Carol Sheriff

From: georgiaflagger@joimail.com
To: regenstein@mindspring.com

Lewis,

How ironic that you mention her. I actually singled her out yesterday and sent her this (I have some ties to Williamsburg) Let Y’all know if she replies lol

***************************************************************************

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 10:40 PM

To: cxsher@wm.edu

Dear Professor Sheriff,

Just saw the above referenced article, and the quotes attributed to you

"It’s disconcerting that the next generation is being taught history based on an unfounded claim instead of accepted scholarship," Sheriff said. "It concerns me not just as a professional historian but as a parent."

I will simply assume you have read the Washington Post article and speak from that standpoint. Ma’am, I too, am a historian – but have no titles or classroom. Just a humble student of history and always striving to
learn more everyday.

On this certain topic, that of the War Between the States (term used by the United States Government, Congressional Gold Medal inscription, 1958) I find yours and Professor James McPherson statements in the
article at severe odds with what I know to be the truth. The truth being that blacks did in fact serve as Confederate soldiers.

I understand that one of your fellow W&M faculty members (Prof Grey Gundaker) recently signed a petition with James McPherson alongside Pentagon Bomber and terrorist William ‘Bill’ Ayers in a failed attempt
at demanding President Obama not lay a wreath at the Confederate Monument in Arlington National Cemetary. That James McPherson, a staff member of W&M and anti-American terrorist teamed up to deny American
Veterans a simple honor is very alarming. To have black Confederate soldiers refused any recognition is blatant discrimination.

We both know that the great orator Frederick Douglass said

"There are at the present moment many Colored men in the Confederate Army doing duty not only as cooks, servants and laborers, but real soldiers, having musket on their shoulders, and bullets in their pockets, ready to shoot down any loyal troops and do all that soldiers may do to destroy the Federal government and build up that of the rebels"

But I would like to point out that a scholar is a second hand dispenser of information. Since we have 1st hand accounts of the war for all to see, and those accounts clearly tell of black Confederate soldiers, I would like to find out how, when confronted with info (some of which is included below) such as that, how can you or anyone refuse to acknowlege the truth?

Thanks and God Bless
William Bearden
Carrollton Ga

Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol XVI Part I, pg. 805, Lt. Col. Parkhurst’s Report (Ninth Michigan Infantry) on General Forrest’s attack at Murfreesboro, Tenn, July 13,1862: "There were also quite a number of Negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops, who were armed and equipped, and took part in the several engagements with my forces during the day."

Federal Official Records Series 1, Volume 15, Part 1, Pages 137-138, report of the Union commander: "Pickets were thrown out that night, and Captain Hennessy, Company E, of the Ninth Connecticut, having been sent
out with his company, captured a colored rebel scout, well mounted, who had been sent out to watch our movements."

Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XLIX, Part n, pg. 253 – April 6, 1865: "The rebels

[Forrest] are recruiting negro troops at Enterprise, Miss., and the negroes are all enrolled in the State."

Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XIV, pg. 24, second paragraph, Colonel B. C. Christ, 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, official report of May 30, 1862, Pocotaligo, SC., "It is also difficult to state the force of the enemy, but it could not have been less than from 600 to 800. There were six companies of mounted riflemen, besides infantry, among which were a considerable number of colored men."

Federal Official Records: Series 2, vol 6, Part 1 (Prisoners of War) p. 17-18 – "…before one single negro or mulatto was mustered into the U.S. service you had them organized in arms in Louisiana. You had
Indians and half-breed negroes and Indians organized in arms under Albert Pike, in Arkansas. Subsequently negroes were captured on the battle-field at Antietam and delivered as prisoners of war at Aiken’s
Landing to the Confederate authorities, and receipted for and counted in exchange."

Federal Official Records, Vol. XIII, Chapter XXV, pg. 688 – "…We are not likely to use one negro where the rebels have used a thousand. When I left Arkansas they were still enrolling negroes to fortify the rebellion." – September, 1862

Federal Official Records, Correspondence, Etc., Vol. II, pg. 218 – "…they [the Confederacy] have, by means of sweeping conscription, gathered in countless hordes, and threaten to overwhelm the armies of
the Union, with blood and treason in their hearts. They flaunt the black flag of rebellion in the face of the Government, and threaten to butcher our brave and loyal armies with foreign bayonets. They arm negroes and
merciless savages in their behalf." – July 11, 1862 – Rich D. Yates, Governor of Illinois

Federal Official Records, Vol. XIX, Chapter XXXI, pg. 617 – Record of the Harper’s Ferry Military Commission (U.S. Army)

Question. Do you know of any individual of the enemy having been killed or wounded during the siege of Harper’s Ferry?

Answer. I have strong reasons to believe that there was a negro killed, who had wounded 2 or 3 of my men. I know that an officer took deliberate aim at him, and he fell over. He was one of the skirmishers of the
enemy[Confederate, ed.], and wounded 3 of my men. I know there must have been some of the enemy killed. Question. How do you know the negro was killed? Answer. The officer saw him fall."

Federal Official Records, Vol. XLI, Chapter LIII, pg. 670 – PATTERSON, [November] 24, 1864 – "Colonel MAUPIN: I have arrived with my squad on return. Captain McClanahan has gone on the upper road for Pilot Knob;
will all arrive there to-morrow. No rebel force below. We have turned up eleven bushwhackers to dry and one rebel negro. No man hurt on our side.  The men are generally well."

Federal Official Records, Series 1, Volume 4, p.569 – Report of Colonel John W. Phelps, First Vermont Infantry: CAMP BUTLER, Newport News, Va.,

August 11, 1861 – SIR: Scouts from this post represent the enemy as having retired. they came to New Market Bridge on Wednesday, and left the next day. They-the enemy-talked of having 9,000 men. They were
recalled by dispatches from Richmond. They had twenty pieces of artillery, among which was the Richmond Howitzer Battery, manned by negroes. . . Their numbers are probably overrated; but with regard to their artillery, and its being manned in part by negroes, I think the report is probably correct. "

Federal Official Records, Series 1, vol 35, Part 1 (Olustee), Page 442-443, S.C., FLA., AND ON THE GA. COAST. Chapter XLVII – Report of Bgen Asboth, USA: "…when I proceeded to Milton, Fla., a distance of 9 miles, and after rebuilding the destroyed bridge on the Arcadia Creek, I came upon the enemy, about 100 strong, and consisting of Captain Goldsby’s (Alabama) cavalry company and a new militia infantry company, mounted…Having received early information of the arrival of two army steamers at Bayou Mulatte, the enemy had sent his stores on seven wagons in time toward Pollard, and seemed prepared and decided to accept a fight in the camp at the upper end of the town, but fled, upon our impetuous charge, in all directions. We pursued them closely for 7
miles, and captured 4 privates of Goldsby’s company and 3 colored men, mounted and armed, with 7 horses and 5 mules with equipments, and 20 Austrian rifles."

Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XVII, Chapter XXIX, Pg. 635-637 – December 28, 1863 – "…It had to be prosecuted under the fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters, protected as well as the men might be by our
skirmishers on the bank, who were ordered to keep up so vigorous a fire that the enemy should not dare to lift their heads above their rifle-pits; but the enemy, and especially their armed negroes, did dare to rise and fire, and did serious execution upon our men…The casualties in the brigade were 11 killed, 40 wounded, and 4 missing; aggregate, 55. – Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. STUART, Brigadier-General, Commanding"

Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. III, Correspondence, etc., pg 767-768 – "CAMBRIDGE, September 4, 1863. His Excellency A. LINCOLN, President of the United States: …excitement here growing out of the
recruiting of colored troops, and as some of the recruiting officers are acting rather indiscreetly, I fear, by taking slaves in their recruits, and the slaves of loyal as well as disloyal persons…to enlist slaves as well as free people is creating a great deal of anxiety among the people…we ought to use the colored people, after the rebels commenced to use them against us."