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Black Troops Units of former slaves and freemen fought on both sides of the War of 1812. British: Forces raiding the Chesapeake Bay area freed slaves in the area (slavery was illegal in the Empire at the time) and inducted these former slaves into a 500 man regiment of Fencibles that engaged in combat in the area, freeing fellow slaves. American: Andrew Jackson raised a number of Militia Volunteer regiments before the battle of New Orleans. This included a regiment of Barataria Bay pirates under Jean Lafitte. Jackson also raised one regiment of approximately 500 black soldiers, The Louisiana Battalion of Free Men of Color. This regiment caused quite a stir in the slave holding south, but Jackson (a slaveholder himself) was unimpressed with their complaints. Most of New Orleans at the time was French-speaking and the local militia turned out only under duress. This unit of all black troops was probably the first named all black unit that fought in the US army … predating the 54th Massachusetts by 48 years. |
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