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[[Image:Carney-notation.JPG|thumb|300px|Sergeant William H. Carney, a black soldier in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the battle to take Fort Wagner, outside of Charleston Horbor, South Carolina, in July 1863]]

<nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here</nowiki>[[Image:Carney-notation.JPG|thumb|300px|Sergeant William H. Carney, a black soldier in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the battle to take Fort Wagner, outside of Charleston Horbor, South Carolina, in July 1863]]

:''"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship."''

:''"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship."''

:[[Frederick Douglass]]

:[[Frederick Douglass]]

Because of prejudice against them, black units were not used in combat as extensively as they might have been. Nevertheless, the soldiers served with distinction in a number of battles. Black infantrymen fought gallantly at [[Milliken's Bend]] and Port Hudson, Louisiana; [[Petersburg]], [[Virginia]]; and [[Nashville]], Tennessee. The July 1863 assault on [[Fort Wagner]], South Carolina, in which the [[54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers]] lost two-thirds of their officers and half of their troops, was memorably dramatized in the 1989 film ''Glory''. By war's end, 16 black soldiers had been awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for their valor.

Because of prejudice against them, black units were not used in combat as extensively as they might have been. Nevertheless, the soldiers served with distinction in a number of battles. Black infantrymen fought gallantly at [[Milliken's Bend]] and Port Hudson, Louisiana; [[Petersburg]], [[Virginia]]; and [[Nashville]], Tennessee. The July 1863 assault on [[Fort Wagner]], South Carolina, in which the [[54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers]] lost two-thirds of their officers and half of their troops, was memorably dramatized in the 1989 film ''Glory''. By war's end, 16 black soldiers had been awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for their valor.

In addition to the perils of war faced by all Civil War soldiers, black soldiers faced additional problems stemming from racial prejudice. Racial discrimination was prevalent even in the North, and discriminatory practices permeated the U.S. military. Segregated units were formed with black enlisted men and typically commanded by white officers and black noncommissioned officers. The 54th Massachusetts was commanded by [[Robert Gould Shaw]] and the 1st South Carolina by Thomas Wentworth Higginson — both white. Black soldiers were initially paid $10 per month from which $3 was automatically deducted for clothing, resulting in a net pay of $7. In contrast, white soldiers received $13 per month from which no clothing allowance was drawn. In June 1864 Congress granted equal pay to the U.S. Colored Troops and made the action retroactive. Black soldiers received the same rations and supplies. In addition, they received comparable medical care.

In addition to the perils of war faced by all Civil War soldiers, black soldiers faced additional problems stemming from racial prejudice. Racial discrimination was prevalent even in the North, and discriminatory practices permeated the U.S. military. Segregated units were formed with black enlisted men and typically commanded by white officers and black noncommissioned officers. The 54th Massachusetts was commanded by [[Robert Gould Shaw]] and the 1st South Carolina by [[Thomas Wentworth Higginson]] — both white. Black soldiers were initially paid $10 per month from which $3 was automatically deducted for clothing, resulting in a net pay of $7. In contrast, white soldiers received $13 per month from which no clothing allowance was drawn. In June 1864 Congress granted equal pay to the U.S. Colored Troops and made the action retroactive. Black soldiers received the same rations and supplies. In addition, they received comparable medical care.

The black troops, however, faced greater peril than white troops when captured by the Confederate Army. In 1863 the Confederate Congress threatened to punish severely officers of black troops and to enslave black soldiers. As a result, President Lincoln issued [[General Order 233]], threatening reprisal on Confederate prisoners of war for any mistreatment of black troops. Although the threat generally restrained the Confederates, black captives were typically treated more harshly than white captives. In perhaps the most heinous known example of abuse, Confederate soldiers shot to death black Union soldiers captured at the [[Fort Pillow]], Tennessee, engagement of 1864. Confederate General [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] witnessed the massacre and did nothing to stop it.

The black troops, however, faced greater peril than white troops when captured by the Confederate Army. In 1863 the Confederate Congress threatened to punish severely officers of black troops and to enslave black soldiers. As a result, President Lincoln issued [[General Order 233]], threatening reprisal on Confederate prisoners of war for any mistreatment of black troops. Although the threat generally restrained the Confederates, black captives were typically treated more harshly than white captives. In perhaps the most heinous known example of abuse, Confederate soldiers shot to death black Union soldiers captured at the [[Fort Pillow]], Tennessee, engagement of 1864. Confederate General [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] witnessed the massacre and did nothing to stop it.