In 1862, the Black Brigade fortified Cincinnati against the threat of a Civil War siege
Subject
The Black Brigade; Civil War; Cincinnati
Description
There was no battle of Cincinnati during the Civil War, but the city was under siege in September 1862 by Confederate forces that had easily captured Kentucky cities and set their sights on the Queen City. That Cincinnati wasn’t captured is a testament to the preparations of its citizens and the response to the call for troops from around the state.
An essential part of those preparations was the efforts of the members of the Black Brigade, the first organization of African Americans deployed for military purposes in the United Staes., who were sent into the hills of Northern Kentucky to dig trenches and build fortifications to protect the city.
That brief description doesn’t adequately reflect the hardships and mistreatment those men endured, including racism, ridicule, threats and violence from their own fellow citizens.
Creator
Cincinnati Enquirer
Source
Publisher
cincinnati.com
File
