American Civil War, Union Soldiers

Cropped stereograph showing a group of seven African-American men, former slaves, dressed in old Union uniforms standing in front of a wagon and shack. Contraband was a term commonly used in the United States military during the American Civil War to describe a new status for certain escaped slaves or those who affiliated with Union forces. The Army (and the United States Congress) determined that the US would not return escaped slaves who went to Union lines and classified them as contraband. They used many as laborers to support Union efforts and soon began to pay them wages. The former slaves set up camps near Union forces, and the Army helped support and educate both adults and children among the refugees. Thousands of men from these camps enlisted in the United States Colored Troops when recruitment started in 1863. At war's end, more than 100 contraband camps existed in the South. No photographer credited, circa 1861-65

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

Chattel Contraband Contrabands Cropped Enlisted Epromo02012019 Escaped Ex-slaves Fugitive Negro Negroes Runaway Secession Slaves Stereograph

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