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African-American
history at
War of 1812 sites
The little-known role of African-Americans during
the War of 1812
By Gerald T. Altoff
Pick up a history book. More precisely, open a school text book on
American history and turn to the War of 1812 section. Should you be
fortunate to find such a section, recounted will be brief accounts of
battles at Fort McHenry, New Orleans, and Lake Erie. Conveniently
forgotten in American texts is the fact that the United States lost most of
the battles and did not clearly win the war.
This lack of knowledge makes the War of 1812 not only one of the least
known, but also one of the least understood conflicts in American
history. Paralleling this lack of knowledge is the little known role of
African Americans in the War of 1812.
African-American men freely volunteered during the war, but their
services were not readily accepted. Prior to the war, the United States
maintained a standing army of fewer than 7,000 men. Such being the
case, the country was dependent upon the various state militias to cope
with military emergencies. The Federal Militia Act of 7 May 1792
stipulated that every “free able-bodied white male citizen...who is or
shall be of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five
years...shall be enrolled in the Militia...”
Service by black Americans was not specified, so each state adapted its
own interpretation. Many black volunteers served in state militias before
the war, but their role was largely relegated to that of servants or
laborers. However, the lack of military success in 1812 and 1813 soon
changed perspectives. By 1814, northern states like Pennsylvania and
New York were recruiting entire regiments of black troops, and even
some southern states like Louisiana and North Carolina were mustering
black soldiers.
The above text is an excerpt from Altoff's article, published by the
National Park Service. The full article is available at http://crm.cr.nps.
gov/archive/20-2/20-2-12.pdf.
Editor's note: The following bio appeared with the article, but may not
be up-to-date. Gerard T. Altoff is currently the National Park Service Chief
Ranger and historian at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial.
He frequently presents programs on the Battle of Lake and The War of
1812 to clubs, organizations, and schools. His most recent published
work is Amongst My Best Men: African Americans and the War of 1812,
Ohio: The Perry Group, 1996.
history at
War of 1812 sites
The little-known role of African-Americans during
the War of 1812
By Gerald T. Altoff
Pick up a history book. More precisely, open a school text book on
American history and turn to the War of 1812 section. Should you be
fortunate to find such a section, recounted will be brief accounts of
battles at Fort McHenry, New Orleans, and Lake Erie. Conveniently
forgotten in American texts is the fact that the United States lost most of
the battles and did not clearly win the war.
This lack of knowledge makes the War of 1812 not only one of the least
known, but also one of the least understood conflicts in American
history. Paralleling this lack of knowledge is the little known role of
African Americans in the War of 1812.
African-American men freely volunteered during the war, but their
services were not readily accepted. Prior to the war, the United States
maintained a standing army of fewer than 7,000 men. Such being the
case, the country was dependent upon the various state militias to cope
with military emergencies. The Federal Militia Act of 7 May 1792
stipulated that every “free able-bodied white male citizen...who is or
shall be of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five
years...shall be enrolled in the Militia...”
Service by black Americans was not specified, so each state adapted its
own interpretation. Many black volunteers served in state militias before
the war, but their role was largely relegated to that of servants or
laborers. However, the lack of military success in 1812 and 1813 soon
changed perspectives. By 1814, northern states like Pennsylvania and
New York were recruiting entire regiments of black troops, and even
some southern states like Louisiana and North Carolina were mustering
black soldiers.
The above text is an excerpt from Altoff's article, published by the
National Park Service. The full article is available at http://crm.cr.nps.
gov/archive/20-2/20-2-12.pdf.
Editor's note: The following bio appeared with the article, but may not
be up-to-date. Gerard T. Altoff is currently the National Park Service Chief
Ranger and historian at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial.
He frequently presents programs on the Battle of Lake and The War of
1812 to clubs, organizations, and schools. His most recent published
work is Amongst My Best Men: African Americans and the War of 1812,
Ohio: The Perry Group, 1996.