Remarkable unseen pictures shed light on courage of black Civil War soldiers

A new book has shed light on the experience of black Civil War soldiers, using never-before-seen photographs from the 19th century.

The American Civil War, 1861-1865, was the first major conflict to be captured through the new technology of the day – photography.

And now a brand new book entitled The Black Civil War Solider by Deborah Willis, explores the crucial role of photography in telling the story of African Americans during the Civil War.

A tintype photograph of an unidentified American Civil War soldier. His buttons and belt buckle are hand-coloured in gold paint

Thomas Morris Chester, pictured left, the first African American war correspondent for a major daily newspaper, the Philadelphia Press, circa 1870. Right, a  tintype photograph of an unidentified American Civil War soldier. His buttons and belt buckle are hand-coloured in gold paint.

Recruitment poster for 'Men of Color' which deatures in a new book of unseen images of black American Civil War soldiers

Recruitment poster for ‘Men of Color’ which deatures in a new book of unseen images of black American Civil War soldiers 

A drummer from the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863

Portrait of unidentified soldier with cap of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863

A drummer from the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863, left. Right, portrait of unidentified soldier with cap of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863

Sgt. Major John H. Wilson of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863

Christian Fleetwood who was a non-commissioned officer in the United States army and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in a Battle of ChaffinÕs Farm during the Civil War, circa 1865

Sgt. Major John H. Wilson of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863, left. Christian Fleetwood who was a non-commissioned officer in the United States army and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in a Battle of ChaffinÕs Farm during the Civil War, circa 1865, right 

Images of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as Union and Confederate soldiers are well-known, however images of African-Americans from that time are rare.

Slavery was a major cause of the Civil War, with the southern states in favour of keeping the barbaric practice, due in part to their cotton fields that needed workers for production.

In 1863 President Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation, decreeing that all black people in the USA were free.

This enabled the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to be founded, segregated regiments that comprised of more than 180,000 free black men, who served in the final two years of the war.

Charles Burleigh Purvis, circa 1900. Purvis served in the Union Army in the US Civil War as a military nurse at Camp Barker. He later became the first black physician to attend a sitting president when President James Garfield after he was shot by an assassin in 1881

Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform, circa 1860s

Charles Burleigh Purvis, circa 1900, left. Purvis served in the Union Army in the US Civil War as a military nurse at Camp Barker. He later became the first black physician to attend a sitting president when President James Garfield after he was shot by an assassin in 1881. Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform, circa 1860s, right

African American hospital workers, including nurses, at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, July 1863. The image is part of a new book featuring unseen images of black Civil War soldiers. A NEW book has shed light on the experience of black Civil War soldiers, using never-before-seen photographs from the 19th century

African American hospital workers, including nurses, at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, July 1863. The image is part of a new book featuring unseen images of black Civil War soldiers. A NEW book has shed light on the experience of black Civil War soldiers, using never-before-seen photographs from the 19th century

Portrait of an unidentified young African American soldier in Union uniform with forage cap, circa 1860s

Unidentified African American soldier in Union corporal's uniform, circa 1860s

Portrait of an unidentified young African American soldier in Union uniform with forage cap, circa 1860s, left. Unidentified African American soldier in Union corporal’s uniform, circa 1860s, right 

Author Deborah Willis, who is a professor of photography at New York University, sourced remarkable pictures such as that of Christian Fleetwood who was a non-commissioned officer in the United States army and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in a Battle of Chaffin’s Farm during the Civil War.

However, it isn’t just soldiers that the book celebrates.

A portrait of William P. Powell Jr., who was one of the first African American to tend to the wounded as a surgeon. 

He was one of 13 black surgeons to serve in Civil War for the Union Army.

Portrait of Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. Born into slavery herself, she guided a raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people

Portrait of Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. Born into slavery herself, she guided a raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people

Enslaved men, women, and children standing in front of buildings on Smith's Plantation, Beaufort, South Carolina, circa 1860s

Enslaved men, women, and children standing in front of buildings on Smith’s Plantation, Beaufort, South Carolina, circa 1860s

Sergeant Major William L. Henderson and hospital steward Thomas H. S

Portrait of Charlotte L. Forten, an African-American anti-slavery activist, poet and educator

Sergeant Major William L. Henderson and hospital steward Thomas H. S, left. Portrait of Charlotte L. Forten, an African-American anti-slavery activist, poet and educator, right 

Abraham Lincoln in 1862, with from left, Colonel Alexander S. Webb, Chief of Staff, Fifth Corps; General George B. McClellan; Scout Adams; Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Army Medical Director; an unidentified person; and standing behind Lincoln, General Henry J. Hunt.

Abraham Lincoln in 1862, with from left, Colonel Alexander S. Webb, Chief of Staff, Fifth Corps; General George B. McClellan; Scout Adams; Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Army Medical Director; an unidentified person; and standing behind Lincoln, General Henry J. Hunt.

There’s also Thomas Morris Chester, the first African American war corresponded for a major daily newspaper, the Philadelphia Press.

There’s also a picture of the iconic Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. 

Born into slavery herself, she guided a raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people.

  • The Black Civil War Soldier: A Visual History of Conflict and Citizenship by Deborah Willis is out now, published by NYU Press.