or shall be paid off, twenty dollars per month to the Chief or Head Cook,
Page 49 and fifteen dollars per month for each of the Assistant Cooks, together with the same allowance for clothing, or the same commutation therefor that may be allowed to the rank and file of the company.
CHAP. XXIX.--An Act for the payment of musicians in the army not regularly enlisted.
April 15, 1862.
Pay of colored persons employed as musicians.
Proviso.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That whenever colored persons are employed as musicians in any Regiment or Company, they shall be entitled to the same pay now allowed by law to musicians regularly enlisted: Provided, That no such persons shall be so employed except by the consent of the commanding officer of the Brigade to which said Regiments or Companies may belong.
APPROVED April 15, 1862.
(I am gonna guess these may be some of those regimental bands we sometimes read about that play at officers dances and such, All of the musicians I have researched have Compiled Service Cards)
A Digest of the Military and Naval Laws of the Confederate States, From the Commencement of the Provisional Congress to the End of the First Congress Under the Permanent Constitution
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XI. EMPLOYMENT OF NEGROES.
Feb. 17, 1864 §1, ch. 79. Male free negroes.
177. Whereas the efficiency of the army is greatly diminished by the withdrawal from the ranks of able-bodied soldiers to act as teamsters, and in various other capacities in which free negroes and slaves might be advantageously employed: Therefore The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all male free negroes and other free persons of color, not including those who are free under the Treaty of Paris of 1803, or under the Treaty of Spain of 1819, resident in the Confederate States, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be held liable to perform such duties with the army, or in connection with the military defences of the country, in the way of work upon fortifications or in government works for the production or preparation of materials of war, or in military hospitals, as the Secretary of War or the commanding general of the trans-Mississippi department may from time to time prescribe; and while engaged in the performance of such duties shall receive rations and clothing, and compensation at the rate of eleven dollars a month, under such rules and regulations as the said Secretary may establish: Provided, That the Secretary of War or the commanding general of the trans-Mississippi department, with the approval of the President, may exempt from the operations of this act such free negroes as the interests of the country may require should be exempted, or such as he may think proper to exempt on grounds of justice, equity, or necessity.
178. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to employ, for duties similar to those indicated in the preceding section of this act, as many male negro slaves, not to exceed twenty thousand, as in his judgment the wants of the service may require, furnishing them, while so employed, with proper rations
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and clothing, under rules and regulations to be established by him, and paying to the owners of said slaves such wages as may be agreed upon with said owners for their use and service; and in the event of the loss of any slaves while so employed, by the act of the enemy, or by escape to the enemy, or by death inflicted by the enemy, or by disease contracted while in any service required of said slaves, then the owners of the same shall be entitled to receive the full value of such slaves, to be ascertained by agreement or by appraisement, under the law regulating impressments, to be paid under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of War may establish.
179. That when the Secretary of War shall be unable to procure the services of slaves in any military department in sufficient numbers for the necessities of the department, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the preceding section, then he is hereby authorized to impress [436] the services of as many male slaves, not to exceed twenty thousand, as may be required, from time to time, to discharge the duties indicated in the first section of this act, according to the laws regulating the impressment of slaves in other cases: Provided, That slaves so impressed shall, while employed, receive the same rations and clothing, in kind and quantity, as slaves regularly hired from their owners, and in the event of their loss, shall be paid for in the same manner, and under the same rules established by the said impressment laws: Provided, That if the owner have but one male slave between the ages of eighteen and fifty, he shall not be impressed against the will of said owner: Provided, further, that free negroes shall be first impressed, and if there should be a deficiency, it shall be supplied by the impressment of slaves according to the foregoing provisions: Provided, further, That in making the impressment not more than one of every five male slaves between the ages of eighteen and forty-five shall be taken from any owner, care being taken to allow in each case a credit for all slaves who may have been already impressed under this act, and who
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are still in service, or have died, or been lost while in service. And all impressments under this act shall be taken in equal ratio from all owners in the same locality, city, county, or district.
This is my last post in this series. I think I have proven beyond a shadow of doubt that it is possible Negroes did serve in all aspects of the Confederate military. That being the case we cannot dismiss a mans service based on his job or due to the fact he was slave or free. It is a slow process documenting the service of these men and women. Records cannot always be found, race is not always given and complete names are not always found. The fact still remains these folks deserve to be honored as have done their duty. Anything any less less is just being bigoted.
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Here are some jobs that come under the rule of the Confederate military. This is the only place I have noted some of these listings. All jobs COULD HAVE been performed by Negroes, free or slave, that is why they are listed.
The Statutes at Large of the Confederate States of America, Passed at the First Session of the Second Congress; 1864. Carefully Collated with the Originals at Richmond. Public Laws of the Confederate States of America, Passed at the First Session of the Second Congress; 1864. Private Laws of the Confederate States of America, Passed at the First Session of the Second Congress; 1864
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CHAP. XXVII.--An Act to provide for the compensation of non-commissioned officers, soldiers, sailors, and marines on detailed service.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all persons detailed from the army or after enrollment for military service,
Page 262 or from the navy or marine corps, for special duty or extra duty, shall be allowed to receive their regular pay, rations and allowances, as if they were performing service in the field.
SEC. 2. That all such detached or detailed men shall be allowed, in addition, not exceeding two dollars per day, and compensation for all extra work, or for any uncommon skill or industry displayed in the performance of duties to which they may be assigned, in proportion to the value of such extra labor or uncommon skill or industry, whether it be in performing an unusual amount of work within the usual hours of labor, or work performed beyond the usual hours, or extraordinary skill and superior workmanship displayed in the execution of such duties, the value of said extra labor or uncommon skill or industry, to be determined by the officer or superintendent under whose immediate direction said detached or detailed service may be performed, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War or Navy. The additional compensation provided in this section shall be the same for both the War and Navy Departments, under certain rules to be prescribed by the President.
SEC. 3. That all non-commissioned officers, musicians, privates, sailors or marines, detailed to government contractors, shall be so detailed without pay and allowances, but shall be compensated for their services by wages received from said contractors, under rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of War or of the Navy.
APPROVED June 9, 1864.
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CHAP. XXXIX.--An Act making appropriations for the support of the government of the Confederate States of America, from July 1, to December 31, 1864, and to supply a deficiency
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.--.
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Nitre and mining service.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT Laundresses. Hospital stewards Matrons. Ward masters.
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CHAP. XLI.--A Act to authorize the manufacture of spirituous liquors for the use of the army and hospitals.
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That it shall be lawful for the Surgeon General or the Commissary General to make all necessary contracts for the manufacture and distillation of whisky, brandy, and other alcoholic and spirituous liquors for the supply of the army and hospitals upon such terms as may be conducive to the public interest; and that the said contracts and any heretofore made shall operate as a license to the contractor to manufacture the same for the purpose aforesaid.
SEC. 2. That the Surgeon General and the Commissary General shall be authorized to establish manufactories or distilleries for the purpose of obtaining the supplies aforesaid, and to employ laborers in the same, instead of resorting to contracts, if they shall deem it more prudent to do so.
