McCauley Lecture: Black Men in the Union Army at Antietam

In 1862, before the Emancipation Proclamation, the Union Army did not yet enlist black men as soldiers. But black men served in noncombatant roles throughout the military: as laborers, mule drivers, horse handlers, cooks, and servants. Many were free men from the North, but many were escaping from slavery in the South. This talk will tell the stories of some of these men who were present in units that fought at Antietam, including a few who came from Washington County. What can we know about black noncombatants? What was life like for them, and what dangers did they face? 

The lecture speaker is Emilie Amt.

Registration is optional, but encouraged. If you cannot attend the program in person, check out our live stream on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/4V27p85sl0A