Civil War Letter -- Black and White Fighting for Freedom

 

In the Sandusky Library's collections is a letter from a United States soldier during the Civil War to an acquaintance in his hometown of Huron, Ohio. The author, George Haskin (sometimes identified as Haskins), was at the time a sergeant in the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving in the recently captured city of Corinth, Mississippi. He wrote with a passion for the cause of the Union and in support of the African American soldier.

Early in his letter, Sergeant Haskin expresses his contempt for those in the North who fail to support the war: "How, I want to ask, can you men of the North, how, in the name of God and Justice can you tolerate the traitors who are seeking to pollute the minds of the people in your midst?" He was especially angry that newspapers and correspondence sent to his fellow soldiers often encouraged "aid and comfort to traitors in arms," including encouraging desertion. His disgust even extended to some of the Army officers he served with: "We do not want them to have a chance to show their Plantation Breeding to us, and can easily spare such a traitorous few."  

Instead of these "plantation-bred" officers, Sergeant Haskin instead placed his trust in the African American soldier, and praises the service and bravery of African American men: "And only give us the privilege of putting Arms in their hands and you men at home keep the traitors in check there, we can soon finish the Rebs here."  As he noted in his letter, African American men served ably in the Revolution and the War of 1812, and were once again serving bravely in his war.

Sergeant Haskin's hope for the creation of "Negro Regiments" was fulfilled shortly after he wrote this letter. On May 18, 1863, he was promoted to Lieutenant in the First Regiment of the Alabama Colored Troops. 

Image in Public Domain